ELK GROVE, CA (MPG) - After reviewing a record 109 applications from across eight Northern California counties, the City of Elk Grove has announced the 17 innovative startups selected to advance to Pitch Elk Grove’s semi-finals.

These innovative startups reflect the best of Northern California’s entrepreneurial spirit, bringing bold ideas, diverse industries and high-growth potential to the forefront.

On July 23, all 17 will participate in a virtual pitch-off to determine who will move on to the finals. The top teams will then receive expert mentorship and pitch live on Sept. 3 at District56 in Elk Grove, 8230 Civic Center Drive, where $20,000 in prizes will be awarded. Join us to see the next generation of innovators shaping the future of our region.

The 2026 Pitch Elk Grove competition begins at 4:30 p.m. for networking along with local food and beverages, program takes place at 5 p.m. and winners will be announced at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3.

Meet the 17 Semi-Finalists

5D Therapeutics, Inc. of Davis: Developing a new class of metabolic therapies that reduce fat while preserving muscle without appetite suppression.

Anchor Point Health of Sacramento: Building the trusted operating environment for intelligent care delivered safely in every home.

BillDecoder of Lodi: Physician-founded AI app that analyzes medical bills, flags potential errors, and writes dispute letters for patients.

Core Envision Inc of Folsom: AI-powered 3D modeling and layout tapes for home framing, delivering prefab speed on-site without factory overhead.

EnlitenAI of Tracy: Transforming epilepsy care through Neuroliten™, an AI-enabled cloud platform for continuous clinical intelligence.

First Bite of Davis: A non-adhesive, more reliable device that secures breathing tubes for neonatal and pediatric ICU patients.

GuLP AAC of Sacramento: A communication app for nonspeaking children.

Insta Brow of Elk Grove: A patent-pending 30-second brow stain pen that eliminates the daily brow routine for up to 5 days.

Krokos Bio of Davis: Growing high-value botanicals like saffron via plant cell culture: scalable, regional and climate-independent.

Lilypay of Lincoln: A B2B2C funeral financing platform, helping homes say “yes” while giving families dignity, time and relief.

My HR Confidant of Sacramento: A secure platform empowering employees to speak up anonymously; organizations respond with clarity and accountability.

Pheronym, Inc. of Woodland: Developing a new kind of pheromone to control agricultural pests in the soil so farmers can grow more food.

Purple Door Finders of Sacramento: Making it easy to find and compare senior living and care options on one trusted platform.

Sage Atlas of Elk Grove: Building local first, private AI systems that don't hand sensitive business data to third-party cloud tools.

SecureScribe of Sacramento: Helps psych nurses chart faster with safer AI clinical notes.

The Mindful Five of Elk Grove: Interactive platform delivering five-minute daily practices for intentional living, even if meditation isn’t your thing.

Yeast Bay Bio of Davis: Replaces toxic insecticides in the home with a yeast-based alternative, safe for people, pets and planet.

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. Our dedicated staff of economic development professionals are ready to help you plan, finance, and fast-track your next business expansion or relocation project.