In just one weekend, participants will experience the highs, lows, fun, and pressure that make up life at a startup!
The Startup Challenge is a new program of the Carlsen Center at Sacramento State focused on providing founders and early-stage teams with a dedicated space for experimenting and getting traction.
It’s not a weekend of talk. It’s a weekend of doing.
Startup Challenge Overview
About Startup Challenge
A weekend long experiential learning event. Friday night through Sunday night. Teams must be present for the bulk of the weekend.
The Startup Challenge is actually two competitions in one. We have the Catalyst Cohort and the Traction Cohort, and we have amazing prizes for both!
The Catalyst Cohort is for brand new ideas, and anyone is welcome to participate — even if you don’t have an idea. No startup or special skills required. If you’re wondering if the Catalyst Cohort right for you, it probably is. In the Catalyst Cohort, you’re competing to launch a startup.
The Traction Cohort is for startups that already have some work product. You can have a product or customers, though you certainly don’t have to. But you cannot have raised investment yet. In the Traction Cohort, you’re competing to find traction.
And here’s the kicker. Both cohorts are about what you actually get done over the weekend — because talk is cheap, and we don’t care what you accomplished beforehand. So everyone is on an equal playing field.
Prizes
There will be cash awards for the first place teams in both cohorts as well as additional prizes that will help move your startup forward. The First Place Traction cohort team will receive $1,500 and the First Place Catalyst Cohort team will receive $1,000.
Register for the Startup Challenge!
Friday, September 23 through Sunday, September 25
Location: Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State
Ticket Prices
Student – $35
Early Bird for Both Challenges – $75 – EXPIRES September 14
Catalyst Challenge – $99
Traction Challenge – $99
Catalyst Cohort
Traction Cohort
Startup Challenge – What to Expect
Hosted By:
About the Carlsen Center
The Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Sac State serves as a regional hub and platform for providing approachable and accessible entrepreneurial education, community, and support to enable startup founders of all backgrounds to explore and launch their businesses.
Founding Sponsor
Unicorn Sponsors
Startup Sponsors
Idea Sponsors
Our Team
The founding team includes Cameron Law, Executive Director for the Carlsen Center, Josh David Miller (aka JDM), founder of The Right Box, and Laura Good, CEO and Cofounder of StartupSac.
