Gabelli Ignite – Startup Launchpad

Mario J. Gabelli Innovations Program · University of Nevada, Reno
Deadline for proposal submission: Oct. 4, 2026.

Your idea is ready to take off. Are you?

Embark on an exciting journey to convert your raw idea to a venture capital (VC) ready startup with our expert mentors, non-dilutive funding and a seat in front of real investors.

Join the Gabelli Ignite program – where WE PAY YOU to help build your own business!

$80K

Non-dilutive funding available

5-10 hours

Time commitment per week

9 months

Lab-to-market acceleration program

5

Teams selected based on proposals submitted

Ready to apply to the program? It takes less than 15 minutes and could change your life forever!

Submit your full proposal

 

The Journey: Your Flight Plan

Every stage is a checkpoint you clear – not a class you sit through. See what it takes to clear it each stage. Miss a checkpoint, and the mission ends there – that's the point.

 

Structured Lab-to-Market Method

Three checkpoints. Zero fluff.

These checkpoints, as indicated in the journey (your flight plan), will occur October through March. The selected teams work the same structured curriculum – validated monthly by their advisory board.

Checkpoint A – Business case validation

  • Commercial problem validation and market sizing
  • Customer discovery and segmentation
  • IP inventory and competitive benchmarking

Checkpoint B – Proof of concept

  • Unit economics: pricing, cost of goods sold (COGS), gross margin
  • Testable proof-of-concept build
  • Regulatory pathway mapping

Checkpoint C – Go-to-market (GTM)

  • GTM strategy and lighthouse wins
  • Capital strategy and valuation milestones
  • Catalyst roadmap to unlock value
 

The Pack Pitch

Walk into the Pack Pitch.

Teams who clear all three checkpoints pitch to a rolling panel of five seasoned venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. The judges can invest directly or nominate you for a Gabelli Entrepreneurship Award.

5

Venture capitalists and entrepreneurs on the panel

3

Awards at $10K each

1

Shot, thoroughly reviewed

Mission Payout

  • Seed Grant – clears Checkpoint A: Up to $10,000
  • Gabelli Entrepreneurship Award: Up to $10,000
  • Awards available per cohort: Up to 3
  • Non-dilutive
 

Pre-Flight Readiness Check

Are you cleared for launch?

Think about what's true for you – see how many boxes you check. There's no wrong score; it just tells you where you stand today.

  • I'm a full-time University of Nevada, Reno undergrad, grad or postdoc (any department)
  • I have an idea that's differentiated, scalable and solves a real problem
  • I have – or am willing to build – a team with technical and business skills
  • I can line up two faculty references
  • I'm ready for a 9-month commitment (about 5-10 hours per week) with monthly milestone reviews

Five students working together on a project in an innovative, modern space.

Ignition starts soon for cohort 2026-27

Ready to apply to the program? It takes less than 15 minutes and could change your life forever! The deadline for the proposal submission is Oct. 4, 2026.

Submit your full proposal.

Mario J. Gabelli Innovations Program

Gabelli Ignite is a startup launchpad sponsored by the Mario J. Gabelli Innovations Program, positioning the University of Nevada, Reno as the premier catalyst for Northern Nevada's next generation of innovators.

Program contacts

Rajul Misra, Ph.D. | Program Director | rajulm@unr.edu
Marissa Dean | Director, Innevation Center | marissadean@unr.edu

Location

University of Nevada, Reno Innevation Center