GrowTECH FEST 2026 Agenda
Event dates, times and content are subject to change.
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Use Event Code: "growtechfest2026"
October 8, 2026
Doors open at 9:00 a.m.
Location: Sierra Nevada Big Room
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
COFFEE AND CONNECTIONS
Sponsored by Saorsa
10:00 a.m.
GROWTECH FEST BEGINS!
Welcome and Kick Off
10:15 a.m.
OPENING REMARKS
Made in California
Speaker: Clair Whitmer, Deputy Director for the Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA) within the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
Recognition of the 2025-2026 Innovation Awards Recipients
10:40 a.m.
FUNDING AND RESOURCES PANEL DISCUSSION
Founders on Funding: Real Strategies from the Field
Moderated by Thomas Hall, Executive Director, CleanStart
This panel brings together five entrepreneurs and founders who have personally navigated the funding landscape — not from the funder's chair, but from the builder's seat. Each panelist represents a distinct industry and a different funding path, giving the GrowTECH FEST audience a 360-degree view of what actually works.
11:20 a.m.
VISIONARY VOICE
Women, Wealth, and the Great Transfer: Reshaping Power in a Transforming Economy
Speaker: Darcy Totten, Executive Director, CA Commision on the Status Girls and Women
This session examines the unprecedented economic moment created by the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in history. California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls Executive Director Darcy Totten explores how women can leverage emerging economic power to reshape investment, ownership, and long‑standing systems that have excluded women. Attendees will gain an understanding of the forces transforming the economy and leave with a powerful call to action to help build a future designed by and for women.
11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
BREAK
12:00 p.m.
NEXTGEN LIGHTNING ROUND
Hear from NEXTGEN pitches as they showcase their current ventures and future business ideas.
Sponsored by Mechanics Bank
12:40 p.m. - 1:25 P.M.
LUNCH
1:25 p.m.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION
1:40 p.m.
INDUSTRY EXPERT
Startup Reality Check: Live AMA with Traction Lab
Bring your toughest startup questions. Walk away with frameworks you can use Monday morning.
Cameron Law and Josh David Miller, co-founders of Traction Lab, are bringing their Startup Reality Check to GrowTech Fest. This is a live, interactive AMA (Ask Me Anything) where founders ask real questions and get honest, actionable feedback grounded in the same evidence-based methodology Traction Lab uses to evaluate and accelerate early-stage ventures.
Their approach treats startups as testable hypotheses and lets evidence drive every decision. The frameworks behind it have accelerated 50+ pre-seed/seed companies in achieving first revenue or scaling revenues to first $1million in ARR, supported ventures through two successful acquisitions, and guided portfolio companies that have collectively raised over $10M in follow-on funding.
Whether you are stuck on customer discovery, unsure if your traction is real, trying to figure out what to test next, or wondering if you are ready to raise, bring it. Nothing is off limits.
This isn't another talk. They are no slides. Just real audience questions, proven methodology, and a few hard truths.
Speakers: Cameron R. Law and Josh David Miller, Co-founders, Traction Lab
2:20 p.m.
FOUNDER STORY
Shari's Berries
Shari Fitzpatrick turned a $1,500 credit card and a love for dipping strawberries into Shari’s Berries—a multi-million-dollar national brand. She’s tasted sweet success, suffered crushing loss, and came back stronger than ever. For over 30 years, Shari’s story and her creations have attracted attention through national appearances in O Magazine, In-Style Magazine, People Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneurial Soul, on the Today Show, Food Network, The Apprentice, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, QVC and HSN. She’ll share the real, raw lessons she’s learned in business and in life, with the inspiration to dream big, pushing through dips & difficulties, and create your own sweet success.
Speaker: Shari Fitzpatrick, Shari's Berries
Moderated By: Max Fitzpatrick, Marketing Director, VETTX
2:55 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.
COOKIE BREAK
Sponsored by Watershed Media
3:05 p.m.
2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Why the Next Great Startup Wave Belongs to the North State.
For decades, innovation has been synonymous with Silicon Valley. But what if the next generation of great companies isn't built in the country's largest cities—but in places like the North State?
In this inspiring keynote, Victor Hwang, Founder and CEO of Right to Start, challenges conventional thinking about where entrepreneurship thrives. Drawing on national trends and real-world examples, he'll explore why rural regions and overlooked communities are uniquely positioned to lead America's next wave of innovation. Attendees will discover how entrepreneurs, investors, educators, and community leaders can work together to build stronger startup ecosystems, unlock local talent, and create lasting economic opportunity—right where they live.
Victor Hwang, Founder + CEO of Right to Start
5:30 p.m.
GTF AFTER PARTY + STARTUP PITCH SHOWCASE
Join us for an fun evening of networking and a showcase of the regions top startups pitching for GTF's 2026 top 3 winners!
Location: The Westport Event Venue
Showcase Supported by Plum and Reparel
OCTOBER 9, 2026
Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Location: The Westport Event Venue
Coffee Sponsored by Manacost
MORNING SESSIONS
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
From Chaos to Profit - Leadership, Systems plus AI for Sustainable Growth
Speaker: Manny Escalante, Founder, Leadership and Leads
10:15 a.m.- 11:15 a.m.
Stop Prompting, Start Hiring. Demystifying AI Coworkers
Most founders treat AI like a smart search engine — a thing you talk to, one question at a time. The founders getting real leverage treat AI like a team member: one that shows up every day knowing your brand, your voice, your customers, and your process, and does actual work without being asked.
In this workshop, Amanda Sanders takes the mystery out of what it takes to build a real AI coworker — from role definition to first assignment — in a single hour. You'll leave with one deployed AI coworker doing a real job on your business. This is not a demo. Everyone builds one.
Speaker: Amanda Sanders, Founder, CoSystem AI
*Attendees should arrive with one job in their business they wish someone else were doing
** Attendees are encouraged to bring their own laptop
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Chico Founding Mayor Proclamation Luncheon + Breaking Entrepreneurial Barriers Panel
Entrepreneurship drives progress. Widespread barriers, outdated policies, and lack of civic support are holding back millions of founders from starting and growing a better America.
Join ChicoSTART as we officially announce Chico as an America the Entrepreneurial Founding City with Founding Mayor, Kasey Reynolds. Following this, be part of an engaging panel discussion focused on how cities can support entrepreneurs and their public commitment to being entrepreneur-friendly.
Moderated by: Victor Hwang, Founder of Right to Start and America the Entrepreneurial
Brant Mesker, City Manager, City of Corning
Molly Kopta, CEO & President, Chico Chamber of Commerce
Kasey Reynolds, Mayor, City of Chico
Mark Thorpe, Business Advocate, Paradise Chamber of Commerce
Darcy Totten, Executive Director, CA
Luncheon Sponsored by Startup Redding
AFTERNOON SIDE HUSTLE
1:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
GTF Founders Field Trip
Attendees will tour 3 Chico businesses who started here and stayed here. Includes Sierra Nevada Brewery Tour!
*You must have signed up at registration to attend.
* *Shuttle Provided
Please note: This agenda reflects the current program. Minor refinements to session details, speakers, and timing may occur as we finalize event preparations.