A.I. Connect: Revisiting ChatGPT & HeyGen — Incredible AI tools with new features to explore!
2024-05-01 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
This month we’re circling back to ChatGPT and HeyGen. We’ve explored both in the past and based on our latest poll… the community wants more!
If you were at our previous events when we taught these tools there will be new things to learn. If you missed the events where we’ve talked about these we’ll get you up to speed.
ChatGPT is an amazing general purpose tool that every business person should consider inserting in their workflow. HeyGen will allow you to create custom video avatars for things like training videos, advertisements, sales outreach and more. We’ll talk about how these tools can be leveraged together or alone.
👉️ IMPORTANT: This is a hands-on, project-based workshop so bring your laptop.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Sessions: How to Open Your Business in a Physical Space — Expert Panel Discussion
2024-05-20 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Let’s talk about how you can successfully open your business in a brick and mortar storefront!
Join our panel discussion covering the different aspects of going brick-and-mortar. We’ve invited commercial real estate broker Chris Haedrich, founders of Friday’s Vintage Paige and Dylan Mosshart, and the senior planner for the city of Shasta Lake Peter Bird.
Whether you’re business is online now and your curious about what goes into taking your business into a brick and mortar location, or your going right into a physical location from the start — this event will provide valuable perspectives on the financial, legal, and strategic considerations of moving to a physical building.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

A.I. Connect: Canva's "Magic Studio" is the best all-around tool for creative business people
2024-06-05 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
This month we’re diving into Canva’s “Magic Studio”. The company just refreshed their platform and rolled out a suite of new A.I. tools which made us look twice.
We believe Canva has created the best all around platform for business people to express their creativity. From Marketing and Creative to Sales and HR, Canva has tools, templates, and apps to make everyone a designer. We’re going to look at what’s possible in the “Magic Studio” and the best use cases for entrepreneurs. Join the event, you’re going to have fun!
👉️ IMPORTANT: This is a hands-on, project-based workshop so bring a laptop.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Sessions: The Tricky Task of Understanding Your Market — Guest Speaker Danny Lee
2024-06-10 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
We’re excited to host Danny Lee from Taste & See Creamery and Cinder’s Wood Fired Pizza. Danny is joining us to share what he’s learned about launching a food service business, understanding our local market, and the resiliency needed to keep going when things don’t go your way.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Sessions: Mastering Marketing and Customer Retention — Guest Speaker Faith Barrett
2024-07-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Come join us and Faith Barrett, a local realtor, who has rapidly grown their business by excelling in marketing and customer retention. Faith will share her strategies for building strong customer relationships and effective marketing techniques. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to keep your customers coming back and grow a well loved brand.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

A.I. Connect: Use your imagination to generate brand new images in seconds
2024-08-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
This month we’re exploring an amazing image-generation tool called Leonardo AI!
You’ll be able to generate custom images and graphics live without a graphic designer or learning complicated design principles. Leonardo is unlike other image generative AI software. It allows the user greater control and tons of features. Come check it out, you’re going to have fun!
👉️ IMPORTANT: This is a hands-on, project-based workshop so bring your laptop.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Demystifying Venture Capital: A Practical Guide to Securing Funding
2024-08-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Join us for the August Startup Session featuring Tyler Smith.Tyler has a background in venture capital and has significant experience in the startup ecosystem. He will provide practical insights on securing venture capital funding, including what VCs look for in potential investments, and how to effectively pitch your startup to a VC firm. This session is a great opportunity to learn about the venture capital process and get valuable advice from someone who has been involved in numerous investment decisions.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

A.I. Connect: The go to website builder for one-person or small team businesses
2024-09-04 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
This month we’re exploring the AI website builder Durable!
It’s a fantastic AI website builder that I think is perfect to get most one person or small team businesses up and running. It has just the right amount of customization without being overwhelming. It’s become my go to tool for getting an MVP website up!
👉️ IMPORTANT: This is a hands-on, project-based workshop so bring your laptop.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Sessions: Building Traction and Momentum: Fueling Your Startup's Growth — Guest Speaker Aaron Patterson
2024-09-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Join us at the next Startup Session featuring Aaron Patterson, a seasoned entrepreneur and startup mentor, as he shares his insights on building traction and momentum to fuel your startup’s growth. Aaron will dive into the key strategies for gaining traction, sustaining momentum, and navigating the challenges of early-stage development. Whether you’re looking to refine your pitch or accelerate your growth, this session will provide actionable advice to help you take your startup to the next level.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Sessions: Unlocking Resilience and a Strong Mindset for Founders — Guest Speaker Kirk Wayman
2024-10-21 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Join us for an upcoming Startup Session with Kirk Wayman from Ikon Coaching, where we’ll explore how resilience fuels success for entrepreneurs. This session will inspire you to embrace challenges, build confidence, and harness personal growth as a strategic advantage. Learn how mindset shifts and self-awareness can turn obstacles into opportunities, helping you lead your business with passion and adaptability. Whether you’re just starting or navigating uncertain times, this conversation will equip you with practical tools to stay resilient and thrive. Don’t miss this!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

