What could $10,000 and the chance to pitch in front of hundreds of people do for your startup? For the founders competing at Pitch Elk Grove this year, it meant a shot at real funding, regional visibility, and validation for ideas ranging from agricultural biotech to beauty tech.

This year’s competition drew more than 100 applicants, narrowed down to 10 finalists who took the stage in front of over 300 attendees. Here’s a full recap of the winners, the standout finalists, and how you can apply for the next Pitch Elk Grove.

2026 Pitch Elk Grove Winners

Three companies walked away with cash prizes at this year’s event:

• 1st Place ($10,000): Krokos Bio — founded by Jacob Lang, Krokos Bio is developing a plant cell culture platform to produce botanical ingredients, starting with an alternative source of saffron aimed at solving high costs and supply chain challenges in the spice industry.
• 2nd Place ($5,000): Insta Brow — founded by Destiny Oliphant, Insta Brow created a patent-pending waterproof brow stain that applies in about 30 seconds and lasts up to five days.
• 3rd Place ($2,500): Pheronym, Inc. — led by co-founder and CEO Dr. Fatma Kaplan, Pheronym is an agricultural biotech company building nontoxic pest management solutions that use pheromones to influence nematode behavior, encouraging beneficial nematodes while suppressing harmful ones.

Insta Brow also took home an extra $2,500 Best Elk Grove Startup award, recognizing the top-performing local company in the competition.

Cleantech Spotlight: Core Envision

Cleantech had a strong presence among this year’s finalists through Core Envision, a construction technology company using AI-assisted tools to reduce construction waste and improve project efficiency.

While Core Envision didn’t place at Pitch Elk Grove, the company has already earned recognition elsewhere — winning the Sustainability category at the Accelerate California competition (sponsored by CalOSBA) and taking home a $50,000 award at CleanStart’s Rising Star Showcase.

Why Pitch Elk Grove Matters for Founders

The 2026 winners represent very different industries — biotech, beauty, agriculture, and cleantech — which highlights the range of innovation competing at Pitch Elk Grove each year. With more than 100 companies applying for just 10 finalist spots, the competition reflects both strong regional interest in entrepreneurship and a real opportunity for founders with compelling ideas.

If you’re an entrepreneur, early-stage founder, small business owner, or innovator, Pitch Elk Grove offers a direct path to:

• Present your company to the regional startup community
• Compete for cash funding to grow your business
• Gain visibility among investors, mentors, and local business leaders

How to Apply for the Next Pitch Elk Grove

If you’re building a business with growth potential, now is the time to start preparing:

• Refine your company story and mission
• Document your traction and key metrics
• Clarify your market opportunity and competitive edge
• Practice a tight, compelling pitch

Founders who prepare now will be ready to apply when the next Pitch Elk Grove opens for submissions.