For one week every November, entrepreneurship takes over the Sacramento region — and this year, the calendar is packed.
Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2026 runs Monday, November 16 through Friday, November 20, anchored by the Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Sacramento State. GEW is a worldwide celebration of innovation and entrepreneurship that takes place in ecosystems around the globe, and Sacramento's version spans the whole region: events at Sac State, Aggie Square, and in Folsom, Rancho Cordova, Elk Grove, Roseville, and Natomas.
The 2026 theme is "Entrepreneurs Thrive Here." As the Carlsen Center puts it, the campaign aims to show people that entrepreneurship is a path open to them in their own communities — especially people who face structural barriers or may never have considered launching a startup — and to connect them to the networks, tools, and support to take a first step.
That's exactly what this region does well. Here's how the week breaks down, and where Folsom founders should be.
Monday, November 16: The Main Stage
Capital Innovation Summit — 9:00 AM–4:00 PM, Carlsen Center, Sac State (Library 1520, 6000 J Street)
Monday is the main stage. The Summit pulls founders, engineers, researchers, investors, and the people who back them into one room for a day of building, pitching, and straight talk about where AI, biotech, and advanced manufacturing are headed here. The morning session, How We Use AI to Grow (9:30–11:30 AM), is hands-on — bring a laptop and build a working AI "chief of staff" agent you leave with — followed by a lunch AMA with Traction Lab.
Sacramento Entrepreneurial State of the Union & Silent Pitch — 4:30–7:30 PM, Carlsen Center
Eight years running, this is the room where the region takes stock. The evening starts with the Silent Pitch at 4:30: ten of the region's most promising startups — Startup World Cup Sacramento entrants, this weekend's Startup Challenge winners, and Innovation Lab ventures — set up at stations around the room. Walk up, watch the pitch, ask the hard questions, and vote from your phone. Then, from 5:30–7:00 PM, the State of the Union (hosted by the Sacramento Entrepreneurial Growth Alliance, SEGA) takes on "Made in California," the state of our ecosystem, and how the region keeps growing from within — capital, talent, infrastructure, and connections. Cash and in-kind Silent Pitch awards close the night, with food, drinks, and music.
If you read our coverage of the Startup World Cup Sacramento Regional — where Yeast Bay Bio won its ticket to the Grand Finale — this is your chance to meet some of those same founders in person.
Tuesday, November 17: Health, Resources, and Founder Stories
Women's Health Innovation Forum — 8:30 AM–4:00 PM, Aggie Square (4480 2nd Avenue, Sacramento)
A two-day innovation summit purpose-built to accelerate the next decade of women's health breakthroughs — moving research into commercial and clinical reality, building an effective capital stack, and closing gaps across the lifespan and care continuum. Space is limited, so register with intent.
Rancho Cordova Business Resource Fair — 4:00–6:00 PM, Rancho Cordova City Hall
The free 3rd annual fair, hosted by the Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Rancho Cordova, connects local businesses with resources for marketing, business planning, and funding — plus serious networking with other business leaders.
Startup Happy Hour — 5:00–7:00 PM, Flatland Brewing Company, Elk Grove
This month's Happy Hour lands during GEW, with an Ask Me Anything featuring Destiny Oliphant, founder of Insta Brow — who made history at Pitch Elk Grove 2026 as the first entrepreneur to win two awards in the same competition (Second Place and Best Elk Grove Startup).
Testing Business Ideas with David Bland — 5:00–7:00 PM, Roseville Venture Lab (316 Vernon Street, Roseville)
David Bland — founder and CEO of Precoil and author of Testing Business Ideas — works directly on your idea: surface the hidden assumptions, map which ones matter most, and find the fastest practical tests before you spend more time and money building the wrong thing. Readers of our "traction holes" coverage will recognize this as the antidote.
Wednesday, November 18: The Folsom Day
Wednesday is the day our corner of the region shines — it starts right here in Folsom.
