NCET

• Click Here for Southern Nevada’s Schedule of Events
• Click Here for Northern Nevada’s Schedule of Events
• Click Here for No. Nevada Mar 2 Entrepreneur Expo - Speaker Listing
• Click Here for No. Nevada Mar 2 Entrepreneur Expo - Exhibitor Listing

Friday, March 2
EntrepreneurshipWeek USA -
Entrepreneur Expo
9 am - 5 pm
Reno-Sparks Convention Center
4001 S Virginia St
Open to the public - FREE

EntrepreneurshipWeek USA is a nationwide event that celebrates and encourages entrepreneurs, and wraps up with the Entrepreneur Expo on Friday, March 2.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, starting a new business or just want to expand your existing business, the free Entrepreneur Expo provides you with:

· Access to organizations that can help you jump-start YOUR business

· Expert advice on virtually every facet of starting and running a business

Presentations and Panels include:

· Basic Human Resources For New And Small Companies
· Bootstrapping Your Business
· Building A Bridge To Capital
· Business Planning For Technology Ventures
· Create An Affordable AND World-Class Technology Infrastructure For Your Business
· “Entrepreneurs Of The Year” Share Their Secrets To Success
· Entrepreneurship: The Future Of Northern Nevada’s Economy?
· Financial Feasibility Of Your Business Idea
· Financing Primer
· Hitting The Million Dollar Mark: Key Strategies To Drive Your Growth
· How And Why To Go Public For As Little As $25,000
· Incorporating, Asset Protection And Estate Planning
· Managing Your Business Finances Like A Pro Using QuickBooks Pro
· Protect The Name You’ve Made For Yourself
· Realizing The Dream Of Your Own Business: Idea to Start-Up
· Strengths-Based Leadership
· And, many more…

Exhibitors include:

· Desert Research Institute
· Digiman Photography, Inc.
· EDAWN
· Greater Nevada Credit Union
· How To Go Public, Inc.
· mac-o-rama, Your Local Apple Specialist
· Management Assistance Partnership (MAP)
· Morrison University
· NCET - Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology
· Nevada Commission on Economic Development
· Nevada JobConnect
· Nevada Microenterprise Initiative
· Nevada Small Business Development Center
· Northern Nevada Business Weekly
· Northern Nevada Development Authority 
· Procurement Outreach Program
· QuickBooks Pro Training — Advanced Certified Advisor
· Reno Gazette-Journal/The Business Report
· SCORE
· Sierra Capital Resources, LLC 
· Sparks Chamber of Commerce   
· Sutton Law Center
· U.S. Small Business Administration
· University of Nevada, Reno - Career Development
· University of Nevada, Reno - College of Business MBA Program
· University of Nevada, Reno - Extended Studies
· UNR’s Institute for Innovation and Informatics
· USDA - Rural Development
· Washoe County - Permits+Plus Zone 
· WNCC - Workforce Development Center

Sponsored by:

o NCET - Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology

o Nevada Commission on Economic Development

Learn more about EntrepreneurshipWeek USA and the week’s events at www.ncet.org/eweek or by calling (775) 337-3328. 

__________________________________

EDAWN Morning Business Buzz

Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Location: Atlantis Resort & Casino (Ballroom)
Time: 7am - 9am
Tickets:  $20 EDAWN Members  $30 Non-members

Topic: The State of the Nevada Economy
Speaker: Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki

Session overview: Krolicki will discuss the Nevada Business Partnership, a program Governor Jim Gibbons introduced at the onset of his administration, as a tool to increase economic diversification and employment opportunities for the state. The economic model will help create new high tech, bio tech and other types of business sectors to enhance Nevada’s economic vitality. Krolicki will give an update on the current state of the economy, and how the Nevada Business Partnership will shape future development for northern Nevada, as well as foster the state’s renewable energy independence. Attend the Morning Business Buzz to network with EDAWN members, enjoy continental breakfast and to learn more about the Nevada Business partnership!

REGISTER NOW

2007 Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada
5190 Neil Road, Suite 111, Reno, NV 89502 Phone: 775.829.3700 Website: www.edawn.org

The Reno Gazette-Journal’s Zack Hall reports on the upcoming EntrepreneurshipWeek USA activities.

Entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs will have plenty of opportunities for help during the next week as Northern Nevada kicks off the first EntrepreneurshipWeek.

The event, which begins Saturday with a SCORE seminar and runs through March 3, feature seminars, open houses and networking events, culminating with the Entrepreneur Expo on March 2.

The local events, which coincide with national event EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, are aimed at making available the multiple resources to budding entrepreneurs in the state, said Dave Archer, managing director of the Nevada Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology.

“We have a tremendous amount of resources in state to help entrepreneurs,” said Archer, who helped plan the week. “Many just don’t know about them.”

Nevada has relied heavily on entrepreneurs throughout its history and, currently, 85 percent of the state’s businesses have fewer than 20 employees, Archer said.

Making resources easily accessible to the public is critical to the future growth of the state, said local entrepreneur Darik Volpa, CEO of Understand.com.

