Congratulations to Monique Brown, cofounder and managing director of the Growth Factory, for being an honoree for the 2023 Women Who Mean Business awards! Monique is a critical force and impactful leader in our startup community! We are so grateful for her!

Plan ahead to save BIG on two October startup and technology conferences happening in Northern California! Growth Factor’s GFX on October 5 in Roseville, and ChicoStart’s growTECH FEST on October 11 & 12 in Chico, are offering deeply discounted rates if you buy your tickets by June 30. More details below in the Plan Ahead section.

There’s a lot going on in June! I’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!

This Week’s Best Bets

1 Million Cups In-Person at Granite City Coworking
Wed, Jun 14, 8:30 – 10 AM, In-person in Folsom
Join us for our once-a-month in-person meetup where entrepreneurs share their early-stage businesses for advice and feedback. Also live streamed. Free swag! Free coffee! Presenters: Prompt Krafter and Flex Folsom. Read more.

Beer & Geeks: Casual Networking for Entrepreneurs
Thu, Jun 15, 5:30 – 8:30 PM, In-person in Folsom
Startup Folsom is hosting this startup networking event at the Fat Rabbit. If you love startups or have a startup idea, then come mingle with like minded people. Make a connection and this could be the seeds for the next big thing. Read more.

Carlsen Center’s Lean Innovator Summer Session
Apply by June 16, Happens Jul 15 – Sep 13
A 10-week-long cohort program supporting pre-seed startups in gaining traction with their customers. The program will be a mix of in-person and virtual meetings. Learn more. Apply here.

The Inclusivity Project Training Programs
Jun – Aug, Various Dates, Online
Unlock your entrepreneurial potential and join a community of successful Black and African American entrepreneurs through the Inclusivity Project. The upcoming business courses, designed for new and scaling business owners, provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to succeed. Learn More

Plan Ahead

Sacramento Innovation Grants – Info & Networking
Tue, Jun 20, 5:30 – 7:30 PM, In-person in Sacramento
The City of Sacramento will answer questions about the Innovation Grant opportunities to fund business events and ecosystem building. Attendees are encouraged to mingle, discuss collaborative ideas, and expand their networks. RSVP. Online sessions also available. Learn more here.

Startup Grind Sacramento Fireside Chat
Wed, Jun 21, 6 – 8 PM, In-person in Folsom
Join Startup Grind and Startup Folsom for a fireside chat with Jessie Becker Alexander who was the founding CEO of Alydia Health (acquired by Organon for $240M) She is now FourthWave’s program director and an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Carlsen Center at Sac State. Read more.

Startup Happy Hour at Drink EEZY Craft Winery
Thu, Jun 29, 5-7 PM, in-person in Rancho Cordova
Mingle with other entrepreneurs while enjoy wine at the new Drink EEZY Craft Winery & Tasting Room in Rancho Cordova’s Barrel District! Read more.

Growth Factory’s GFX 2023
Thu, Oct 5, All Day, In-Person in Roseville
EARLY BIRD PRICING EXPIRES JUNE 30!
Growth Factory’s annual venture conference & startup showcase brings together the most talented and innovative minds from the Greater Sacramento, Northern CA region and beyond to connect, learn, and support great startups and to build a robust startup ecosystem together. Read more.

GROWTECH FEST 2023
Wed-Thu, Oct 11-12, In-person in Chico
LAUNCH PRICiNG EXPIRES June 30 – Save 60%!
Presented by ChicoSTART and Powered by Build with Ferguson, GrowTECH FEST is the largest and only entrepreneurial tech conference you will find north of Sacramento. The event brings together startups, investors, entrepreneurs, techies, students, educators, business owners and community leaders. Read more.

Application Deadlines

FourthWave Accelerator
Applications open for 2023 Cohort. Apply by June 16.
FourthWave is an Accelerator for Women-Led Technology Businesses. Learn more.

6-Week Traction Thinking Rapid Prototyping Cohort
Program starts June 19.
Learn about rapid prototyping, a skill that can quite literally turn the odds in your favour. You’ll gather online with a group of like-minded entrepreneurs to learn how to build products and services that make customers say “wow!” — by actually doing it. Taught by JDM. Read more.

Carlsen Center’s Lean Innovator Summer Session
Apply by June 16, Happens Jul 15 – Sep 13
A 10-week-long cohort program supporting pre-seed startups in gaining traction with their customers. The program will be a mix of in-person and virtual meetings. Learn more. Apply here.

Startup Pitch Workshop
Applications Open, Happens 4th Wed of the Month
Three startups will present their pitch for advice and feedback from a panel of experts. Organized by StartupSac, Startup Folsom and NCID. Next session 6/28. Apply here.

2023 Sacramento Inno Award
Nominations due June 23
The Sacramento Inno Awards are designed to showcase those who are making the biggest impact on our local ecosystem. The Sacramento Business Journal is looking at startups that have had a banner year, people and companies with new funding, recent product launches, innovative approaches to solving problems and creative leaders who think outside of the box. Self-nominations ok. Read more.

Intro To Lean Startup: NSF I-Corps Method
Ongoing – Apply by June 30 for next session.
Transform your innovative technology into a startup! Online course sessions are held online for three days from 5-8 PM. This program is offered monthly.  Read 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.

 

Startup Photo of the Week

Rich Foreman presents at 1 Million Cups Sacramento.

Rich Foreman presents IGH Naturals at 1 Million Cups Sacramento’s in-person event at the Carlsen Center at Sac State in May.