Thank You for Joining Us
On May 21, 2025, the WET Center hosted the Start, Grow, and Stay Conference, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders from across the Central Valley. The event focused on practical support for early-stage businesses, opportunities for connection, and celebrating local innovation.
We are proud to share a recap of the event and acknowledge the outstanding participants who made it such a success.
At a Glance: Key Moments
Keynote Speaker
Yvette Cuellar, co-owner of La Tapatia Tortilleria, shared her journey from teaching to leading a family-run business recognized as one of the Central Valley’s top women-owned companies.
Pitch Competition
The judges assessed each finalist's pitch based on innovation, feasibility, and impact, offering valuable feedback and selecting Green Evolution Technologies for the Innovation Grant.
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Fireside Founder Chat
Experts shared valuable perspectives on funding, scaling, and business growth, featuring speakers from Next-Gen Escape, Clovis Culinary Center, and BuffMoo.
Pitch Competition Highlights
This year's Innovation Grant Pitch Competition focused on the Bring-To-Market track, showcasing startups with products that are ready to grow and scale.
We were proud to feature each company, as they impressed both the judges and the audience with their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Each startup presented bold ideas and innovative solutions, along with a passion for building in the Central Valley.
These founders pitched their ventures live to a panel of judges and an audience of fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders. Their work represented the energy and innovation thriving throughout our region.
Bring-To-Market Winner: Green
Evolution Technologies
We are thrilled to announce Green Evolution Technologies as the winner of the Pitch Competition at the Start Grow and Stay Conference. Their patented Hydrogel, created through a unique Frontal Polymerization process, boosts agricultural productivity by reducing water and fertilizer use while enhancing soil health. With absorption rates 10 to 40 times higher than those of current solutions, this technology represents a significant advancement in sustainable farming.
Currently piloting in Fresno and partnering with Fresno State, they plan to launch commercially in Spring 2025.
We are proud to recommend Green Evolution Technologies for CalOSBA’s $75,000 Innovation Grant to help them continue growing and expanding their impact across the Central Valley and beyond.
Congratulations to the team at Green Evolution Technologies. The future of ag tech is in good hands.
Awknowledgement
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our speakers, judges, panelists, sponsors, and community partners for their support of this initiative. Together, we are helping to build a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Central Valley.
