• First up is a Deanne Stillman book-signing at Sundance Bookstore. Deanne’s latest book, “Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West,” was published today. The event starts at 6:30pm. Click [here] for directions to Sundance. Also, please visit: www.nvwildhorses.com to join a community dialog on this subject.
• After the booksigning, the Reno-Tahoe AIGA (that stands for American Institute for Graphic Arts) is screening Helvetica on the Nevada Museum of Art’s rooftop.

“Mustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West” Booksigning

Deanne had an article in the LA Times last week. Here’s an excerpt:

Wild horses aren’t free

Failure to enforce a 1971 law endangers the mustangs it was supposed to protect.

By Deanne Stillman
June 2, 2008

It’s not news that America is a cowboy nation, but it may surprise many that we are destroying the horse we rode in on.

Since the early 1970s, mustangs — wild horses — have been protected under the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act, spearheaded by Velma Johnston, a.k.a. Wild Horse Annie. In 1950, she saw blood spilling out of a truck on a Nevada highway, followed it, and then witnessed injured and dying mustangs being offloaded at a slaughterhouse. She led a battle to stop the cruel roundups, resulting in the passage of federal protection signed into law by President Nixon in 1971.

Under that law, horses are to be “considered in areas where presently found as an integral part of the system of public lands.” Their management falls to agencies inside the Department of the Interior, primarily the Bureau of Land Management, which culls the herds based on the land’s grazing capacity and what’s required to sustain the wild horse population. But the government also balances the needs of horses against other uses of the range — and that means corporate cattle ranching. Today, instead of being protected, mustangs are in danger of being “managed” out of existence.

At Twelve Horses (where I’m employed) we kinda stirred up the dust on the wild horse issue and did a video podcast and created a social community to foster more dialog on the subject. Here’s the video, and if you will, please join www.nvwildhorses.com and let’s find some resolution to this issue. Our aim to get folks leveraging social media to draw the attention, air out the facts and protect our State’s brand.

Helvetica: Rooftop Film Screening Party at NMA

Thursday June 12, 7pm: Nevada Museum of Art

Join us for a rooftop screening of the acclaimed documentary Helvetica on the 51st birthday of the typeface. We will be serving birthday cake and beverages and the museum galleries will be open prior to showtime.

7pm – Food, drink and museum galleries, 8pm – Showtime

Members | Free
Student non-members | $10
Non-members | $20

Everyone is encouraged to bring a guest, free of charge.

Register [here].

It was a long weekend of shooting and we all had an excellent time staying up all night watching Reno native writer/director Justin Francis work his magic. A Flickr slideshow is here.

A year later, Modest Mouse is playing at the Grand Sierra Resort on Tuesday 5/27 the whole Twelve Horses crew is going to support and draw attention to GabrielsLife.org. Modest Mouse is an amazing band in the first place, but this whole experience has made them even more amazing with the attention it has brought to Reno and to GabrielsLife.org.

The Backstory:

Many of you know my best friend / local attorney Matt Francis. We met on the UNR ski team back in 1988. His younger brother Justin Francis is an amazing music video producer/videographer having done music videos for artists like Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keyes, Mariah Carey, the Hives and on and on and on….they guy never stops shooting videos and commercials.

Anyway, he pitched Modest Mouse on shooting a video of their song “Little Motel” in the town he grew up in, Reno Nevada with a script he had written. He asked Cody to play a role in it. If you’ve not seen the video, now would be a good time to watch it so the rest of this blog post makes sense!

Modest Mouse – Little Motel

For obvious reasons, the subject of the video was difficult at best. My wife and I had our reservations about having our son play a role in such a tragic story. I mean, would you? Every time I watch this video I tear up and cry. If you made it through this video and are still dry-eyed, you’re definitely not a parent!

