Applications Open For Pitch Elk Grove Startup Pitch Competition

Pitch Elk Grove is an opportunity for local entrepreneurs to showcase their business, receive mentorship, and win prize money for their business.

Recognizing the need to promote area startups and spotlight the Sacramento region as a startup hub, the City of Elk Grove, in collaboration with StartupSac, launched Pitch Elk Grove in 2022. Back for its fifth year, Pitch Elk Grove will provide innovative, investable startups with the opportunity to showcase their companies in-person at a pitch event to take place Thursday, September 3, 2026 in Elk Grove Up to eight of the region’s most promising and innovative technology-driven startups will take the stage to compete for $20,000 in prize money, presenting live to a panel of judges and an engaged audience.

Who will win the first place $10,000 prize?

Prize Money

First Place: $10,000

Second Place: $5,000

Third Place: $2,500

Best Elk Grove Startup: $2,500

Applications Open April 20, 2026

Applications will be accepted on F6S.

You will need to create a login on the F6S platform to apply.

The application deadline is 5:00 PM PDT on Monday, June 8, 2026.

‍

The Pitch Elk Grove event process will include an initial selection of up to 16 semi-finalist startups who will move on to the private virtual semi-finalist pitch-off on July 23, 2026 to determine up to eight finalists that will present a 5-minute pitch in-person in Elk Grove at the final event on September 3, 2026.

Semi-finalists will be announced by June 26, 2026.

‍

Ideal candidates will:

-Be an emerging or scaling company using technology to develop innovative products, platforms, or services

-Have a working prototype/MVP-Be generating revenue or close to it

-Be located in one of these eight regional counties: El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba-Be a for-profit venture (no non-profits)

-Be able to attend the in-person event at Elk Grove on September 3, 2026.

-Submit a pitch deck as part of the application

-Have a Website URL for their company

-Provide permission to the City of Elk Grove and StartupSac to use their image

‍

Note: Companies who won a first-place prize in the 2022, 2023, 2024 or 2025 Pitch Elk Grove event are not eligible to compete in this year’s competition but are welcome to attend the September 3rd event.

Finalists To Be Announced by July 28, 2026.

Final Competition is on September 3, 2026.