TLVA is a venture-building laboratory to help pre-seed and seed-stage startups get to their next fundraising round in half the time.
We help pre-seed/seed-stage, tech-enabled startups in large, growing markets achieve product-market fit faster.
Our proven “Traction Lab” process cuts the time to traction in half by guiding founders through market hypothesis testing, speeding up fundraising, and accelerating the path to scale, in exchange for a small warrant-based equity stake.
As the only program in the Sacramento region focused on market traction at the seed stage, we identify promising founders early and help them scale faster—while reducing burnout and decision fatigue.
Our goal is to prepare our portfolio companies for their next priced round. We aim for our portfolio companies to be ready to pitch to investors and raise their Series Seed or Series A round of funding within 6-12 months, and successful exits in 3-5 years.
The Traction Lab Venture Accelerator is powered by the Carlsen Center and The Right Box — two organizations renowned for fueling Sacramento’s startup ecosystem. With years of experience, they’ve collectively supported thousands of founders, facilitated successful fundraising rounds, and launched programs that drive real market traction.
Their proven collaborations and deep community ties ensure TLVA is built on a foundation of expertise, trust, and results.
The TLVA is a unique, stage-gated “venture lab” designed with the needs of founders in mind. We partner with venture-backable startups to provide erverything they need to get to their next round of funding:
We accept applications on a rolling basis, and admit new companies into the portfolio in “forums” of 3–5 startups at a time. The application should take about 30 minutes to complete, and you’ll need to provide a video and some references.
The process is structured into distinct phases with stage-gated milestones, ensuring founders validate critical assumptions, achieve measurable traction, and are investor-ready before progressing. Here’s how it works:
Applications are open now! We formally kick off the accelerator at the start of 2025, and we will be accepting companies into our portfolio on a rolling basis. Here’s how to get started:
Because neither are you. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have crazy fun doing what we love. These are the principles that guide us:
We’re investing our time, talent, treasure, and ties to helping founders find traction and funding in 2025 and beyond.
We run multiple newsletters for innovators, including Traction Thinking and Founding with AI, and co-host the podcast Zero to Traction. Here are some recent things we’ve said:
Early traction is dangerous if shallow. In this office hours, we talked about going beyond the surface, testing actual urgency, and staying grounded when feedback flatters but doesn’t convert.
Read moreIf you think adding fuel will make your startup fly, but your funnel’s on fire and your CAC is cosplay, congrats — you’ve turned your burn rate into a bonfire of delusion.
Read moreIf you’re still trying to overcome sales objections before proving your value, you’re not selling — you’re busking with a feature list.
Read moreWe unpacked the patterns behind early startup struggles — loyal users that don’t grow, demos that don’t convert, and platforms that attract one side of the market while the other ghosts.
Read moreWe accept applications on a rolling basis, and admit new companies into the portfolio in “forums” of 3–5 startups at a time. The application should take about 30 minutes to complete, and you’ll need to provide a video and some references.
