Comparative Analysis of Sacramento Venture Capital Ecosystems

Reflection on Integrating Community Engagement into Academic Career: 3-stage Action Plan

This project takes a closer look at Sacramento's venture capital (VC) ecosystem, with the option of comparing it to other U.S. regions like the Bay Area, depending on data access. The main aim is to understand how capital flows into local startups and what makes this region's investment landscape unique or challenging.

I'll be working to connect with local VC firms, like Moneta Ventures, and Sacramento-based founders to gather firsthand insights. The intention is not just academic: the findings are meant to be useful for the local community. I hope to highlight opportunities for growth, identify barriers for startups, and ultimately contribute to the region's broader economic development efforts.

The project seeks to provide public benefit by helping regional partners understand how to strengthen Sacramento's innovation environment. This includes ideas for making startup funding more accessible, attracting outside investment, and supporting a more inclusive founder community.

To ensure that the research is mutually beneficial, I plan to share the findings beyond academic settings. This could include:

Presenting insights at local events like StartupSac or small business roundtables
Hosting informal workshops or talks with student entrepreneurs and local founders
Sharing results with Moneta Ventures and other participating partners
Reaching out to PBIDs like the Power Inn Alliance or groups involved with the Sacramento Center for Innovation
Possibly contributing to podcasts or community blogs focused on regional development

Additionally, based on recent feedback, I plan to leverage several campus resources to support this project:

The PFD Grant (link) could fund student research assistants, giving students valuable research experience.
The PEA (link) and RCA Awards (link) are potential sources of support for enhancing the project’s pedagogical and research components.
I also plan to connect early with the Carlsen Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (link) to help identify and engage interview participants and later assist with disseminating results through their networks.

By focusing on clear, accessible reporting and community-facing dissemination, the goal is to support Sacramento's evolution as a growing tech and startup hub.

Community-Engaged Research Action Plan_revised2.docx

Stages
[Stage 1: Build Research Partnerships & Gather Interviews]	[Stage 2: Analyze and Compare VC Ecosystems]	[Stage 3: Dissemination and Public Engagement]
Build Research Partnerships & Gather Interviews Steps: Establish partnership with local VC firms (e.g., Moneta Ventures) Identify 5–7 local startups for interviews Develop interview questions and conduct interviews Document recurring themes and insights Outcomes: Gain VC and founder perspectives Identify gaps and opportunities in the Sacramento ecosystem	Analyze and Compare VC Ecosystems Steps: Collect secondary data on Sacramento VC deals Compare Sacramento metrics with Bay Area Combine interview insights with data analysis Outcomes: Construct comparative profile of the Sacramento VC ecosystem Highlight strengths and opportunities for improvement	Dissemination and Public Engagement Steps: Write findings in academic and public formats Present at StartupSac, campus forums, and through the Carlsen Center Share through infographics, blog posts, and podcasts Outcomes: Support economic development and innovation dialogue Ensure findings are accessible to diverse audiences

Moving Forward

I plan to continue using Carlsen Center partnerships for deeper community engagement and expand this model into other finance electives. With the help of student researchers funded by the PFD Grant, we aim to update the findings annually, building a living database of Sacramento startup activity. Ultimately, this project will serve as a model for combining community-engaged research with finance education.

Faculty Biography

Susan Zhou is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Sacramento State. Her research and teaching focus on corporate finance, venture capital, and community-engaged learning. She integrates real-world projects into her courses to help students apply financial concepts in meaningful contexts.

Funding
This work was supported by:	Logos
The Community Engagement Center, the Career Center, and the Anchor/Community-Engaged University Collaborative

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

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