Yes to Startups

Applications open 2025!

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Start up your business in Yuba County

Imagine achieving the business you’ve always wanted, and seeing it thriving because you’re equipped with the knowledge and skills to succeed.

Yes to Startups is a free, online training series that helps entrepreneurs learn the basics of starting and growing a business.

You’ll get step-by-step lessons on how to make a business plan and create a pitch deck (a set of slides to show your business idea). 

If you make it to the next level, you'll get to compete in a two-part pitch competition for a chance to win up to $10,000!

The Butte Saue Co. wins cash prize of $10,000 in Yes to Startups pitch competition!

A unique hot sauce company in Yuba County, The Butte Sauce Co. redefining what hot sauce can be offers bold tropical flavors, patiently craft-fermented to deliver depth, balance, and a natural shelf life without shortcuts.

Founded by, Matt Smith and Anthony Meyer, two friends whose friendly recipe competition turned into something much bigger, The Butte Sauce Co. was born out of curiosity, creativity, and a shared love of flavor. What began as a kitchen experiment quickly grew into months of trial and error—testing, fermenting, and refining—to create some of the most unique and flavor-forward hot sauces on the market today.

We would recommend this program to any small business looking for an edge and insight to take them to the next level. 

Being a part of this program has been transformative for us both personally and as a small business from learning more about the ins and outs of developing a viable business plan to learning all the right information about the regulatory process for bringing our amazing products to market.

Our weekly sessions and workshops have been easy to follow and super informative about the best paths to take and its instructors have maintained an amazing "open door" policy always willing to assist and let us ask questions.

The Butte Sauce Co. Anthony Meyer, The Butte Sauce Co., Yuba County

The 2025 Runner-Up, Little Pieces of Joy, has received a cash prize of $7,500

Little Pieces of Joy, a home-based sourdough business in Brownsville offers naturally leaved bread made with care.

Looking ahead, Little Pieces of Joy is preparing for its next chapter: expanding operations with upgraded equipment and the permits needed to meet rising demand. 

This step forward means more loaves for the community, a wider variety of offerings, and the chance to share the art of sourdough with even more families across the region.

Meet the finalist Wonder Woods Education who took home the $5,000 prize

Wonder Woods Early Education, is a private preschool located in Plumas Lake offering unique individualized learning experiences for children.

Who is Eligible to Participate?

This program welcomes entrepreneurs from different industries in Yuba County! Here are the requirements:

  1. Must be a Yuba County resident with a homebase business OR have a physical business location in Yuba County, CA.
  2. Must be a for-profit business.
  3. Cannot have received CA Dream Fund monies or participated in prior Yes to Startups Programs.
  4. Must have started or plan to start your businesses after January 1, 2022

*Applications will be scored; top 30 selected. Notifications by Month, Day 2026.

The Pitch Competition

At the end of the program, participants will compete in a two-part pitch competition.

Round 1 is open to everyone who completes the educational portion of the program.

You’ll pitch your business plan and idea to a local panel of professionals, including business advisors, mission-based lenders, and more.

You’ll also get one-on-one advising to improve your pitch. 

If you’re not selected to move on to Round 2, you’ll still receive $1,000 for your efforts!

Round 2 will invite 10 entrepreneurs to compete. Awards will be given out as follows:

First Place: $10,000

Second Place: $7,500

Third Place: $5,000

All other participants in Round 2 will receive $2,500 to celebrate their success!