Leilani, Twelve Horses’ Social Marketing Manager, talked my wife and I in to letting Cody doing the video. I work closely with Leilani every day and she’s been a tremendous role model in my life. If you have had the wonderful opportunity to get to know her, then you are undoubtedly aware of the tragedy in Leilani’s life due to Hydrocephalus and the amazing leadership and courage that has led her to launch GabrielsLife.org. If you’ve never read this story or met Leilani, please take a moment to do so and sup[port this organization. Also, there’s a great story that the local newspaper did here: http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080129/LIV/801290331.

Now it’s almost a year later and I’m reading the hundreds and hundreds of comments of how deeply moved people are by this video Justin wrote.

Our family is absolutely proud of being part of a project that has reminded so many people how precious life is and how powerful connections are. Through family, friends and the online social media, tragedy, writing, creativity and friendly helping people have all had an opportunity to inspire each other. That’s cool.

If you’re in Reno Tuesday, I hope to see you at the Modest Mouse concert! We’ll all be there!

It’s the single most important VC conference outside Silicon Valley… and it’s happening right here in Reno October 20 & 21.

The 8th Annual Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference will bring in a substantial base of actively investing angels and venture capitalists, including many Silicon Valley investors and presenting companies. Conducted by NCET, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, Golden Capital Network and the Sierra Angels, the two-day event will feature 30 – 50 angel investor and VC firms, 30-40 early-stage “presenting” companies, and some serious high-power networking. Learn more about how you can be involved by visiting www.ncet.org/venture-capital-conferences.

Save the Date:

When: October 20 & 21, 2008

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Location: Peppermill Convention Center, Reno, NV

Finalists have been announced for the 2008 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Competition. Presented by Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NCET), Governor’s Cup winners will be announced an awards luncheon on Friday, April 22 at the Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas.

2008 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Finalists

Undergraduate Finalists:  KG BioSolutions – Sierra Nevada College; SciSpace – University of Nevada, Reno; The Garage 777 – Great Basin College ; Voxspot – University of Nevada, Reno;  WATTs – Waster Alternatives Transfer Technologies – University of Nevada, Las Vegas;  Wolfpack Works – University of Nevada, Reno.

Graduate Finalists : Bio-Grounds LLC – University of Nevada, Reno; GoGreenOutdoors.com – University of Nevada, Reno; Mobile Advertising Ltd. – University of Nevada, Las Vegas;  Mobile Business Solutions – University of Nevada, Las Vegas;  More Water Company – University of Nevada, Reno; SportsRiffic – University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

2008 Lt. Governor’s Award Finalists:

Undergraduate Finalists:  KG BioSolutions – Sierra Nevada College; Sierra Biofuels – University of Nevada, Reno; West Coast Helios – University of Nevada, Reno; WunderBeer – University of Nevada, Reno.

Graduate Finalists:  Bio-Grounds LLC – University of Nevada, Reno;  More Water Company – University of Nevada, Reno; Power Development Technologies – University of Nevada, Reno.

Complete details on each team here

If you’d like more information about sponsoring this event, or attending the awards ceremony, please contact Emily Lowe at (775) 337-3328 or Emily@NCET.org. Tables of eight are $750 and individual seats are $100. Featured speakers will include Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons, Nevada Lt. Governor Brian Krolicki and honorary chair Patty Wade. For more information, visit www.2008govcup.com.

I’ll blog about why Reno’s burgeoning meat-market is vital on another post…just know that the 20-30 something tech/creative’s are in high demand everywhere on the planet and we need to hold on to every single one of them here locally. Frankly, my business cannot grow without them.

A long time a go (1999 – 2002) Michael Thomas (now at EDAWN) ran Greater Reno-Tahoe’s first technology oriented social-networking driven organization, the TechAlliance @ NewNevada. Perhaps the greatest boon to northern Nevada’s tech economy back then was what was then known as Cocktails.com. It’s where we all got together, got on the same page and built momentum with cocktails in hand.

I met Robb Smith for the first time at a Cocktails.com event and he convinced me to joined the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (then known as YEO) which has been perhaps one of my greatest professional life experiences. Back then there were startups like Ken Hawk’s iGo, CandyBarell.com, HardwareStreet.com, HomeSeekers.com and a dozen others. UNR’s Mike Reed, Nevada Bell’s Dick Bostdorf and Reno attorney Garrett Sutton were instrumental in the TechAlliance’s startup. More recently, thanks to EDAWN/Michael Thomas we’ve got the newly formed  Reno Tahoe Young Professionals Network kicking ass and an we’re on the world’s design radar with a fully legit and operatin cool AIGA chapter.  

At the beginning, Cocktails.com events would last all night with everyone spilling out of bars, nightclubs and JK’s Nugget in the wee hours of the morning. It was a great time of forming a tech-community. Then: Dot.com bust…and as Paul Harvey would say “now know you know the story….”

Michael Thomas to came to work for Twelve Horses in 2002 and the TechAlliance eventually folded in to a newly formed state-wide effort known as Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (NCET.ORG). (DISCLAIMER: I’ve was on the founding board and am now the Chairman of this wonderful organization — so this is blatant promotion.) About a year-and-a-half ago under Dave Archer & Emily Lowe’s exceptional care, we brought back Cocktails.com as Tech Thursday’s. These events have been awesome, however, they’ve leaned a little too much on the professional and a little too less on the networking/drinking/have fun/hooking up. In perhaps kinder words, Tech Thursday attracts an “older behaving crowd”. Folks that have to be home before sundown.

WiFi Wednesdays are, by design, intended to be much more geared to the twenty/thrity-somethings rather that “all-inclusive professionals”. If people aren’t doing shots of Tequilla and YouTube jousting, we’ve failed at this experiment. I expect/hope that the Thursday mornings following an event to be just a little less productive among Reno’s tech/design class. But in trade for that, collectively we hope to have a larger pool of those workers to chose from. Now this doesn’t mean that folks over the age of 40 aren’t welcome. If you still feel and act like you’re twenty-six (that’s my personal maturity wall) then get your game on and come out!

Wi-Fi Wednesdays is the brainchild of NCET marketing manager Emily Lowe and Robert Payne/Josh Kenzer of Twelve Horses. The trio was looking for a way to expand their professional networks and was weary of the same old venues. Wi-Fi Wednesdays is intended to be a bi-monthly high-energy networking opportunity designed to serve the specific needs of and cater exclusively to the influential 21-39 demographic. Come help make it succeed!

Details:

August 22, join NCET and the Reno-Tahoe Young Professional’s Network
(YPN) as they put a modern-day spin on Greater Reno Tahoe’s networking with the launch of Wi-Fi Wednesdays: “Connecting the Connected.”

- Wi-Fi Wednesdays is a bi-monthly high-energy networking opportunity designed exclusively for the influential 21-39 demographic
- Held in wireless venues throughout Reno
- Entertaining high-tech networking tools
- “Speed networking,” a twist on the “speed dating” concept that helps facilitate numerous one-on-one introductions in a short period of time
- Brief presentations by successful young entrepreneurs and technology professionals.

The Chocolate Bar
August 22 – 5:30 – 7:30 pm
475 S. Arlington Ave, Reno

August’s Wi-Fi Wednesday features a YouTube contest where you get to vote on your favorite video. To enter, send links of your best videos (3
max) to Emily at NCET by Monday, August 20.

- Space for the August 22 Wi-Fi Wednesdays debut is limited and reservations are preferred.
- Cost for the event is $5 per person for Reno-Tahoe YPN members and $10 per person for non-members. RSVP@NCET.org.

NCET, 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. NCET is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

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:

• Wi-Fi Wednesdays
• Silver & Gold VC Conference
• Nevada Clean Energy Summit
• eWeek (Entrepreneur Week)

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.

