One year later, Sac State students’ company launched at Startup Weekend still has traction

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You don’t have to win at Startup Weekend to come away as a winner. Just ask Clarisse Baca and John Meidinger, founders of Activity Jungle. Last November at Innogrove, Elk Grove’s new coworking space, Clarisse and John pitched their final presentation to a crowded room. Their pitch? An online marketplace for Sacramento families to search, contact, write and read reviews of high quality, local children’s activities in a simple, convenient way, including a local network of activity providers they personally work with to bring parents the best activities.

Clarice pitching at Startup Weekend in Elk Grove last November

Clarice pitching at Startup Weekend in Elk Grove last November

Activity Jungle wouldn’t go on to win or even place in that Startup Weekend but based on feedback from parents in attendance at the final pitches they knew they had a solid idea and market. After Startup Weekend, Clarice and John continued developing their startup, bootstrapping using their own funds. Last Fall they applied for and were accepted into Hacker Lab’s Startup Hustle program, an eight week bootcamp designed help entrepreneurs launch a new startup.

Activity Jungle at the Startup Grind Summer Party at The Urban Hive

Activity Jungle at the Startup Grind Summer Party at The Urban Hive

In just a few short months since launching at Startup Weekend, Activity Jungle has gained respectable traction in the Sacramento startup community and enjoyed a modest degree of mainstream media coverage as well. Cathie Anderson of the Sacramento Bee reported on Activity Jungle recently in her article, ActivityJungle.org links Sacramento parents to activities for kids. They were also recently featured on Good Day Sacramento.

What’s next for Activity Jungle? You have a chance to find out directly from them this week. If you’d like to get a chance to hear them pitch live and talk with them, they’ll be one of two presentations at the inaugural 1 Million Cups Sacramento this Wednesday morning at 9:00am at Velocity Venture Capital’s offices on the 28th floor of the Renaissance Tower at 801 K. Street.

Do you want your own chance to test drive entrepreneurship? The next Startup Weekend Sacramento will take place November 11 – 13, also at Velocity Venture Capital’s offices on the 28th floor of the Renaissance Tower at 801 K. Street. Get your tickets now and take advantage of early bird pricing.