There’s a lot going on this week and next for entrepreneurs and startup founders. We’ve curated a short list below. For the full rundown of what’s happening this week and next, 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
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.
Startup Happy Hour with Kora CEO Greg Connolly
Tue, Oct 28, 5 – 7 PM, LogOff Brewing, Rancho Cordova
Join Sacramento’s startup community for networking, conversation, and insights from Greg Connolly, veteran entrepreneur and CEO of Kora, a next-generation home energy company. Connect with founders, enjoy appetizers, and be part of an evening building our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Hosted by StartupSac and the Carlsen Center, sponsored by the City of Rancho Cordova. Read More.
This Week
Drop-in 1-on-1 Office Hours with Growth Factory EIRs
Tue, Oct 7, 12 – 3 PM, Roseville Venture Lab, Roseville
Have a startup idea or small business? Growth Factory’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence are available for drop-in office hours to provide guidance and resources. This is not a pitch or investment opportunity, but a chance to get tailored support for your business journey. Registration and intake form required. Read more.
Folsom AI Meetup: Zoom AI Overview
Tue, Oct 7, 6 – 8 PM, Granite City Workspaces, Folsom
Join Startup Folsom and Granite City Coworking for this month’s AI Meetup. Zoom Account Executive Jeff Isgrig will give an overview of Zoom’s AI capabilities. Come for the insights, stay for the networking and pizza. Read more.
1 Million Cups Sacramento with BusyKids Play & Coworking Cafe
Wed, Oct 8, 9 – 10 AM, Online
BusyKids is an indoor coworking and play space designed for modern families, combining productivity, play, and social connection under one roof. Join us on Zoom to hear their story, share feedback, and connect with fellow entrepreneurs. Doors open at 8:45 for optional networking. Read more.
Regulatory Blue Oceans: How New Rules Create New Markets
Thu, Oct 9, 10 – 11 AM, Online
Discover how new regulations can spark billion-dollar markets. Dr. Brian Gladden, Carlsen Center EIR and Strategy & Innovation Institute founder, will share how to spot compliance-driven opportunities, why some models thrive in regulatory markets, and lessons from the $500M+ California Smog Check industry. Read more.
Traction Lab Live Startup Office Hours with JDM + Cam
Fri, Oct 10, 12 – 1 PM, Virtual (LinkedIn Live)
Join Traction Lab co-founders JDM and Cameron Law for live startup office hours—no slides, no fluff, just sharp, evidence-based feedback. This week’s guest is Oleg Kaganovich, venture builder and investor. Bring your toughest growth questions and get clarity from experts who’ve seen what works—and what doesn’t. Read more.
Plan Ahead
Techstars Fundraising Series: Ready, Set, Go!
Tue, Oct 14, 21 & 28, 8 – 9 AM, Online
Navigating venture capital is one of the biggest challenges for startups. This three-part Techstars series provides a playbook to prepare, polish, and pitch with confidence. From finding the right investors and building strong fundraising materials to practicing in a live mock interview, you’ll gain the strategies and insights needed to secure capital. Read more.
InnoGrove’s 10th Anniversary Party
Tue, Oct 14, 3 – 6 PM, InnoGrove Coworking, Elk Grove
Over the past decade, InnoGrove’s coworking community has grown dreams into startups, hosted countless events, and built lasting friendships. Now it’s time to celebrate with members, alumni, partners, and friends who made it possible. Join us as we raise a glass to a decade of creativity, community, and collaboration—and get excited for the next 10 years! Read more.
Rethink Growth: Finding Your Blue Ocean Strategy in Fast-Changing Time
Tue, Oct 14, 5:30 – 7:30 PM, Carlsen Center, Sacramento
In today’s crowded markets, traditional growth strategies aren’t enough. Join Dr. Andrea Simon for an interactive Blue Ocean Strategy workshop to learn how to unlock new opportunities, create uncontested market space, and build a strategic canvas tailored to your venture. Perfect for founders, leaders, and innovators ready to rethink growth. Read more.
1 Million Cups Sacramento at Davis Chamber of Commerce
Wed, Oct 15, 8:30 – 10 AM, Davis Chamber of Commerce, Davis
A weekly founder meetup where entrepreneurs present for feedback. This week: Yeast Bay Bio (yeast-based biocontrols to safely eliminate cockroaches); second presenter TBA. Hybrid with Zoom option. Read more.
Startup Pitch Workshop
Wed, Oct 15, 5:30 – 6:45 PM, Online (Zoom)
Join StartupSac, Startup Folsom, and Startup Grind Sacramento for this monthly virtual workshop where venture-ready startups refine their pitch and receive expert feedback from experienced coaches. Two startups will be selected to present. Observers welcome. Apply to present on November 12 here or register to observe on October 15 here.
Design Thinking for Entrepreneurs
Wed, Oct 15, 5:30 – 6:30 PM, Online
Organized by the Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy, this interactive workshop introduces design thinking as a practical framework for uncovering real customer needs, testing ideas quickly, and refining your business model with confidence. Facilitator Gabe Lewall will share tools, examples, and strategies to help you ditch the guesswork and design with your customer in mind. Read more.
ACM Sacramento Chapter: 8th Future Worlds Symposium
Thu, Oct 16 and Fri, Oct 17, 9 AM – 4 PM, In-person at the Carlsen Center at Sac State and Online
The Future Worlds Symposium is a yearly tech conference organized by Sacramento’s professional ACM chapter with assistance from local ACM student chapters. The theme for this year’s symposium is “Data & AI for a Safer World”. Read more.
Plan Way Ahead
Startup-Tech Connect
Mon, Oct 20, 5:30 – 7:30 PM, Hop Gardens, Sacramento
Join Sacramento’s tech and startup community for an evening of genuine conversations, guided networking, and shared enthusiasm. Meet potential co-founders, collaborators, and innovators in a relaxed setting. Build relationships that matter and strengthen our region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Read More.
FIRA USA 2025 | Ag Robotics in Action
Tue–Thu, Oct 21–23, 9 AM – 4 PM, Yolo County Fairgrounds, Woodland
FIRA USA brings 2,500+ leaders in ag robotics together for three days of demos, panels, and networking. The in-field event showcases autonomous solutions for sustainable farming, with a focus on growers, researchers, and industry partners. Farmers, students, and journalists attend free. Read more.
CleanStart Rising Stars Showcase
Wed, Oct 22, 2 – 6:30 PM, Aggie Square, Sacramento
See Sacramento’s most promising startups pitch for $50K in grant funding, alongside spotlights from WindHarvest and LiCap and presentations from CleanStart’s Deep Dive Accelerator. Network with investors, innovators, and vote for the Audience Choice Award. Read more.
Applications
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 October 15. Next opening to pitch is November 12, 5:30-6:30 PM, Online. Read more.
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.
