The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) Entrepreneurial Team, along with more than 20 community organizations, hosts the inaugural Reno Startup Week, taking place Sept. 25-29, 2023. 

Three keynote events, 40-plus workshops, lectures and networking opportunities make up this free event, currently on track to be the largest community-business event ever held in Reno. 

The University of Nevada, Reno Innevation Center is the selected headquarters venue, with the Nevada SBDC office, Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship and the Research & Innovation division sponsoring and organizing workshops. 

Reno Startup Week was created to bring together founders, innovators, dreamers, makers and business owners for a week-long celebration of the entrepreneurial spirit in northern Nevada. 

Numerous professors and lecturers from the University will be on panels, and the event’s lead sponsor is Dragonfly Energy. 

“Entrepreneurship is the heart of Reno's business community and having been through the rigorous process of building a startup into a successful public company, Dragonfly Energy is proud to support the inaugural Reno Startup Week,” College of Business Online Executive MBA alumnus, co-founder and CEO of Dragonfly Energy Denis Phares said. “This event will provide the valuable support startups and small businesses need to learn and the tools to help them become equipped for growth.” 

One of the highlight events will be Elevate Reno. This quarterly business pitch event is being converted to a pitch competition where founders will vie for over $17,000 in cash and prizes. 

Events are free, but space may be limited, so pre-registrations are encouraged. The first networking gathering is 7 a.m., Monday, Sept. 25, for Coffee, Donuts and Networking at the Innevation Center.