Entrepreneurial Update

Ozmen Ventures launches $5 million fund to spark local entrepreneurial ecosystem as one of the first early-stage investment funds in northern Nevada.

Founded by Eren and Fatih Ozmen, owners of Sparks-based Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), a global aerospace and defense company, the fund aims to invest in young and dynamic local startups and cultivate the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Ozmen Ventures is a seed and early-stage venture capital fund headquartered in Reno. The fund has already made an investment in ClickBio, an innovator in the laboratory consumables industry. Read more here.

Local experts gave insight into startup financing at the NCET funding panel discussion earlier this month.

There are many questions that entrepreneurs have to face when looking to build and fund startups such as when to raise funds, how much to raise and where to find investors. If you missed it, you can read the recap here.

EDAWN, NCET, & RGJ awards ceremony is right around the corner – Thursday, March 30th

The EDAWN Awards recognize the resources that have played an integral part in contributing to the growth of our community. The NCET Awards celebrate Northern Nevada’s technology community, while the RGJ Awards recognize outstanding small, medium, large and new companies. You can purchase tickets and view the 2017 winners here. 

Coalition Snow, a local Reno Startup in the Summit VMS mentorship program, has launched their Kickstarter Campaign! 

The campaign runs through April 7th and is aimed at funding the next line of YOUth skis and snowboards for the next generation of women leading the charge. Coalition Snow is building the gear to help younger generations pursue their passions, reach their goals, find their voice, and stake their claim in the mountains. Learn more and support this project by visiting their

website. #TheFutureIsFemale #BeBoldForChange

Startup of the Month

 
HIDEit Mounts is a locally-owned Reno company and pioneer of the component mounting industry. 

While the initial concept was to hide components behind the TV, their mounts have also become the go-to for gamers to display their game consoles. HIDEit regularly introduces new mounts and offers solutions for cable boxes, game consoles, speakers, media players and more. Since joining Summit VMS in 2015, HIDEit has tripled sales, hired 7 employees, moved from a garage into a 4,400 sq ft facility on Longley Lane, and was named the Reno Gazette Journal’s Small Business of the year in 2016. Visit the HIDEit Showroom on Longley or check out HIDEitMounts.com.

Entrepreneurial Events

EDAWN, NCET & RGJ Entrepreneurial & Tech Awards

Thursday March 30th, 2017 from 5:00pm-8:30pm

Atlantis Casino & Resort Spa – 3800 S Virginia St, Reno, NV
The EDAWN Awards recognize the resources that have played an integral part in contributing to the growth of our community, the NCET Awards celebrate Northern Nevada’s technology community, and the RGJ Awards recognize outstanding small, medium, large and new companies. You can purchase tickets here. 
 

5th Annual Microsoft Reno Hackathon 

Saturday, April 15th at 12pm to Sunday, April 16  at 12pm

Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center at the University of Nevada, Reno
Microsoft and the Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center will co-host the 5th Annual Reno Hackathon. Over the past four years, Microsoft developed a collaborative effort between various Reno technology, entrepreneurial and business organizations which inspired a 24-hour app developer hackathon. Stay up to date on the Reno Hackathon Facebook Page.

2017 Nasa Space Apps Challenge

Friday, April 29th – Saturday, April 30th

The Reno Collective – 100 N Arlington Ave #100, Reno, NV
Space Apps Reno is part of a global hackathon that is organized by NASA as part of the International Space Apps Challenge. On April 29-30, 2017 the City of Reno will participate for the fifth year in this global event. The event is free to participants! Learn more and register here.
There are several entrepreneurial events happening throughout the region! For a full calendar list, and to list your event, check-out Reno Startup Digest.
1 Million Cups – Every Wednesday morning from 9 to 10 a.m. at Swill Coffee and Wine. We are always looking for startups and ventures to present, view past presentations to get an idea of the format, and contact the 1MC team to sign-up!

Major Investor of the Week

Grand Sierra Resort is an all-encompassing destination resort with over 200,000 square feet of meeting space located in the heart of the Reno-Tahoe region.