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
Pitch Elk Grove Applications Due Today!
Applications Due Monday, June 23
Applications are now open for Northern California’s premier startup pitch competition, offering $20,000 in total prize money. Open to tech startups based in El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, or Yuba County, this high-impact event connects founders with investors, mentors, and community leaders. Finalists will pitch live on September 4 in Elk Grove. Apply now.
Startup Happy Hour + AMA with The Better Meat Co. Founder Paul Shapiro
Tue, Jun 24, 5:00 – 7:00 PM, In-person in West Sacramento
Connect with fellow founders over drinks and appetizers at Startup Happy Hour. Hear from Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co. and author of Clean Meat, as he shares insights on food tech, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. Read more.
This Week
Perspectives: Rethinking Business Processes with GenAI
Tue, Jun 24, 9:00 – 10:00 AM, Online
Learn how cleantech startups and resource-conscious founders can apply GenAI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Copilot to streamline operations, reduce costs, and manage risk. Featuring Jessica Carius, Senior GenAI Consultant at Baker Tilly. Read more.
1-on-1 Office Hours with Growth Factory EIRs
Tue, Jun 24, 1:00 – 3:00 PM, In-person in Roseville
Got a startup idea or early-stage company? Meet with Growth Factory’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence for personalized guidance. Intake form required before attending. Read more.
1 Million Cups Sacramento with JAIME and Speak E-Z
Wed, Jun 25, 9:00 – 10:00 AM, Online
Two early-stage startups—JAIME, an AI tool for nuclear industry compliance, and Speak E-Z, a confidential incident reporting platform for SMBs—present their ventures and get feedback from the community. Join this weekly peer support meetup for founders. Doors open at 8:45 AM for networking. Read more.
SacTech Social: June Meetup
Thu, Jun 26, 6:00 – 9:00 PM, In-person in Sacramento
An inclusive community meetup for developers, designers, and the tech-curious to connect, collaborate, and talk tech. Read more.
Plan Ahead
AgStart Learn from a Local: Ryan Dowdy, PhD – Founder & CEO of READYBAR
Thu, Jul 3, 5:30 – 7:30 PM, In-person in Woodland
Join AgStart for their monthly Learn from a Local series featuring Ryan Dowdy, PhD, founder of READYBAR. A former NASA food systems manager, Ryan brings deep technical insight into building a shelf-stable, high-performance meal bar inspired by space nutrition. Connect with others in AgriFoodTech and hear his entrepreneurial journey. Read more.
Folsom AI Meetup featuring aurus.ai Founder Uday Ayyagari
Tue, Jul 8, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, In-person in Folsom
Join Startup Folsom for their monthly AI Meetup at Granite City Coworking. Enjoy pizza, networking, and a featured talk from Uday Ayyagari, founder of aurus.ai, which develops AI solutions for the enterprise. Come for the tech, stay for the conversation. Read more.
Applications
NSF I-Corps STEM Innovator Customer Discovery Course
Apply by Jul 17 for Next Session
Program Dates: Aug 5, 12, 19, 26, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, Online
Validate your STEM startup idea in UC Davis’s free NSF I-Corps course. Use customer discovery to explore customers, refine your business model, and prepare for follow-on NSF funding. Learn more.
Startup Pitch Workshop
Applications Open for this Monthly Event
Refine your startup pitch and get feedback from experienced coaches. Two founders will pitch and receive insights—apply in advance to pitch. Next session is July 10, 5:30-6:30 PM, Online. Read more.
Tomorrow’s Innovators Design & Tech Accelerator
Apply by June 27
This free 10-week program equips aspiring entrepreneurs—especially from BIPOC and underserved communities in Sacramento—with hands-on training in design thinking, 3D printing, and business strategy. Starts Jul 11. Must live or have a business in Sacramento city limits. Apply Now.
Roseville Rising Food Founders 2025
Apply by Mon, July 7
Turn your food passion into a business! This free 10-week program at Roseville Venture Lab helps aspiring culinary entrepreneurs refine strategy and grow with support from mentors and peers. Open to startups in restaurants, mobile food, cottage foods, and packaged goods. Apply now.
SEGA Innovation Grant Competition
Apply by August 1
SEGA’s Accelerate CA Hub is awarding $150,000 in non-dilutive grants to support AgriFoodTech, Health & Life Sciences, and CleanTech/ZEV innovation clusters, with $50,000 per cluster. 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.
