Stoked to see that there was twice as many people at the Reno Bike Project Pancake feed this morning to support Bike to Work Day. Logan and I rolled down, ate some bacon, and then we rolled out to his school. We practiced his spelling words on the ride out, stopping at Walden’s Cafe for some more bacon. Thanks Kyle/Noah/Mikey for the bacon and griddle and Soma for flipping ‘them flapjacks.
Now entering its fourth year, the Donald W. Reynolds Collegiate Business Plan Competition is attracting more college students than ever before. Presented by Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET), the Governor’s Cup encourages students to develop innovative new business concepts as they compete for cash prizes. A record number of entries were received this year and NCET saw a significant jump in participation for the Lt. Governor’s Award, which is presented to the business plans that best employ clean, renewable or efficient energy technologies and services.
Governor’s Cup finalists will be announced on Wednesday, April 2, and winners will be named on Friday, April 25 at an awards luncheon at 
Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas. Nevada’s winners will compete in the new Tri-State Donald W. Reynolds Cup Competition, slated for May 14 at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas.
For info on ticket sales and event sponsorship opportunities, contact Emily Lowe at Emily@NCET.org or call (775) 337-3328.
Please join NCET on August 16 for Tech Thursday, Greater Reno Tahoe’s premier technology and entrepreneurial networking event! Find it on Upcoming.
This month, we’ll give you a preview of NCET’s many exciting programs and events, some brand new for 2007, including:
When: Thursday, August 16
5:30 – 7:30 pm, $10 donation at door
RSVP by Tuesday, August 14th
Redfield Campus -
Nell J. Redfield Building
18600 Wedge Parkway
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 850-2710
Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology helps foster an environment within Nevada in which high-growth entrepreneurial companies can succeed and flourish. NCET has a strategic partnership with the Nevada Commission on Economic Development. For more information on NCET, visit www.NCET.org. CET is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Nevada Lt. Governor Brian K. Krolicki and Desert Research Institute President Steve Wells have joined the growing list of speakers at this year’s Silver & Gold Conference. The conference will feature more than 40 venture capital and angel investors and a wide range of presenting companies from Nevada and Northern California.
New this year is the Best of the West Early Stage Expo, which brings together all critical components of the early-stage value chain — entrepreneurs, angel investors, business and technology executives, venture capitalists and a complete range of critical professional services providers – in a high-energy, high-impact networking setting during the opening reception. Exhibit space prices start at $500. For exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Dave Archer, Dave@NCET.org or (775) 315-7635.
Please click here for Sponsorship Brochure
Start-up and early-stage growth companies that would like to be featured at the conference must submit up to a 3-page executive summary via e-mail to entrepreneur@goldencapital.net. Entrepreneurs may begin submitting executive summaries on July 20. A maximum of 30 companies will be selected as presenters, so entrepreneurs must act quickly to be considered for a presentation slot, as qualified entrepreneurs will be also selected on a first-come, first-served basis.
On October 22, NCET, GCN and the Sierra Angels are bringing the exclusive “Power of Angel Investing – Angel Investing – An Overview” seminar, a program of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Angel Capital Education Foundation, back to Greater Reno Tahoe for the second consecutive year. Angel Investing – An Overview is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of angel investing for private investors, including those with limited or no previous angel investing experience.
GCN is bringing its entrepreneur boot camp, “The Entrepreneurs’ Guide to Angling for Angels and Venture Capital” to the forum as a special half-day workshop on October 22. The boot camp, whose faculty will include success entrepreneurs, angel investors and, venture capitalist, is specifically focused on critical issues entrepreneurs who are in the process of – or will be in the future – will face when raising private equity capital to start or grow their ventures.
The 7th Annual Silver & Gold conference will also include a special investor-only dinner program on October 22, with details to be release soon.
Please visit http://www.goldencapital.net/Events/Reno_07.asp for more information.
_____________________________________________________
The 7th Annual Silver & Gold Conference is sponsored by:
Nevada Commission on Economic Development
NCET - Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology
Sierra Angels
Vegas Valley Angels
Northern Nevada Business Weekly
Reno-Sparks Chamber of Commerce
Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce
For the last three years I’ve been involved with putting on the only state-wide business plan competition among college students with Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (producing and managing the event) and the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation kicking in $100,000 in prize money. This year will mark my third year as a finalist judge. Yeah…I’m like Simon Cowell…er Paula Abdul…er…anyway, lots of fun judging.
This year, Nevada’s college students submitted a record 44 business plans – a nearly 20 percent increase over last year. That’s way cool. Dave Archer and Emily Lowe have really been knocking this event out. I wish that I had received this kind of emphasis on entrepreneurship when I was in college! I’m the Chair for NCET this year and I’m stoked that things are really on a roll. (More about that later.)
Students from eight of Nevada’s colleges and universities are participating, a significant increase over last year’s competition. Nevada’s students also submitted 16 business plans for the new Lt Governor’s Award which is focused on green/clean startups. (Last year SimplySun, a business plan team out of Sierra Nevada College won with an idea for photo-voltaic membranes over commercial office windows. Brilliant!)
