This week, I’ve rounded up a couple of opportunities for minority lead and underrepresented businesses below. Let me know if you apply for either of these, especially if you are selected!

Are you a visionary minority woman with a business that betters our society? Consider applying for the 5th Annual Minority Women Lead event in Silicon Valley. Selected applicants will participate in a live pitch competition, pitching their projects to a panel of business innovators who will award funding of up to $10,000 to the winner. Up to three winners will be selected. The Application deadline is Monday, July 11. The competition is on August 25. Learn More.

The Antares REACH Grant Program, presented by Antares Capital, Hello Alice and the Global Entrepreneurship Network, provides $20,000 grants to eligible small businesses, with an emphasis on businesses preparing for their next stage of growth; operated by historically underrepresented entrepreneurs; and providing important community services. The program is for for-profit businesses that are majority owned and/or operated by individuals who identify as New Majority (Women, People of Color, Military-affiliated, Persons with Disabilities, or LGBTQ+) and have less than $5 million USD in annual revenue. The application deadline is July 15. Learn more.

Innovation Awards Nomination Deadline

The deadline for nominations for the Sacramento Business Journal’s annual Sacramento Region Innovation Awards is June 28. Learn more about the criteria and how to make a nomination here.

There’s a lot going on this week for entrepreneurs in our region! Check out this week’s Startup Digest for a full listing (plus you can sign up to get the digest weekly in your inbox while you’re there!).

This Week’s Best Bets

See How to Design a Winning Business as a First-Time Founder, Jun 21, 5 PM. Startup Grind Sacramento will be hosting a free virtual workshop featuring Right Box Founder, Josh David Miller (JDM) who will discuss how startups can design a strong business model. Online

Startup Happy Hour with EV Life and EyeRate, Award Winning Local Startups, Jun 22, 5 PM. Join us for Startup Happy Hour powered by StartupSac and the Carlsen Center with EV Life and EyeRate, startups who recently won big prize money in local pitch contests. Online

AI and Machine Learning Demystified, Jun 23, 5:30 PM. AI systems are becoming part of our everyday lives. This session, organized by ACM Sacramento, will provide basic information about AI, machine learning, and the ethical conflicts and implications inherent in these technologies.  Online

Plan Ahead

GFX, Aug 25, 1:00-7:00 PM. Part startup showcase, part venture conference, part entrepreneurial ecosystem building — 100% high energy, interactive and impactful! GFX is the Growth Factory’s first annual event designed to activate the Backyard Advantage at scale. Use promo code “StartupSac” for $5 off admission. In person at @theGrounds in Roseville. 

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 our website for information on resources available to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses.