Are you an early-stage founder in need of refining who your customer is and what product you are building for them? Consider applying to participate in the upcoming cohort of The Lean Innovator, sponsored by the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Sac State and taught by Dan Casas-Murray. The next cohort runs from August 29 through October 13 and they are currently accepting applications.

The Lean Innovator is a virtual 7-week pre-accelerator cohort program supporting you as a founder or team in getting to problem/solution fit. Over the 7 weeks, the program will teach you to narrow down your customer segment and refine the product offering you hope to offer them. Lean Innovator will empower you to distill your business into both a 1-minute pitch and a 1-sentence pitch so you can easily and effectively articulate your offering. 

This program is a foundation and launchpad for you to feel confident in reaching out and securing customers and investment. The program will support you in getting clear on your messaging, story, and collecting evidence to verify the various aspects of your business model. Learn more about the program and how to apply here.

APPLICATIONS

Find out what’s going on this week for entrepreneurs in our region in this week’s Startup Digest. While you’re there, sign up to get the digest weekly in your inbox while you’re there!).

THIS WEEK’S BEST BETS

Building Company Culture w/Josh Levine, Jul 13, 10 AM. Learn about company culture from Josh Levine, the creator of the Culture Canvas as and the author and owner of Great Mondays. We’ll explore the power of designing a company culture employees love! We’ll set the stage of what culture is and identify the core components of building company culture. Online

Unlocking America’s Seed Fund, Jul 13, 11 AM. OpenGrants hosts Ben Schrag, SBIR/STTR Program Director. We’ll break down everything grant seekers need to know about NSF SBIR opportunities: how it works, how to prepare, how to find the right fit and make your application competitive. Online

PLAN AHEAD

Startup Happy Hour with Flexia Founder Kaleen Canevari, Jul 26, 5 PM. StartupSac and the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State welcome Kaleen Canevari Founder and CEO of Flexia to our July Startup Happy Hour. Come meet Kaleen and learn more about her growing startup Flexia. Online

GFX, Aug 25, 1:00-7:00 PM. Part startup showcase, part venture conference, part entrepreneurial ecosystem building — 100% high energy, interactive and impactful! GFX is the Growth Factory’s first annual event designed to activate the Backyard Advantage at scale. Use promo code “StartupSac” for $5 off admission. In person at @theGrounds in Roseville. 

CONNECT

Looking to connect with others? Join the StartupSac Community Facebook Group! Startup founders and those who support the growth of our startup community connect and exchange ideas in this private moderated group.

RESOURCES

Check out our website for information on resources available to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.