9th Annual Startup Games
2024-11-01 18:00 - 2024-11-03 20:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Description coming soon!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Redding Holiday Party
2024-12-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Join us for a festive holiday edition of our Startup Session! This time, we’re putting aside the presentations and panels to simply celebrate the season with our amazing startup community. Wear your most cheerful (or hilarious) Christmas sweater and come ready to mix, mingle, and make connections. It’s the perfect chance to relax, catch up with friends, and share some holiday cheer with fellow entrepreneurs. Mark your calendar and bring your holiday spirit—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

The Adventure of Risk: Taking the Leap for Your Big Idea
2025-01-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Bryant Ellis, founder of The Adventure Challenge, shares how bold decisions and a spirit of adventure transformed his idea into a thriving business. Bryant will share how he embraced risk and faced challenges to build a successful brand. This is your chance to gain inspiration and practical insights for taking bold steps in your entrepreneurial journey.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Beyond the Brewery: Lessons in Scaling from Fall River Brewing
2025-02-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
How do you take a passion project and scale it into a thriving business? Amanda Hutchings, VP of Fall River Brewing, shares how they grew beyond their small brewery to expand into sales across the state and Nevada. Scaling isn’t just for big brands—you might be surprised at what’s possible for your business. Whether you’re growing a side project or an established company, this session will challenge your thinking and inspire new possibilities.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

The Money Map: Finding the Right Funding for Your Business
2025-03-24 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Finding the right funding for your startup can be overwhelming, but the right roadmap makes all the difference. This Startup Session brings together Trisha Funk from the SBA, Stacey Sanchez from CDC Small Business Finance, Sami Kader from the Shasta Angels, and Esteban Waterman from Tri Counties Bank. They’ll break down funding options—from SBA loans to angel investment—so you can find the best fit for your business. Don’t miss this chance to get expert insights and answers to your funding questions!
**This session will be held upstair in the IOOF Hall – The same place as the Startup Games**
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Retail Breakthrough: Getting Your Product on Store Shelves
2025-04-28 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Dreaming of seeing your product on the shelves of Target, Walmart, or other big-name retailers? Michelle Manningham has been there, done that— helping brands land spots in over 62,000 retail doors! As the founder of Pink and Associates and a retail dealmaker, she knows exactly what it takes to break into big-box stores. In this session, Michelle will tell us the secrets, strategies, and must-know moves to get your product retail-ready. If you’re serious about scaling up and making major retail connections, this is one you won’t want to miss!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Don’t Build in a Bubble: How to Get Out of Your Own Way
2025-05-19 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Joshua Johnson is a builder—of businesses, neighborhoods, and communities. In this Startup Session, he’ll share why isolation is the enemy of good ideas and how getting out of your own head is the first step toward building something people actually want. We’ll talk about what it takes to stay curious, listen to your customers, and build with them—not just for them. If you’re stuck in overthinking, second-guessing, or just unsure what your next move should be, this one’s for you.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Sessions: Keep It or Kick It — Shape the Future of Startup Redding
2025-08-18 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Come meet the new director of startup Redding and participate in…. 🎯 Keep It or Kick It — Shape the Future of Startup Redding
We’re putting our community in the driver’s seat. In this fast-paced, interactive game, you’ll vote on potential Startup Redding programs, decide what stays, what goes, and what needs an upgrade.
Think Love It or List It — but for entrepreneurs. We’ll rapid-fire program ideas, you’ll instantly choose to KEEP IT ✅ or KICK IT ❌, and then help us make the winners even better.
This is your chance to:

Influence which resources, events, and support we create next
Network with fellow founders and innovators
Have your voice shape the future of Startup Redding

Come ready to move, vote, and share your honest feedback — because we’re building this together.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Startup Sessions: Get found online and unlock the potential of your digital curb appeal
2025-09-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Jonathan Nussbaumer, founder of Nuon Marketing, knows what it takes to help businesses stand out online. In this Startup Session, he’ll share the newest tools and strategies for boosting your visibility and making sure customers can actually find you. From fresh SEO opportunities to digital marketing tactics that work right now, Jonathan will break down what’s changing and how you can stay ahead.
If you’ve ever wondered why your business isn’t getting found as often as it should—or you just want to sharpen your digital presence—this session is for you.
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

Winter Pitch Breakfast (November)
2025-11-15 09:00 - 11:00 | Shasta EDC, 777 Auditorium Drive, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
This event is full! We’re hosting another in December – Sign up here!
—–
Pitch Breakfast is back! This is a fast-paced, community-powered event where local entrepreneurs share their ideas with an audience of peers, mentors, and business leaders.
This is not a competition but a launchpad. Presenting founders will get a few minutes to pitch and make connections with the audience. Breakfast will be available for everyone and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback, making for an engaging and productive morning that sets the tone for a successful day.
Whether you’re an aspiring founder, seasoned entrepreneur, or just curious, Pitch Breakfast is the place to plug in. Our seats are limited so register to save a spot!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to save a seat and help us plan food & drinks for the event