Future Folsom Economic Forum — 7:30–10:00 AM, 745 Oak Ave Parkway, Folsom
Choose Folsom's morning of economic insight for business owners, executives, and community leaders. Economist Chris Thornberg keynotes on the trends shaping our business landscape, followed by a Highway 50 corridor panel with Folsom City Manager Bryan Whitemyer, Rancho Cordova City Manager Micah Runner, El Dorado Hills CSD General Manager Stephanie Jantzen, and Sacramento County Economic Development Director Crystal Bethke. If you do business in Folsom, this one is close to home and directly relevant.
1 Million Cups Sacramento — 8:30–10:00 AM, Carlsen Center
The weekly ritual, GEW edition: entrepreneurs present their early-stage businesses and get advice and feedback from their peers. This week's presenters are Shawn Esmaili (Monava) and Seth Norman.
Carlsen Center & StartupSac Mentor Sprint — 10:45 AM–12:30 PM, Carlsen Center
Speed mentoring, done right: one-on-one, focused 15-minute sessions with multiple mentors in a single morning. Bring your hardest business challenge and leave with actionable advice, new connections, and fresh perspectives. Organized by the Carlsen Center and StartupSac — and space is limited, so register early.
Small Business Growth Summit — 5:00–8:00 PM, North Natomas Community Center
"Bridging the gap between AI & business" — an evening of practical tools for using AI to grow a small business, with expert insights, a panel discussion, and a small business marketplace.
NorCal AngelCon 2026 — 5:30–8:30 PM, Aggie Square (Connect Labs by Wexford)
The 3rd annual AngelCon final pitch event: four of the Greater Sacramento region's most promising startups pitch a cohort of newly trained angel investors for $100,000+ in equity-backed and non-dilutive funding — and the audience picks one winner for a $10,000 Audience Award. Dinner and networking start at 5:30; pitches run 6:30–8:00, with winners announced at 8:30. Co-hosted by the Carlsen Center, Connect Labs by Wexford, and the Growth Factory, and powered by Western Health Advantage.
Thursday, November 19: Entrepreneurship That Serves
Impactful Innovations & Entrepreneurship in Health & Human Services — 11:00 AM–12:00 PM, Online via Zoom
A one-hour panel on turning professional expertise into ventures that elevate the human experience, featuring Abhita Batra (Founder, Neuro 42), Michelle Sotelo (COO, Future Fire Academy), and Harrison Scott (Scout Therapy Staffing) — with a live Q&A. The week's easiest event to attend: no drive, no parking, just log in.
Friday, November 20: A Cleaner Energy Finish
SMUD Spark Sacramento: Innovation Showcase — 8:30 AM–12:00 PM, SMUD Customer Service Center, Rubicon Room (6301 S Street, Sacramento)
GEW wraps with six entrepreneurs pitching innovations in green and clean technology, grid modernization, transportation electrification, and energy — and getting feedback from SMUD subject-matter experts from a utility perspective. It's a fitting close: regional founders, building for deployment right here at home.
How to Take Part
Most events are free or low-cost, but many require their own registration (Luma, Eventbrite, or the organizer's page), and several — the Women's Health Innovation Forum and Mentor Sprint especially — have limited space.
Start with the two official hubs:
The Carlsen Center's GEW page: https://www.csus.edu/center/carlsen/global-entrepreneurship-week/
The full Sacramento GEW calendar, with every event, time, venue, and registration link: https://events.csus.edu/sac-state-global-entrepreneurship-week
The Carlsen Center is located in the University Library, Room 1520, at 6000 J Street, Sacramento — if you've never been, Monday's Summit is the perfect first visit.
And a practical suggestion from us: you can't do all 13 events. Pick one anchor per day — the Summit on Monday, one Tuesday evening session, Future Folsom and Mentor Sprint on Wednesday, AngelCon Wednesday night, and the SMUD Showcase on Friday — and you'll meet a good cross-section of this entire ecosystem in five days.
Entrepreneurs thrive here. Next week is when Sacramento proves it — come be part of it.
Sources
Carlsen Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, "Global Entrepreneurship Week", Sacramento State — https://www.csus.edu/center/carlsen/global-entrepreneurship-week/
Sacramento State Events, "Sac State Global Entrepreneurship Week calendar" — https://events.csus.edu/sac-state-global-entrepreneurship-week
