In a first-of-its-kind tournament-style pitch competition in Reno, the Â鶹ӳ» is joining Pitch Mayhem as a partner to enhance the technology ecosystem in Â鶹ӳ». The event will be held at the University’s Innevation Center from 5-8 p.m., Monday, Nov. 18.
“We like to say that this tournament is March Madness meets Shark Tank – with a touch of Â鶹ӳ» flair,” Rohan Brown, founder and host of Pitch Mayhem, said. “For founders, this is their chance to become part of a robust tech ecosystem right here in Â鶹ӳ».”
The competition – – is supported by the University’s Research & Innovation division, the University of Â鶹ӳ», Las Vegas Office of Economic Development, the Â鶹ӳ» Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and the Economic Development Authority of Western Â鶹ӳ».
“This is another great opportunity to highlight our regional startup companies and work alongside our economic development partners,” Mridul Gautam, vice president for research and innovation at the Â鶹ӳ», said.
For the head-to-head pitch competition, are created for startups operating in particular sectors. The include Life Sciences and Biotech, Autonomous Vehicles, Supply Chain + Logistics, Environmental Technologies and Sustainability, and Smart City.
“Pitch Mayhem is a unique event that provides early-stage startups the opportunity to showcase their groundbreaking ideas, compete for funding and prizes, and make valuable connections,” Brown said. “By teaming up with the University, we are creating an unparalleled opportunity for startups to gain visibility, resources and the chance to relocate and scale their businesses in Â鶹ӳ».”
Enterprise & Innovation is the University’s lead partnering unit and will provide staff and planning support for the event. Enterprise & Innovation is a hub designed to drive economic growth, support new ventures and facilitate research commercialization within Â鶹ӳ». Working with Enterprise & Innovation offers extensive resources for startups and established businesses, including grant support, mentorship and business incubation. Through the Â鶹ӳ» Center for Applied Research and facilities like the Innevation Center, entrepreneurs can access co-working spaces, makerspaces and networking opportunities with industry experts.
“Pitch Mayhem is an excellent platform to support and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs in Â鶹ӳ»,” Khaled Abul-Hassan, the University’s assistant vice president for Enterprise and Innovation, said. “Hosting Pitch Mayhem at the Innevation Center is a powerful way to bring some of the area’s brightest innovators together under one roof, right in the heart of our entrepreneurial ecosystem.”
Enterprise & Innovation also supports patent filing and licensing for University employees and provides connections to venture funding and commercialization programs that aid in transforming research into market-ready products and services.
