Teacher Built Startup Wins Best in Show
The Tomorrow’s Innovators Demo Night took place Thursday October 30 at UC Davis Aggie Square. The event was created and led by Urban Technology Lab, a new venture built by Christina Granados and Alan Ware. Both are also the founders of Sactown Makers.
The room was packed. The audience stayed engaged for every presentation. Jennifer Fragata won Best in Show for ConnectED. She received a $1500 award from the Carlsen Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
Dr. Keenan Gibson won the Audience Choice Favorite Award for SurgeMentor AI.
The event was the second public showcase of the Tomorrow’s Innovators Accelerator. It is a 14 week program designed for BIPOC and underserved founders in Sacramento. The accelerator began August 1 2025 and will focused on product development, design thinking, Fusion 360, and 3D printing. Participants will receive a 3D printer and a one year Fusion 360 license. The program was free to Sacramento residents and business owners within the city limits.
Best In Show: ConnectED
One of the most data driven presentations was delivered by founder and Sacramento teacher Jennifer Fragata. She presented ConnectED, an integrated communication and behavior tracking platform for schools. Her presentation focused on the national teacher retention crisis and how fragmented systems contribute to burnout. Her pilot achieved full teacher adoption and meaningful reductions in behavioral incidents at her school. Her current challenge is district level Chromebook compliance so she can expand deployment.
Audience Favorite Winner
Keenan Gibson presented SurgeMentor AI, his surgical training platform that uses artificial intelligence and 3D printed models to help surgeons prepare procedures, improve performance, and reduce errors. The company focuses on surgical residents, new surgeons, and hospital training programs. The audience selected SurgeMentor AI as the Audience Choice Favorite.
Eddie F. — Fresh Cars
Motorized dent lifter to make paintless dent repair faster and less physically demanding.
Michael L. — GripEase
Wearable assistive grip device for people with limited hand strength.
Emily S. — Bloom Watch
Low cost smartphone microscope and app to detect harmful algal blooms.
Madeline H. — MotionCore
Under desk exercise cycle designed for healthy movement during work hours.
Jenny D. — Capital Event Center
Event management and creative production space in Sacramento.
Matthew G. — Motion Headbands
Custom headbands that reduce hair strain and stay secure during activity.
Salam D. — Pool Pet
Solar powered interactive pool cleaning companion controlled by an app.
Antron H. — Cannalog
Digital platform for cannabis users to track strains and effects.
Ruben L. — Bug a Dex
Handheld insect identification device connected to 3D printing and STEM learning.
Joshue O. — Luna Pots
Recycled smart plant pots with a hinge design to prevent root binding.
Program Context
The Tomorrow’s Innovators Accelerator is built to help new founders test ideas, build working prototypes, and find a path toward product and revenue. Cohort participants worked weekly at Aggie Square and engaged with mentors, guest experts, and members of Sacramento’s entrepreneurial community. The program was created to help close the gap between concept and execution for groups that historically have not been included in the region’s tech and product development pipeline.
Wrap-Up
The Tomorrow’s Innovators Demo Night demonstrated that Sacramento has a new pipeline of founders who are building real products and solving specific problems. Urban Technology Lab and Sactown Makers created a platform for these first time entrepreneurs to show working prototypes and receive direct public feedback. The turnout, the engagement, and the award results showed that there is strong demand for this type of hands on innovation in the region.