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!

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Featured

Annual Startup Holiday Party – Don’t Miss It!
Tue, Dec 9, 5 – 8 PM, In-person at The Urban Hive in Sacramento
Wrap up the year with Sacramento’s startup community at a cross-organization holiday meetup hosted by StartupSac, CleanStart, The Urban Hive, Carlsen Center, Startup Folsom, Startup Grind, MedStart, 1 Million Cups, VETS, Growth Factory, SEA, and AgStart. Connect, celebrate, and recharge for the year ahead. Read more.

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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. Apply now. Learn more.

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This Week

Office Hours with Growth Factory EIRs
Tue, Dec 9, 12 – 3 PM, Roseville Venture Lab in Roseville
Get guidance on your startup or small business from Growth Factory’s Entrepreneurs-in-Residence. Sessions are scheduled for 30–60 minutes based on your needs; registration and an intake form are required. Read more.

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SEGA Health & Life Science Pitch Showcase
Tuesday, December 9, 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Aggie Square in Sacramento
Watch leading health, biotech, and life-science startups pitch for a $50K non-dilutive Accelerate CA grant. Finalists span digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, and med-tech, with special visiting companies from South Korea. A great chance to connect with innovators shaping Sacramento’s growing life-science ecosystem. Read more.

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1 Million Cups Sacramento with IsoSense
Wed, Dec 3, 9 – 10 AM, Online
Join this weekly Zoom meetup where founders present their early-stage businesses and get questions, feedback, and advice from an audience of peers. Networking starts at 8:45 AM. Presenter: IsoSense uses remote sensors to help detect how full trash bins are. Read more.

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Year-End Practices & Document Gathering for Small Businesses
Wed, Dec 10, 10 – 11:30 AM, Online
Learn how to organize essential financial records, identify vendors needing 1099s, and understand the critical documents CPAs require for accurate tax filing. We’ll discuss actionable tips for gathering and managing key records like bank statements, payroll reports, and major purchase receipts, along with best practices for reconciling accounts and simplifying the tax process. Hosted by the Women’s Business Center. Read more.

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CleanStart CEO Crash Course Info Session
Wed, Dec 10, 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Online
Learn what to expect from the upcoming CEO Crash Course, a hands-on training program for early-stage cleantech founders working in climate, water, energy, and related technologies. Get an overview of the curriculum, who it’s for, and how it helps entrepreneurs grow with clarity instead of guesswork. Read more.

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MIX: Monthly Innovation Exchange
Thu, Dec 11, 5 – 7 PM, Connect Labs at Aggie Square in Sacramento
Join innovators, founders, creatives, and community builders for December’s MIX, focused on “Gratitude Works: Giving, Living, & Being Well.” Enjoy lightning talks, roundtable conversations, and networking centered on wellness, generosity, and staying grounded through year-end transitions. Read more.

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Traction Lab – Live Office Hours
Fri, Dec 12, 12 – 1 PM, Virtual
Join JDM and Cam Law for Live Startup Office Hours where founders get sharp, evidence-based feedback on growth, validation, and traction. No slides, no fluff—just real questions and real answers to help you move forward. Read more.

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Applications

NSF I-Corps Customer Discovery Course
Multiple Sessions – Ongoing, Online
Validate your startup idea inNorthwest Region NSF I-Corps Hub courses. Use Lean LaunchPad to explore customers and value. Eligible teams may qualify for a $50K NSF grant and $5K in AWS credits. Learn more.

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UC Law SF Startup Legal Garage
Apply Now for Free Legal Assistance!
The Startup Legal Garage is accepting applications for its Spring 2026 cohort. Spots are limited and filled on a rolling basis—apply early. Visit Startup Legal Garage to learn more and apply.

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Traction Lab – Live Office Hours
Fri, Dec 5, 12 – 1 PM, Virtual
Join JDM and Cam Law for Live Startup Office Hours where founders get sharp, evidence-based feedback on growth, validation, and traction. No slides, no fluff—just real questions and real answers to help you move forward. Read more.

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Plan Ahead

SEGA Health & Life Science Pitch Showcase
Tuesday, December 9, 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Aggie Square in Sacramento
Watch leading health, biotech, and life-science startups pitch for a $50K non-dilutive Accelerate CA grant. Finalists span digital health, diagnostics, therapeutics, and med-tech, with special visiting companies from South Korea. A great chance to connect with innovators shaping Sacramento’s growing life-science ecosystem. Read more.

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Year-End Practices & Document Gathering for Small Businesses
Wed, Dec 10, 10 – 11:30 AM, Online
Learn how to organize essential financial records, identify vendors needing 1099s, and understand the critical documents CPAs require for accurate tax filing. We’ll discuss actionable tips for gathering and managing key records like bank statements, payroll reports, and major purchase receipts, along with best practices for reconciling accounts and simplifying the tax process. Hosted by the Women’s Business Center. Read more.

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MIX: Monthly Innovation Exchange
Thu, Dec 11, 5 – 7 PM, Connect Labs at Aggie Square in Sacramento
Join innovators, founders, creatives, and community builders for December’s MIX, focused on “Gratitude Works: Giving, Living, & Being Well.” Enjoy lightning talks, roundtable conversations, and networking centered on wellness, generosity, and staying grounded through year-end transitions. Read more.

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Applications

NSF I-Corps Customer Discovery Course
Multiple Sessions – Ongoing, Online
Validate your startup idea inNorthwest Region NSF I-Corps Hub courses. Use Lean LaunchPad to explore customers and value. Eligible teams may qualify for a $50K NSF grant and $5K in AWS credits. Learn more.

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UC Law SF Startup Legal Garage
Apply Now for Free Legal Assistance!
The Startup Legal Garage is accepting applications for its Spring 2026 cohort. Spots are limited and filled on a rolling basis—apply early. Visit Startup Legal Garage to learn more and apply.

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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.

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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.

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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.