It’s a quiet week because of the Thanksgiving Holiday. Take a break and spend some time with family and friends! And if you are jonesing to move your startup forward, or need something to listen to on the long drive over the river and through the woods, there’s always past episodes of the Zero to Traction podcast by JDM and Cam. Listen here.
For the full rundown of what’s happening next week, check out this week’s Startup Digest. While you’re there, be sure to subscribe to get it in your inbox every Monday morning!
Featured
Annual Startup Holiday Party – Don’t Miss It!
Tue, Dec 9, 5 – 8 PM, In-person at The Urban Hive in Sacramento
Wrap up the year with Sacramento’s startup community at a cross-organization holiday meetup hosted by StartupSac, CleanStart, The Urban Hive, Carlsen Center, Startup Folsom, Startup Grind, MedStart, 1 Million Cups, VETS, Growth Factory, SEA, and AgStart. Connect, celebrate, and recharge for the year ahead. Read more.
Applications Open: Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy 2026
SEA’s 2026 cohort runs from Jan–May in Sacramento, offering mentorship, business planning, and access to a powerful alumni network. Early-bird and student discounts available. Learn more.
Lean Startup Bootcamp
Fri, Dec 5, 5:30 PM – Sat, Dec 6, 3 PM, In-person at the Carlsen Center in Sacramento
Turn your idea into a launch-ready venture in this two-day bootcamp covering Lean Canvas, value propositions, design thinking, and testing business ideas. Learn how investors evaluate startups, strengthen your pitch, and connect with mentors and fellow founders. Food provided at both sessions. Read more.
Plan Ahead
CleanStart Perspectives | Automating Clean Energy Incentives with AI
Tue, Dec 2, 9 – 10 AM, Online
Hear from Sam Ruderman, founder of Resolv Rebates, on how AI is streamlining clean energy incentives to make adoption faster, fairer, and more accessible. Learn how automation and data intelligence are transforming the path to decarbonization. Read more.
Marketing in a Digital World
Tue, Dec 2, 9:30 – 11 AM, Online
Learn how to stand out online by reaching core audiences, strengthening your digital presence, and building community across platforms. Led by Pablo Solares of Chase Business Banking, this workshop offers practical strategies you can apply right away. Hosted by the Women’s Business Center. Read more.
AgStart Learn From a Local: Dr. Justin Siegel
Thu, Dec 4, 5:30 – 7 PM, In-person at the AgStart Event Center in Woodland
Join AgStart for an evening with Dr. Justin Siegel of UC Davis, who will share how research-driven innovation is creating new opportunities in food and health. Hear insights from his work leading interdisciplinary programs and co-founding multiple ventures at the intersection of food, biotech, and sustainability. Read more.
Applications
NSF I-Corps Customer Discovery Course
Multiple Sessions – Ongoing, Online
Validate your startup idea inNorthwest Region NSF I-Corps Hub courses. Use Lean LaunchPad to explore customers and value. Eligible teams may qualify for a $50K NSF grant and $5K in AWS credits. Learn more.
UC Law SF Startup Legal Garage
Apply Now for Free Legal Assistance!
The Startup Legal Garage is accepting applications for its Spring 2026 cohort. Spots are limited and filled on a rolling basis—apply early. Visit Startup Legal Garage to learn more and apply.
Traction Lab Venture Accelerator
Applications Open Now
Fast-track your startup’s growth! This accelerator, powered by The Right Box and the Carlsen Center, helps pre-seed and seed-stage founders in tech-enabled sectors reach product-market fit and get funding-ready—twice as fast. 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.
