There’s a lot happening this week for entrepreneurs and startup founders. We’ve curated a short list below focused on startup-relevant events. For the full rundown, check out this week’s Startup Digest and consider subscribing to get it every Monday morning.
Featured
Startup Happy Hour with Dennis Delgado
Tomorrow! Tue, Oct 27, 5 – 7 PM, LogOff Brewing in Rancho Cordova
Connect with fellow founders, entrepreneurs and startup community members for an evening of networking and conversation. This month’s Ask Me Anything (AMA) guest is Dennis Delgado, a product design and technology leader with experience building B2B platforms, developing AI-powered workflows and mentoring startups. Dennis is one of the founders of Sac Tech Week. Bring your questions about product development, AI and turning ideas into working solutions. Read more.
Startup-Tech Connect
Mon, Nov 9, 5:30 – 7:30 PM, Hop Gardens in Sacramento
Connect with startup founders, entrepreneurs and tech professionals from across the Sacramento region. This informal networking event brings together people building new businesses and technologies to exchange ideas, meet potential co-founders and collaborators, and strengthen relationships within the local startup community. Read more.
Legal Grounds: Practical Legal Conversations for Founders
Tue, Nov 10, 8 – 9:30 AM, Moneta Ventures in Folsom
Get practical answers to the legal questions that come up while starting and growing a company. This monthly gathering from StartupSac and Witan Law begins with a brief discussion of a timely legal topic, followed by an informal, founder-driven conversation with an experienced startup attorney. Bring your questions and learn from other entrepreneurs. Read more.
Startup Challenge
Fri–Sun, Nov 13–15, Carlsen Center at Sacramento State
Turn an idea into a business in one action-packed weekend of learning by doing. Work with a team to develop, test and pitch a new business idea with guidance and support from Sacramento’s startup community. No idea or prior business experience required. Read more.
This Week
IP for AI Startups: How Founders Can Create a Defensible Moat
Mon, Oct 26, 5:30 – 6:30 PM, Online
Learn how to protect your AI startup’s intellectual property and build a competitive advantage that’s difficult to copy. Former U.S. Patent Examiner Kathryn Vatt will discuss common IP mistakes founders make when sharing ideas, demonstrating products and pitching investors, along with practical strategies for protecting innovations, navigating patents and preparing for investor due diligence. Read more.
Grow Sales on Purpose
Mon, Oct 26, 6 – 7 PM, Roseville Venture Lab in Roseville
Build a repeatable sales process, improve customer retention and lifetime value, and set up referral systems that turn happy customers into new ones. This free Sierra SBDC workshop builds on the first series; advance registration required. Read more.
Brand Therapy Breakfast
Tue, Oct 27, 8:30 – 10 AM, Connect Labs at Aggie Square in Sacramento
Learn how to build a brand that connects with the right customers. Brand strategist Zuza Hicks will cover the customer journey, what branding means beyond a logo, and how to make sure your website is helping rather than losing potential customers. Free breakfast; spots are limited. Read more.
1 Million Cups Sacramento with Duotail
Wed, Oct 28, 9 – 10 AM, Online
Hear from Duotail, a startup developing a new approach to email security that gives users greater control over who can reach their inbox. Instead of relying on spam filters, Duotail uses separate email addresses and customizable rules for different relationships to block unwanted messages before they arrive. The founder will give a six-minute presentation followed by questions, feedback and advice from the community. Read more.
Empowered Entrepreneur: Essential Tools for New and Existing Founders
Wed, Oct 28, 12:45 – 2 PM, Roseville Venture Lab in Roseville
Build a stronger foundation for starting or growing a business in this practical workshop hosted by ChicoSTART and the City of Roseville. Explore essential startup resources, assess your entrepreneurial readiness and participate in a creative exercise designed to help you identify actionable next steps for your business. Read more.
AMA with Cam and JDM
Fri, Oct 30, 12 – 1 PM, Online
Founders questioning whether their startup metrics truly demonstrate progress can get candid feedback on traction, fundraising readiness, and the assumptions behind their strategy. Join live or submit a question in advance to uncover weak spots, sharpen priorities, and avoid spending time on efforts that will not move the business forward. Read more.
Plan Ahead
CLTRE Coffee & Conversation
Wed, Nov 4, 9 – 11 AM, Aggie Square in Sacramento
Entrepreneurs, creatives, investors, and community builders can expand their networks, exchange ideas, and discover opportunities for collaboration across Sacramento. The informal gathering also features Old Soul Coffee and a live pop-up podcast in a welcoming, conversation-focused setting. Read more.
Learn from a Leader: Matt Ferry, Frido Silva and Meghan Poon
Wed, Nov 4, 5:30 – 7:30 PM, AgStart, Woodland
AgStart’s session covers how Food+Ag startup founders can structure commercial partnerships, evaluate agreements, and avoid terms that may limit financing, future partnerships, or exit options. Attendees can also gain practical guidance on IP, manufacturing, distribution, exclusivity, and negotiating with stronger corporate partners. Read more.
AI for Business Workshop: Building an AI Product That Benefits Your Business
Wed, Nov 4, 6 – 8 PM, Roseville Venture Lab, Roseville, CA
Learn how to judge whether an AI idea is worth pursuing, what to design before writing code, and why many AI projects fail after the demo. Glissando AI founder Amin Rabinia shares systems he has built for businesses and founders, and what to prepare before hiring a developer. Part of the free monthly AI for Business series supported by the City of Roseville. Read more.
MedStart CEO Roundtable: Featuring Dr. Brandon Zipp
Thu, Nov 5, 6 – 8 PM, The MarkeTech Group, Davis, CA
A small, in-person roundtable for medical and life science startup leaders to discuss market realities, founder challenges, and practical next steps with peers. Founders can use it to pressure-test ideas, compare notes on clinical and regulatory hurdles, and build relevant local connections. Read more.
Applications
Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy 2027
Applications Open
Aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage founders can gain hands-on business education, mentorship and connections to Sacramento’s entrepreneurial community through the Academy’s 2027 cohort. The program runs January–May, with Saturday morning sessions covering customer research, marketing, finance, business planning and pitching. Learn more.
Build Up Sacramento 2027 Applications Open
Rolling Admission Open Now through Nov 30
Established Sacramento businesses with at least one year of operating history are invited to apply for this no-cost accelerator designed to help companies scale sustainably. Over four months, participants receive expert advising, peer learning, office hours, and practical strategies for strengthening operations, expanding customers, and preparing for long-term growth. Only 20 businesses will be selected, with qualified applicants accepted on a rolling basis. Read more.
Traction Lab: Investment Readiness Engine
Applications Open
Apply for this 9-month go-to-market acceleration program supporting Sacramento-area founders with B2B sales development, enterprise pilot strategy, investor readiness, and traction-building support. Led by Traction Lab in partnership with Right Box and the Carlsen Center, the program includes a $20K non-dilutive experimentation pool shared across the cohort, and culminates in a $100K SPV Investment Showcase. Read more.
GFN Office Hours – Apply for 1:1 Mentorship
Applications Open | Roseville
Apply for a free one-on-one session with a GFN Entrepreneur-in-Residence and get personalized feedback on your startup idea or business challenges. Sessions are held at the Roseville Venture Lab. Read more
Sacramento Startup Events App
Startup Digest volunteer curator Manoj Keechilot of Gilentic Technologies has created a free Android app to help entrepreneurs discover Sacramento startup events, accelerator opportunities, and application deadlines. Browse upcoming events, filter by date, add events to your calendar, and access registration links—all in one place. Download Sacramento Startup Events free on Google Play.
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.