Each of the business plans will be reviewed by a panel of over 40 judges, and the top 12 teams – six each in the graduate and undergraduate tracks – will be invited to participate in the April 26th oral presentations held this year in Reno. Last year it was in Las Vegas at the Green valley Ranch. This year it’s at the Siena and is always HUGE FUN!
The finalists will personally present their business plans to the panel of judges. If you think you will ever pitch a business plan, come watch this! The finalist presentations are open to the public!!! It’s better than watching American Idol!!!
Seriously, it’s worth coming and watching the pitches. The judges are real entrepreneurs, vc’s and angels. This is as “real deal” as we can make it.
The winners will be announced at that evening’sAwards Gala at Reno’s Siena Hotel Spa Casino. Governor Jim Gibbons will be the guest of honor, and Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki is the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. This will be Brian’s third year MC’n this event - his first as the LG. Reflecting his care (and promise) to make Nevada a leader in renewable energy, the “Lt. Governor’s Award” makes its debut this year with a cash prize pool of at least $12,500 (as of writing) that will be presented to the graduate and undergraduate business plans that best employ clean, renewable or efficient energy technologies and services.
BTW, Sponsorships are still available…but going fast!!! We’re 80% Sold Out!!! Act Fast! As a sponsor, you’ll be providing significant support for Nevada’s best and brightest college and university students. Just slightly less important is the opportunity to attend a great party. Thanks to the following sponsors (so far): NCED, NDA, Schwab Bank, Wells Fargo, EDAWN, Sierra Pacific Resources, Noble Studios, UNR - COE, UNR - I3, NSBDC, Siena Hotel, Concepts West Agency, NNDA, Sierra Angels, Twelve Horses, Vegas Valley Angels, KRNV Channel 4, NNBW, Citadel (KKOH,Wild), Las Vegas Chamber, Reno-Sparks Chamber.
Expansion Management Magazine just named Reno of of the “2007 AMERICA’S 50 HOTTEST CITIES“! In it, they call out that “Perception Is a Critical Factor in Attracting Expanding Companies.” Yep. Perception is reality. Sometimes we call that branding 
In their annual poll of 80 prominent corporate site location experts, Reno, Nevada ranked in the top 50 out of 360+ metros to arrive at their list of the best places to expand or relocate a business.
Congratulations to EDAWN for their continued success in managing the perception of the Reno. Perhaps the unsung hero here is the RSCVA. If it weren’t for their relentlessly drumbeating our outdoor adventure and diverse gaming+ activities, Reno’s profile would be much less. Furthermore, their open dialog with EDAWN about leveraging tourism and economic development messages together has really given this region legs to stand on.
My prediction: Northern Nevada will start to emerge over the next 10 years as one of the more “green” economies to live/operate in as the University of Nevada, Desert Research Institute, the State and the numerous homebuilders and commercial developers create a catalyst of profitable and attractive opportunities for living and business expansion. I’ve been privy to a lot of the discussions going on and it’s really exciting.
In ten years we could be recognized as the #1 “green” city for business and living. Easy? No. Doable? Yes.
Technorati : branding, development, economic, edawn, expansion, growth, management, ncet, nevada, perception, quality, relocation, reno, reputation
Wednesday, January 17, 2007 there will be a Town Hall meeting: “… A Conversation on Energy”. Hosted by ConocoPhillips and Desert Research Institute (DRI), and moderated by Dr. Roger Jacobson, DRI Vice President of Academic Affairs & Chief Officer for Faculty Relations.
Panelists and speakers include:
The skinny: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 6:30pm PST Registration 7:00pm - 8:30pm PST Town Hall Meeting Holiday Inn Downtown Reno 1000 East Sixth Street Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited so register to secure your seat by calling toll free to 1-800-877-5917 or logging on to www.conocophillips.com/energy/RSVP. Registration closes Tuesday, January 16 at 7:00pm PST.
tags: dri, ConocoPhillips, conservation, energy, green, alternative, EDAWN, NCET, nevada, reno
Fellow Reno-Tahoe Entrepreneur’s Organization member Darik Volpa, CEO of UnderstandSurgery.com won "Best of Show" for Nevada at the 6th Annual Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference at the Peppermill in Reno, Nevada. Congratulations Darik!
If you want a full run-down of yesterday’s events, you can read a great summary by Reno-Gazette reporter Zack Hall.
All-in-all this was perhaps the best Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference I’ve been too, and it is on par or better than many I’ve attended in California, Utah and New York. Golden Capital Network put on a great show. The energy level was high, the investors eager and plenty of entrepreneur’s with great ideas and business plans.
A ‘couple of my favorites:
Thanks again to John Gregory for putting on such a wonderful show and, of course, Bob Goff of the Sierra Angels for tirelessly beating the "angel investing" drum for Reno-Tahoe.
Technorati : biodiesel, bob goff, ceo, darik volpa, david archer, david laplante, entrepreneur, eort, eort.org, john gregory, nevada, peppermill, reno, sierra angels, tahoe, technology, understandsurgery.com, venture capital
www.flickr.com
|
www.flickr.com
|