Scaling Smart: A Conversation with Bruce Dean, Co-Founder of Black Bear Diner
2025-11-17 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
From one diner to a national brand — the story of how intentional scaling and franchising fueled one of America’s favorite comfort food success stories.
Join Startup Redding for an exclusive fireside conversation with Bruce Dean, co-founder of Black Bear Diner, as he shares the story behind building a small-town diner into a national brand.
We’ll unpack:
✅ The early days and pivotal growth moments of Black Bear Diner
✅ Why Bruce chose to scale through franchising — and how that decision changed everything
✅ How to balance growth with brand integrity
✅ What entrepreneurs should consider before deciding how to scale
Whether you’re a startup founder, small business owner, or growth-minded leader, this session will challenge how you think about expansion, capital, and control.
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

December Pitch Breakfast
2025-12-02 07:30 - 09:30 | Shasta EDC, 777 Auditorium Drive, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
FULLY BOOKED & SOLD OUT
Pitch Breakfast is back! This is a fast-paced, community-powered event where local entrepreneurs share their ideas with an audience of peers, mentors, and business leaders.
This is not a competition but a launchpad. Presenting founders will get a few minutes to pitch and make connections with the audience. Breakfast will be available for everyone and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback, making for an engaging and productive morning that sets the tone for a successful day.
Whether you’re an aspiring founder, seasoned entrepreneur, or just curious, Pitch Breakfast is the place to plug in. Our seats are limited so register to save a spot!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!

This event is fully booked and sold out! We’re hosting another in January – Sign up for January’s event below!

Startup Redding Holiday Party!
2025-12-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States

From Idea to Your First 100 Customers with Mike Pimentel, National Sales Manager with Franklin Electric
2026-01-12 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Breaking down the exact steps to get your business from concept to customer — fast, smart, and sustainably.
We’re welcoming Mike Pimentel to the stage to share:
✅ The process of developing and executing a winning go-to-market strategy
✅ How to identify your target customer
✅ How to test your value proposition
✅ Building traction through the right sales and marketing channels
Mike brings decades of experience in business leadership, sales development, and account management, helping companies build teams, systems, and strategies that drive revenue. Whether you’re pre-launch or early in growth, this session will help you translate ideas into execution.
Whether you’re a startup founder, small business owner, or growth-minded leader, this session will challenge how you think about expansion, capital, and control.
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

January Pitch Breakfast
2026-01-24 09:00 - 11:00 | Shasta EDC, 777 Auditorium Drive, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Pitch Breakfast is a fast-paced, community-powered event where local entrepreneurs share their ideas with an audience of peers, mentors, and business leaders!
This is not a competition but a launchpad. Presenting founders will get a few minutes to pitch and make connections with the audience. Breakfast will be available for everyone and the audience will have the opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback, making for an engaging and productive morning that sets the tone for a successful day.
Whether you’re an aspiring founder, seasoned entrepreneur, or just curious, Pitch Breakfast is the place to plug in. Our seats are limited so register to save a spot!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to save a seat and help us plan food & drinks for the event

February Pitch Breakfast
2026-02-17 07:30 - 09:30 | Shasta EDC, 777 Auditorium Drive, Redding, CA, 96001, United States

Visibility Wins: Get Seen, Get Clients - with Stacy Baxter of Magnolia Homes
2026-02-23 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
A strategy to get more eyes on your business and get more clients.
We’re welcoming Stacy Baxter to the stage to share:
✅ How relentless consistency helps her stay top-of-mind and win clients.
✅ The exact marketing habits, tools, and content strategies she uses to be unforgettable
✅ How engaging storytelling helps her standout in a saturated market
Stacy Baxter, founder of Magnolia Holmes, is a real estate powerhouse who turns marketing into unforgettable storytelling. With over $100M in personal sales volume Stacy knows how to promote. She’ll show Startup Redding founders exactly how brand visibility, consistency, and story can win markets, not just clients. Expect actionable takeaways you can put into motion the same day.
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

March Pitch Breakfast
2026-03-14 09:00 - 11:00 | Shasta EDC, 777 Auditorium Drive, Redding, CA, 96001, United States

March Startup Session
2026-03-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
Description coming soon, stay posted!
Join us on the journey to build the most supportive startup community in the world! Come enjoy a cold beverage, meet other founders, and build a community that can support your business. Let’s connect and grow our businesses together! See you there!
👇 👇 Please register to help us plan food & drinks for the event

April Startup Session
2026-04-20 17:00 - 19:00 | Viva Downtown, 1504 Market Street, Redding, CA, 96001, United States
