January 27, 2023

‍Pitches, Programs, Profits: Cameron Law of Sacramento State on Making His City an Economic Hub: | Episode 11 of Twist of Fate 

Pitches, Programs, Profits: Cameron Law of Sacramento State on Making His City an Economic Hub: | Episode 11 of Twist of Fate 

Host Douglas Younger III is known in Sacramento for his partnerships with Sacramento State and the Sacramento Kings. The city is bustling with opportunity right now, and it’s exciting for everyone to be on the precipice of something big. What exactly will that look like for the Northern town? He recently talked to Cameron Law of the Carlsen Center about what it means to capitalize on the potential there. 

The Action in Sacramento

When people think about entrepreneurship in California, it’s hard not to think Silicon Valley. The Bay Area isn’t just well-known, it’s practically synonymous with fame and fortune. But Carlsen Law can tell you that Sacramento has long been planting seeds for an economic boom, and you can see the fruits of those labors paying off. 

At the Carlsen Center, Law is on a mission to channel all that energy and challenge Sacramento’s reputation. It’s not just the students and faculty at Sac State either. Law is all about fostering the entire community. The Carlsen Center connects budding entrepreneurs with the resources they need to put the puzzle together. Cash, advice, connections: the Carlsen Center is a springboard for anyone called to explore and expand their dreams. 

Success in the Real World 

Younger is upfront with Law about California right now. Between inflation stretching all of our wallets and the doom-and-gloom forecasted on the economic horizon, it might seem harder than ever to take a risk. Law points out that this is especially true in a government-run town like Sacramento — people who are notoriously against taking risks. 

But what is risk, exactly? Younger points out that growth is the least risky move there is, and that’s exactly what Sacramento should be backing. To that end, Law is working on changing the perception. He’s at the helm of programs like Hivemind, a structured environment where entrepreneurs can hit milestones they set for themselves. He encourages people to come to them, regardless of what stage of the process they’re in. So a female entrepreneur might come to Carlsen looking to be put in touch with an accelerator like FourthWave. Or they might just start with a simple question like “Does my idea have legs?” Whatever it is, he’s ready to be of service. 

Students of Life: Come One, Come All 

Growth and success can sometimes come from unlikely places. For most entrepreneurs, it’s a matter of plugging away, moving forward. Successes and defeats get lumped together because both are unavoidable in the game. Younger and Law discuss the prospect of failure (entirely possible) and the benefits of trying again (entrepreneurs often have more success with their second idea). They discuss leveling the playing field, and ensuring that people from all backgrounds are welcome at the table. 

They also talk about the success of entrepreneurs who shift their thinking. No matter how in love a startup owner is with their own idea, they may have to let it go. Cameron Law shared the story of Buzly, a company that eventually became a virtual social spot for students at Sacramento State. 

The app stemmed from talking to their demographic  and tuning into the concerns of people on campus. For some reason, people felt isolated during COVID. The team’s technology worked to give students the means to start reaching out again, which triggered strong adoption of the product. 

This is just one example of many that Law encounters on a daily basis. It’s hard to be optimistic when he sees so many people leveraging their talents to build better futures for themselves — and, in turn, their city. 

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