ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - The City of Elk Grove, in partnership with StartupSac and Explore Elk Grove, is proud to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Pitch Elk Grove startup competition, celebrating its 5th anniversary as a leading platform for early-stage, tech-driven companies.

Launched in 2022 as a cornerstone of the City’s Startup Elk Grove Incentive Program, Pitch Elk Grove has quickly become a high-visibility, multi-stage accelerator connecting entrepreneurs to mentorship, funding and real-world opportunities.

The program serves startups across eight Northern California counties: El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba, and is designed for founders with working prototypes or Minimum Viable Products (MVPs).

“Pitch Elk Grove is more than a competition, it’s a launchpad,” said the city’s Economic Development Director Darrell Doan. “We’re creating a space where founders can refine their ideas, connect with investors, and gain the visibility needed to grow right here in Elk Grove.”

This year, as part of our 5th anniversary celebration, the city will be inviting past participants to attend Pitch Elk Grove and will formally recognize past winners during the program. In addition, the city will be working to amplify their journeys since winning Pitch Elk Grove, highlighting how their businesses have grown, the milestones they’ve achieved, and the continued impact of their participation in the program.

 

Pictured is the first-place winner of the 2025 Pitch Elk Grove competition Rich Foreman of IGH Naturals.

A Competition Built to Accelerate Startups

Pitch Elk Grove goes beyond a single pitch event. Selected applicants move through a structured, multi-phase process designed to prepare them for investment and growth: A competitive application and vetting process; Virtual semi-final rounds with expert feedback; One-on-one mentorship and pitch coaching; and a live, “Shark Tank”-style finale.

Finalists will take the stage in front of an audience of business leaders, community members, and a panel of seasoned investors competing for a $20,000 non-dilutive prize pool.

Building a Regional Innovation Hub

Pitch Elk Grove was created to address a critical gap in the regional startup ecosystem: access to early-stage capital, mentorship and visibility. By offering all three in a single, highly visible platform, the program is helping to redefine Elk Grove, and the greater Sacramento region, as a destination for innovation.

Through cross-sector collaboration with regional partners such as Kaiser Permanente, Republic Services, and the Sacramento Business Journal, the program continues to grow its impact while strengthening connections between entrepreneurs, investors and the broader business community.

Real Results, Real Growth

Since its launch, Pitch Elk Grove has supported dozens of founders and contributed to the growth of companies across the region. Alumni have gone on to secure major partnerships, scale operations, and create jobs demonstrating the program’s role as a catalyst for economic development.

The event also integrates workforce development and education, engaging local students in hands-on roles and exposing them to entrepreneurship as a viable career pathway, helping retain talent and build a stronger local economy.

Applications are now open for startups across El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba, to take part in the Pitch Elk Grove competition which is designed for founders with working prototypes or Minimum Viable Products (MVPs). Photo courtesy of City of Elk Grove

Apply Now

Entrepreneurs interested in participating in the 2026 Pitch Elk Grove competition are encouraged to apply by June 8. For eligibility requirements and application details, visit elkgrove.gov/pitchelkgrove.

The contest is proudly produced by the City of Elk Grove in collaboration with StartupSac, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting regional entrepreneurial success, and Explore Elk Grove, the city’s official tourism marketing organization.

The Startup Elk Grove Incentive Program provides technical and financial assistance to launching and scaling technology and innovation-based startups, and to co-working and incubator facilities that support them.

To qualify, companies must be emerging or scaling and commercializing innovative products or platforms. For more information, visit www.investelkgrove.org.

Elk Grove is a young, ethnically diverse, modern city of 188,319 people located in the dynamic and affordable Sacramento metropolitan region, the capital of the 4th largest economy in the world. Incorporated in 2000, Elk Grove is a family- and business-friendly community with low crime, excellent schools, over 100 community parks, elevated dining and shopping options, lively events and festivals, and over 270 sunny days per year. With its highly educated workforce, modern facilities and infrastructure, and pro-business attitude, it's clear why major corporations and institutions such as Apple, Cardinal Health, Amazon, UC Davis, AllData, and Kubota call Elk Grove home.