I was listening to this week’s episode (#107) of TWiT (This Week in Technology) while eating a bowl of Pho noodles and almost started choked when Leo LaPorte started talking about this news story. If it weren’t for TWit, I would have totally missed it. Listen to this clip of the banter of TWiT…too funny hahaha! (BTW, you should subscribe to TWiT. Best tech podcast.) 

In what could be a whopping security hole, Nevada has posted the password to the gubernatorial e-mail account on its official state Web site. It appears in a Microsoft Word file giving step-by-step instructions on how aides should send out the governor’s weekly e-mail updates, which has, as a second file shows, 13,105 subscribers.

And just before anyone goes off claiming that this is endemic to a particular political party or something snidely silly like that, let me tell you first hand that for the last 16 years I’ve witnessed this type of stuff go down at pretty much every level of government on both sides of the aisle. For the one or two times that make it to the headlines such as this, there’s the ninety-nine other times that it does not…which is ultimately a good thing. It does get depressing when you think about all the folks who “run this place” who can’t even send or receive a simple text message or an email for that matter!

 What we’re witnessing is the last days of the “un-connected” political elite. It’s still possible for folks to get elected without a Blackbeery in hand. But those days are numbered. The 2008 election cycle will prove that the luddite politicos are on the decline. Facebook and MySpace friends count more than ever. Luddlite politicians who can’t compete for the mindshare of the “media consumer voter” may not swing a lot of elections in 2008, however, by 2012 that will change.  I predict it will be folks like Reno 911!’s stars (who partnered with Declare Yourself to produce satirical video shorts) that will begin to dominate the voter’s attention. Simply put, by 2015, Gen-Y will account for 1/3rd of the voting population.

Lastly, what is missing from most of the elected 1.0 is the self depreciating sense of humor about themselves that develops personal brand trust and connectedness with the media consumer voter under the age of 40. Al Gore’s figured it out…see that post here. John Edwards’ campaign should jump on the hairdo PR wagon and hand out mini-shampoo bottles with his mug on them driving them to his Facebook page. But alas they’re probably too busy fighting off hackers in Second Life!

NCET, Golden Capital Network and the Sierra Angels’ 7th Annual Silver & Gold Conference October 22-23 in Reno, NV

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.

Pre-Conference Seminar: “Power of Angel Investing”

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.

Pre-Conference Entrepreneur Boot Camp

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 7^th 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

Stay tuned for the audio/video we took.

Link to RGJ.com: Rodeo Kids Slideshow

I grew up while BMX was just moving from Stingray concepts to a legit sport. When I was four the first BMX bikes were just hitting the dirt for the first time. Next to the “pavement-didn’t-exist-in-Crested-Butte therefore I never learned to skateboard” bummer of a childhood, I never really had the chance to race BMX. I went straight to mountain bikes. Unlike ski racing, this is a completely new gig for me. Cody’s one race ahead of me.

The whole race was good times and I like how the BMX season picks up as the snow turns yellow and melts away. I think as a family we’re about to become hooked. Long days at the soccer field listening to parents yap on their cell phones doesn’t seem nearly as exciting as BMX.

I may even have to get out there and start racing with the kids, too. Who else is in?

Technorati tags: BMX, bike, bikes, racing, kids, dads, carsoncity, nevada

There will be over 50 venture capital and angel investors in attendance and probably just as many presenting companies. Last year deals were getting funded in the halls between sessions. I expect that this year there will be as many good deals to be had.

Do you have a deal to present? If you’re a start-up and/or early-stage growth company that would like to be featured at the conference, you must submit a 3-page executive summary. For details, follow this link.

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 selected on a first-come, first-served basis. The submission deadline for interested companies is April 27.

The 4th Annual Vegas Venture Forum is presented by the NCET (Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology), TBAN (Technology Business Alliance of Nevada), Vegas Valley Angels and Golden Capital Network at the Green Valley Ranch in Las Vegas, NV on May 30 – 31, 2007.

Technorati tags: vegas, venture, forum, vc, angel, investing, capital, nevada, entrepreneur, startup, start-up, deals