There’s a lot going on this week and next for entrepreneurs and startup founders. We’ve curated a short list below; for a full listing of everything that’s going on this week and next, check out this week’s Startup Digest! While you’re there, you can sign up to receive the digest in your inbox every Monday morning!
Featured
Applications Open for StartupSac FastTrac Bootcamp
Apply by Wed, Feb 5, Starts Feb 19
This 12-week program is for aspiring entrepreneurs ready to turn their business idea into reality while gaining the skills, resources, and mentorship needed to launch and grow their businesses. Open to City of Sacramento residents only. Learn more and Apply.
Startup Happy Hour
Tue, Jan 29, 5-7 PM, In-person in Sacramento
Connect with entrepreneurs, founders, and ecosystem supporters in a relaxed setting. Startup Happy Hour offers a chance to network, share ideas, and build relationships in the local startup community. Read more.
This Week
Weekly Drop-in Office Hours with Growth Factory EIRs
Tue, Jan 21, 1 – 3 PM, In-person in Roseville
Growth Factory Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs) offer drop-in 1-on-1 office hours to provide guidance for startup founders and small business owners at various stages. This is an opportunity to get expert advice on getting started, accessing resources, and building momentum—not a pitch or sales event. Read more.
1 Million Cups Sacramento with Cloud Social
Wed, Jan 22, 9 – 10 AM, Online
A weekly meetup where 2 entrepreneurs present their early-stage businesses to an audience of their peers for advice and feedback. Read more. Interested in presenting at a future weekly event? Submit an application here.
UCD Big Bang! Workshop: Business Canvas: Framing Your Approach
Wed, Jan 22, 12 – 1:30 PM, Online
This workshop guides you in developing a business model canvas to effectively frame your startup’s strategy. Learn to identify key components such as value propositions, customer segments, and revenue streams to strengthen your business approach. Read more.
SacTech Social January 2025 Meetup
Thu, Jan 23, 6 – 9 PM, In-person in Sacramento
Join an inclusive community of technology professionals and enthusiasts to discuss programming, design, and related topics. Network with peers, explore collaboration opportunities, and share knowledge in a welcoming environment. Read more.
SBDC Inclusivity Project Capital Summit: Unlock Your Business Potential
Fri, Jan 24, 9 AM – 1 PM, In-person in Sacramento
Gain financial empowerment and strategic expansion insights while connecting with supportive investors and lenders. Co-hosted by the California Black Chamber of Commerce, this event offers actionable strategies to fuel business growth. A light lunch will be provided. Read more.
Plan Ahead
SBIR & STTR Workshop
Tue, Jan 28, 9 – 10:30 AM, Online
Discover funding opportunities through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs in this 90-minute hands-on workshop. Read more.
UCD Big Bang! Workshop: Market, Business, and Technology Validation: Building Your Commitment
Wed, Jan 29,12 – 1:30 PM, Online
Learn how to validate your market, business, and technology ideas in this Big Bang! workshop. Explore strategies for building a strong commitment to your venture while gaining practical insights to refine your approach. Read more.
Startup Grind Sacramento: CFO Basics for Startups
Wed, Jan 29, 5 – 6 PM, Online
Join seasoned CFO Bob Wang for a virtual session on startup financial strategies. Bob will cover the accounting essentials for early-stage startups and share advice on preparing your business to be investment-ready Read more.
Plan Way Ahead
Startup Challenge Spring 2025
Fri-Sun, Mar 21-23, In-person in Sacramento
Hosted by the Carlsen Center, this 3-day event is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs explore, test, and launch their business ideas. Participants will collaborate, receive mentorship, and pitch their ideas in a supportive environment. Read more.
Applications
SBIR/STTR Cohort Program
Apply by Jan 24, 2025
Program Dates: Starts Feb 2, 2025
Deep tech startup with commercialization potential? The SBIR/STTR Cohort Program, led by Advocacy Chiefs and Scout Climate, provides expert mentoring, proposal development support, and networking to help you secure federal funding. Get personalized guidance through workshops, peer reviews, and mentoring sessions. Learn more.
Economic Gardening 2.0 Program
Apply by January 31
The City of Sacramento offers local businesses up to 40 hours of market research consulting and up to $50,000 in matching funds for growth. Eligible companies must be established in Sacramento for at least 5 years, have 5-99 employees, $1M-$50M in revenues, and generate 50% of revenue from outside the county. Learn More
Alchemist Microenterprise Academy
Apply by February 9
Alchemist Microenterprise Academy is a 12-week business training course designed to simplify the complexities of starting a food business. The next cohort runs from Feb 25 to May 14. Attendance at a mandatory information session is required before applying. Learn more.
Berkeley SkyDeck Accelerator
Apply by February 14
Berkeley SkyDeck offers $200,000 in funding, mentorship, and resources to help startups scale. The next program runs May 5–Oct 3, 2025, ending with a Demo Day for investors. Learn more.
2025 Circular Economy Innovation Competition
Apply by February 21
The Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) invites you to apply for the 2025 Circular Economy Innovation Competition! Showcase your solutions for transforming waste into valuable resources, compete for $20,000 in cash awards, and receive mentorship to bring your vision to life. Learn more.
NSF I-Corps Customer Discovery Course
Apply by January 27 for Next Session
Program Dates: Feb 10, 13, & 20, 5 – 8 PM, Online
Have a STEM-based startup idea? Join UC Berkeley’s free, remote NSF I-Corps course to validate your idea using Steve Blank’s Lean LaunchPad method. Learn to identify customer segments, value propositions, and accelerate product-market fit through customer discovery. Eligible teams may qualify for a $50,000 NSF customer discovery grant and $5,000 in AWS credits. Learn more.
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 the StartupSac Website for information on resources available to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Also check out the NorCal Entrepreneur Hub. From capital to connections and training to talent, find the resources you need to build your business in NorCal.