Events for Entrepreneurs

Med Tech Showcase
March 30, CSUS.
SacStarts Open Coffee. Usually every Tuesday, 9am to noon, but check site!

What Others Say

"My VentureStart mentor told me to go sell stuff. And I did, and now I have found my market niche. I'll be in a much better position to go out for funding, or continue to grow the business organically”
Brett Owens, CEO, Chrometa

"As a mentor, there's great satisfaction in knowing you've made a difference in the success of a company in the region. One idea, one introduction, another set of experienced eyeballs to give a perspective on a product or plan can make a huge impact."
Dave Tanel, Mentor

"The VentureStart Program is not an academic exercise; it is savvy coaching from a support system of experienced entrepreneurs who are serious about building world-class technology companies in Sacramento. The standards are high and the aspirations are higher. VentureStart is an outstanding place to jump start your company's journey to funding."
Dave Stewart, CEO, Decision Detective.

About

SARTA’s VentureStart is managed by a successful team of investors, board members and business leaders.

kandrisTom Kandris is Co-Chair of VentureStart and CEO of American River-PackageOne (ARPK1), a full service manufacturer and distributor of industrial packaging, janitorial and office supply products. As a manufacturer they are specialists in all forms of corrugated packaging. From plain and printed boxes to full four color retail point-of-purchase displays. As a distributor they offer a selection of over 30,000 packaging, janitorial and office supply items.

Headquartered in Sacramento, California ARPK1 currently operates three manufacturing plants which are located in Sacramento and Madera, CA as well as Sparks, NV.
JD Stack
J.D. Stack was appointed Director of Program Development and Grants for SARTA, and Executive Director of VentureStart, in November 2009. Prior to this appointment, J.D. led the operations of the SARTA ast the CEO.  J.D. has been with SARTA since May of 2007.Prior to joining SARTA, J.D. was previously Economic Development Program Manager for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) for 14 years. In this role he was responsible for developing and implementing programs to promote economic development in the Sacramento area. These included efforts to bring new jobs to the area, to retain and expand existing businesses, and to assist small and emerging businesses. Prior to this assignment, he served as SMUD’s Government Affairs Supervisor, Air Quality Coordinator, and as a Senior Energy Analyst. He has over twenty-four years experience serving as a liaison to business and government leaders throughout the Sacramento Region.

J.D has served on the Partnership for Prosperity, the Sacramento Regional Marketing Council, the Sacramento Area Marketing Group, the McClellan Technology Incubator board, the Folsom Economic Development Corporation board, the Sacramento State University College of Business Advisory Council, the East Sacramento Chamber of Commerce board, Team California – a statewide coalition of economic developers, and the 65th Street Redevelopment Area Advisory Committee. He is a graduate of the Leadership Sacramento program.

J.D. was named the 2007 Alum of the Year for the College of Business Administration at California State University, Sacramento from which he earned a degree in business administration with a marketing concentration. He enjoys traveling with his wife and two daughters, as well as skiing and hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe.

Mentors: VentureStart has a team of over 40 mentors all of whom donate their time to support early stage company growth. Their skills and expertise range from fund raising, legal matters, business planning, marketing, product design, selling, web design and interfacing and much more.,