theGROWTHfactory
Non-profit accelerator and fund for early-stage startups.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
N/A | Seed | ||
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
The Growth Factory is a non-profit startup accelerator and an associated early-stage venture fund, Growth Factory Ventures, focused on fostering innovation in the Greater Sacramento region. Founded by Mark Haney, Monique Brown, and Rick Spencer, the organization launched in 2021 to address a regional gap in pre-seed funding and accelerator programs. The founders aim to create an entrepreneurial engine that scales high-growth companies by leveraging local talent and resources, a concept they term the "Backyard Advantage™️".
The firm's business model centers on investing in early-stage founders with high potential and supporting them through a structured, 12-month accelerator program. This program is designed to guide startups from a minimum viable product (MVP) to achieving product-market fit. Accepted companies receive an initial investment of at least $25,000 and participate in a customized action plan that includes workshops, founder forums, office hours, and curated pilot projects to test hypotheses and build customer relationships. A key feature is pairing each startup with a lead mentor for accountability and guidance throughout the program.
As a member of the Global Accelerator Network (GAN), The Growth Factory provides its cohorts with access to a global community, mentorship, and over $1 million in perks and services from technology partners. The accelerator is industry-agnostic, working with founders across a wide range of sectors. Its mission is to build capacity and provide the capital, tools, mentorship, and community necessary for founders to attract further investment and scale their companies.
Keywords: startup accelerator, venture capital, early-stage investment, pre-seed funding, nonprofit accelerator, Sacramento startups, founder mentorship, product-market fit, Global Accelerator Network, regional economic development, venture-backed startups, high-growth companies, entrepreneurial ecosystem, startup funding, business model validation, pilot projects, seed-stage, capital investment, innovation hub