A significantly expanded Growth Factory Expo and Venture Summit took place on October 9 and 10, with CleanStart establishing a major presence at the event. This year’s summit set a new attendance record with 1,050 registered attendees—an impressive 31% increase over last year. A special showcase for startups dedicated to clean energy, sustainable transportation, and climate solutions highlighted the region’s commitment to environmental innovation.

The expo kicked off on October 9 with a Clean Transportation showcase at the California Mobility Center, attracting approximately 300 attendees and featuring more than three dozen vehicles, including heavy-duty trucks rarely seen by the public. The main event on October 10 filled the Roebbelen Center in Roseville, where companies in the CleanStart ecosystem, including Sierra Northern RailRoad with its hydrogen locomotives, LiCAP Technology, Volextra, SOAR Optics, Wind Harvest, and Fuse joined 23 other companies and organizations in the Clean Tech Neighborhood. See our highlights video.

CleanStart also hosted a breakout session with Rick Wylie, CEO of Villara Energy Systems, and Dr. Dennis Schuetzle, CTO of Infinium Holdings Inc. Schuetzle provided insights into his career-long efforts to reduce emissions, while Wylie discussed the evolution of Villara’s energy systems, leading to innovations in home heat pumps. The session was followed by graduates of Momentum’s ASCEND program pitching their startups for grant funding, with CleanStart CEO Crash Course alumnus Tony Jones, founder of Intake Water Works, taking home the ASCEND prize.

Among the day’s recognitions, Clean Tech Cluster member Onsight Technology, led by CEO Derek Chase, was named Early Stage Innovator of the Year for their development of a robot designed to detect panel issues in large-scale solar farm installations. This award highlighted Onsight’s contributions to advancing AI-driven solar technology.

Other notable awards included the Golden Gear Award, presented to Cameron Law of the Carlsen Center for his dedication to supporting regional entrepreneurs. With an atmosphere that embraced the “Backyard Advantage,” GFX24 provided a collaborative space for cleantech innovation and investment. CleanStart’s engagement underscored its role in Sacramento’s growing ecosystem, laying the foundations for future progress in clean energy and sustainable solutions across the region.