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
25th Annual Big Bang! Awards Ceremony
Tue, May 20, 5–8pm · In-person in Davis
Celebrate the innovators competing in the UC Davis Big Bang! Business Competition. Join the entrepreneurial community as winners are announced and over $100K in prizes are awarded. Pizza included. Read more.
Startup Happy Hour with Core Impact CEO Samuel Taylor
Tue, May 27, 5:00 – 7:00 PM, In-person in Elk Grove
Mix and mingle with fellow founders over drinks and appetizers, and hear from Samuel Taylor, Co-founder and CEO of Core Impact—a sports tech startup helping athletes improve performance. Hosted by StartupSac and the Carlsen Center. Sponsored by Invest Elk Grove. Read more.
This Week
Drop-in 1-on-1 Office Hours with Growth Factory EIRs
Tue, May 20, 1:00 – 3:00 PM, In-person in Roseville
Got a startup idea or early-stage business? Get guidance from Growth Factory’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence during open office hours at Roseville Venture Lab. Registration and intake form required. Read more.
1 Million Cups Sacramento with TwinGame and Aurus.ai
Wed, May 21, 9 – 10 AM, Online
Entrepreneurs present their early-stage businesses to an audience of their peers for advice and feedback.Hear from TwinGame, a matchmaking platform that ranks compatibility, and Aurus.ai, an AI-powered tool that turns business documents into insights. Weekly founder-focused meetup Read more.
Startup Pitch Workshop
Thu, May 22, 5:30 – 6:30 PM, Online
Watch two venture-ready startups pitch and get expert feedback in this monthly workshop hosted by StartupSac, Startup Folsom, and Startup Grind Sacramento. Read more.
MedStart: Brad Niles, CEO of ARIZ Precision Medicine
Thu, May 22, 6–8pm · In-person in Sacramento
Hear how ARIZ Precision Medicine is developing targeted therapies to treat cancer at the gene level. Founder Brad Niles will share insights at this MedStart event, now hosted at Connect Labs in Aggie Square. Read more.
SacTech Social – May Meetup
Thu, May 22, 6:00 – 8:00 PM, In-person in Sacramento
Connect with local developers, designers, and tech-curious folks at this casual monthly hangout. Open to SacTech members—signup is free at sac-tech.com. Come talk code, design, and everything in between. Read more.
Plan Ahead
Startup-Tech Connect
Mon, Jun 9, 5:30 – 7:30 PM, In-person in Sacramento
Join founders, tech pros, and innovators for casual networking, guided conversations, and community building over pizza and beer. Hosted at Hop Garden on Franklin Blvd. Read more.
Lean Startup Bootcamp
Fri, Jun 13, 5–8pm & Sat, Jun 14, 9am–2pm · In-person in Sacramento
Learn how to take your startup or nonprofit idea from concept to pitch. This two-day, hands-on bootcamp covers lean startup tools, investor expectations, and community building. Meals included. Read more
Applications
FourthWave Accelerator
Apply by June 6
For women-led tech companies looking to scale. Includes mentorship, training, and peer support. Learn more.
Virtual Incubator for Green Entrepreneurs (FlexPath)
Applications Open Now
Free support for SEDI entrepreneurs building green businesses in California. Apply now.
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.
Startup Pitch Workshop
Next session May 22
Apply to pitch and get feedback from experienced coaches. Read more.
Traction Lab Venture Accelerator
Applications Open Now
Get funding-ready, fast. Ideal for pre-seed and seed-stage tech startups. 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.