Startup World Cup Comes to Sac + Startup Events

We got some exciting news last week -- the Startup World Cup competition is coming to Sacramento! On August 30, ten startups from our region will compete to advance to the Semi-finals and Finals of the 2022 Startup World Cup, to be held in San Francisco in late September. Startups interested in competing should submit an application by August 15. Learn more in this Sacramento Inno article. Additional details here. Apply here.

And here's some more exciting news, the Roseville Venture Lab is taking applications for its first cohort of Roseville Rising, a six-week program to support early-stage entrepreneurs. The program focuses on validating business models and growing customer traction and sales. Roseville Rising is free and open to entrepreneurs from anywhere in the greater Sacramento region. Candidate companies are expected to have an existing product or service. You can learn more here. Apply here by August 15.

ICYMI: Mentor Sprint, which we've held virtually during the pandemic, is going in-person at the Growth Factory's GFX event on August 25. Startups who are accepted will receive free admission to GFX (a $99 value). This speed mentoring event will give venture-backable high-growth startups an opportunity to meet with three mentors . Apply now -- limited to 27 founders. (link corrected)

Application Due Dates

• Due Jul 29 NSF I-Corps Method: Intro to Lean Startup- August 15, 17, and 22
• Due Aug 1 Lean Innovator Cohort (8/29-10/13)
• Due Aug 15 Startup World Cup Sacramento
• Due Aug 15 Roseville Rising 6-wk Program (Sep-Oct)
• Due Aug 21 Alchemist Microenterprise Academy (9/13-12/7)

Find out what’s going on this week for entrepreneurs in our region in this week’s Startup Digest. While you’re there, sign up to get the digest weekly in your inbox.

This Week’s Best Bets

Startup Happy Hour with Flexia Founder Kaleen Canevari, Jul 26, 5 PM. StartupSac and the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State welcome Kaleen Canevari , founder & CEO of Flexia. Meet Kaleen, a FourthWave & TechStars Sport accelerator alum, and learn about her "Pelaton of pilates" startup and how she's raised $4M in funding. Online

Small Business Success Summit, Jul 30, 9 AM - 4 PM. Florin Square CDC is hosting the Small Business Success Summit at Florin Square. The event will have a variety of informative workshops throughout the day led by professionals. There will also be more than 20 vendors with resources for the small business owner and the future entrepreneur. A mixer will take place at the end of the event including a raffle, Jazz, and networking. In person at Florin Square in Sacramento.

Plan Ahead

Testing Business Ideas with David Bland, Aug 5, Noon. Join us in learning how to test your business ideas with the author of Testing Business Ideas and Founder & CEO of Precoil, David Bland! Online

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.