There’s a lot happening this week for entrepreneurs and startup founders. We’ve curated a short list below focused on startup-relevant events. For the full rundown, check out this week’s Startup Digest and consider subscribing to get it every Monday morning.

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Featured

Startup Challenge Spring 2026
Fri, Apr 10 – Sun, Apr 12, Carlsen Center at Sac State
A full weekend of building. Form a team around a new idea on Friday, then spend the weekend bringing it to life—getting out of the building, talking to real people, and shaping something that could actually work. Come with an idea or not—either way, you’ll learn by doing and leave with real progress. Info session on Wed, Mar 25, 5:30 – 6 PM (online). Ready to rock? Read more.

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Accelerate CA Grant Opportunity
Applications due TODAY, March 30
Up to $300,000 in non-dilutive funding for startups in AgriFood Tech, Health and Life Sciences, and Clean Tech. Designed for pre-seed to pre-Series A companies in the region. Read more.

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Mentor Sprint
Wed, May 6, 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM, Carlsen Center (Sacramento)
A fast-paced speed mentoring event where founders meet one-on-one with experienced mentors in 15-minute sessions. Get targeted advice, fresh perspectives, and new connections in just 90 minutes. Organized by the Carlsen Center and StartupSac. Read more.

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This Week

Solo-Founder 101: Build a Startup with AI
Tue, Mar 31, 9 – 10:30 AM, Online
Learn how solo founders are using AI to launch faster—from customer discovery to market research and prototyping. Walk away with practical prompts, tools, and workflows to start building. Organized by Founder Institute. Read more.

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1 Million Cups Sacramento (SmartStart AI + Good Neighbor Guard)
Wed, Apr 1, 9 – 10 AM, Online
Join this weekly founder meetup where early-stage startups present and get live feedback from the community. This week features SmartStart AI and Good Neighbor Guard. Read more.

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CLTRE Coffee & Conversation
Wed, Apr 1, 9 – 11 AM, Connect Labs (Sacramento)
A monthly community meetup bringing together founders, partners, and locals for coffee, conversation, and connection. Includes space tours and casual networking. Read more.

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Learn From A Local: Ashley Stokes, UCD College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Thu, Apr 2, 5:30 PM, In-person in Woodland
Hear from UC Davis CA&ES Dean Ashley Stokes on emerging opportunities and innovation in agriculture. Part of AgStart’s Learn From a Local speaker series. Read more.

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Startup Office Hours: Traction Lab (JDM + Cam)
Fri, Apr 3, 12 – 1 PM, Online
Join this weekly AMA for unfiltered founder advice—get real feedback on customers, traction, and fundraising from JDM and Cam. No slides, just honest answers and practical insight. Read more.

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Plan Ahead

AI for Business Panel: Real-World Use Cases
Tue, Apr 7, 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Roseville Venture Lab
Hear how local businesses are actually using AI in finance, marketing, and customer support. Expect practical workflows, real examples, and honest insights on what works (and what doesn’t). Read more.

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Big Bang! Workshop: Delivering Your Pitch Like a Pro
Thu, Apr 9, 12 – 1 PM, Online
Learn how to craft and deliver a compelling pitch—from storytelling and key content to handling tough questions with confidence. Ideal for early-stage founders preparing for competitions or investor conversations. Read more.

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MIX: Monthly Innovation Exchange
Thu, Apr 9, 5 – 7 PM, Connect Labs at Aggie Square in Sacramento
A monthly gathering for founders, researchers, and community builders to connect and share ideas. This month explores how innovation moves from concept to real-world impact. Read more.

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Startup Grind Fireside Chat with Sandy Paige, Seabright Ventures Fund
Wed, Apr 15, 6 – 8 PM, The Urban Hive in Sacramento
Join a fireside chat with investor Sandy Paige on building and scaling X-as-a-Service businesses and how family offices evaluate long-term opportunities.  Read more.

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Northern California Venture Conference
Thu, May 7, Redding
A regional conference bringing together founders and investors, with startup pitch opportunities and a $10K prize. Read more.

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Applications

AWS AI Pitch Competition – Call for Startups
Applications Due April 16
Building something in AI? Apply to pitch at the AWS AI Pitch Competition and get in front of technical experts from AWS and partners. Selected startups receive hands-on feedback on architecture, data strategy, and scaling—plus a chance at up to $25K in AWS Partner support. Read more.

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Northern California Venture Conference Pitch Applications
Applications Due April 17
Pitch your startup in front of investors and regional leaders. A chance to gain visibility, feedback, and compete for funding. Read more.

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Economic Gardening 2.0 – City of Sacramento
Applications due Apr 20
Support for companies with traction looking to scale through market research, strategy, and data-driven growth planning. Read more.

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NorCal AngelCon 2026
Applications due May 27
A multi-month investor program culminating in a $100K investment. Open to startups across sectors with additional support for deep tech companies. Read more.

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UC Davis NSF I-Corps Customer Discovery Program
Applications due May 28
A short program for STEM founders to validate ideas through customer discovery and refine their value proposition. 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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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.