Inaugural Pitch Mayhem Reno event to be held at University’s Innevation Center Nov. 18

Tech startups showcase their innovative companies in a tournament-style pitch competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week

The exterior of the University of Nevada, Reno's Innevation Center in downtown Reno.

Applications for this Pitch Mayhem session are closed, but the startups competing in this tournament will be announced soon. #JoinTheMayhem

Inaugural Pitch Mayhem Reno event to be held at University’s Innevation Center Nov. 18

Tech startups showcase their innovative companies in a tournament-style pitch competition during Global Entrepreneurship Week

Applications for this Pitch Mayhem session are closed, but the startups competing in this tournament will be announced soon. #JoinTheMayhem

The exterior of the University of Nevada, Reno's Innevation Center in downtown Reno.

Applications for this Pitch Mayhem session are closed, but the startups competing in this tournament will be announced soon. #JoinTheMayhem

In a first-of-its-kind tournament-style pitch competition in Reno, the University of Nevada, Reno is joining Pitch Mayhem as a partner to enhance the technology ecosystem in Nevada. 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 Nevada 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 Nevada.”

The competition – held during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November – is supported by the University’s Research & Innovation division, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Office of Economic Development, the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. 

“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 University of Nevada, Reno, said.

For the head-to-head pitch competition, brackets are created for startups operating in particular sectors. The Reno sectors 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 Nevada.”

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 Nevada. Working with Enterprise & Innovation offers extensive resources for startups and established businesses, including grant support, mentorship and business incubation. Through the Nevada 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 Nevada,” 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.

Latest From

Nevada Today