“As Nevada becomes one of the leading entrepreneurial states, it is important that we continue to influence future business to grow here,” Volpa said. “NCET and the programs that it promotes are incredible assets to the future of business in the state.”

(read the complete story here)

Events

For information and registration: www.ncet.org/eweek

Technorati tags: Entrepreneurs, Northern Nevada, EntrepreneurshipWeek USA, Entrepreneurship, Reno, SCORE, Entrepreneur Expo Dave Archer, Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, NCET, Darik Volpa, RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL, Understand.com

Time Magazine reports on the latest trends in social networking technology:

Your cell phone spying on you, but don’t be afraid. Thanks to better mapping technology  and hyperlocal services tailored to the small screen, the latest wireless gadgets can automatically pinpoint your location and then direct you to everything from the nearest Chinese restaurant to where your friends are hanging out. And while it may seem creepy to have your phone keeping tabs on you even when you’re sleeping, this isn’t some Homeland Security nightmare. It’s just an easier way to find people and places nearby.

Mobile social networking is hot. The new Drift phone from Helio comes with a feature called Buddy Beacon that lets you see your location on a map that pops up onscreen, thanks to the global positioning system (GPS) chip built into the phone. You can also see where any of your friends are–assuming that they authorize it and own the same $225 phone. Targeted at teens and twentysomethings, the idea is that if you always knew your friends’ whereabouts, it would be that much easier to meet up with them. “We create a natural extension of what people already want to do, which is, they want to be with their friends,” says Sky Dayton, a co-founder of the Internet service provider Earthlink. Dayton launched Helio last summer with $440 million in funding from Earthlink and South Korea’s SK Telecom.

Read the entire story here.

Technorati tags: Time Magazine, social networking, technology, cell phone, hyperlocal services

The Reno Gazette-Journal’s Jason Kellner recently reported on one of Reno’s youngest entrepreneurs:

When 17-year-old Brian Allman was ready for a part-time job, selling grub at a fast-food restaurant didn’t fit the bill. Instead he started his own business, where he sells the food himself and drops the money back into his business.

He doesn’t have to compete with the likes of McDonald’s or Taco Bell, but he’s working on his own terms with his small business, Bear Snax Vending, which he started about two years ago.

“I’ve always had the drive to go out and start a business,” said the 3.8 grade average Galena High School senior, who also just acquired a pilot’s license. “I could probably expand the business just fine without going to college, but I’m planning to go to UNR this fall, so I’ll be able to keep the  business running.”

Allman saw the chance to start his business when he saw a simple vending machine for sale at Sam’s Club. He bought it for $425 and still is using it, eventually adding four more.

“I picked what I thought to be the most popular candy out there, like Skittles, M&Ms and Snickers,” Allman said. “What I found out was that doesn’t always work. Not everybody wanted what everyone else wants. Now I think I’ve figured out what works.”

Allman is building his vending route, and his sister helps find new clients. He said he might sell the business when the route is established, which he said is common for independent vendors. But while he’s in the business, he said he knows how to market himself.

“I wanted to find sort of a market niche. Most of the big (vending) companies shoot for a business with 150 employees or more. I’m going for the small to mid-size offices. Banks are an untapped market as well.”

In fact, one of Allman’s clients is the Wells Fargo branch office on Kietzke Lane.

“A lot of the big companies really don’t aim for those,” Allman said. “Usually they’re stocking one or two types of machines that are huge.”

Allman is also staying on top of vending technology by working at the new Galena Market Car Wash, where he can see some of the most current vending technology available. He said he’s also one of the first in the region to use cashless vending machines, which accept prepaid vending debit cards. His newest machines, which vend both snacks and cold drinks, cost five times what his first machine did.

Bear Snax isn’t Allman’s first business venture. At age 12 he started collecting aluminum cans for cash as well as selling products door-to-door. The money he made, which he figures was a couple thousand dollars, was turned over to a company that helped conserve rainforests.

“I really love working for myself and making my own money,” Allman said. “I don’t know what industry I’ll end up in, but hopefully I’ll be working as a president or CEO of a successful company. Most of the money I make I invest back into the business. Between (the car wash), school and the business, I’m pretty busy.”

Allman can be reached at Bear Snax Vending 775-354-5663 and 775-287-7461 or bearsnaxvending@yahoo.com.

Technorati tags: Reno Gazette-Journal, Jason Kellner, Reno, entrepreneurs, Brian Allman, Bear Snax Vending, Nevada

The sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge is an annual
competition for high school students that recognizes outstanding biotechnology research.

Submission Deadline: February 28, 2007

Who can apply? - Students enrolled in biology or any other high school science course (Grades 9 to 12) in any public or private school within the United States.

To enter the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge, follow this path:

1. First, submit your application package (including your research project description) to the Biotechnology Institute by February 28, 2007. Submissions must be postmarked on or before February 28, 2007. A panel
of judges will review the research project descriptions and select two finalists from each state. These two finalists will advance to the sanofi-aventis Regional BioGENEius Challenge. All students submitting a project
will receive a Certificate of Participation, which they can cite on their resume.

2. If you are selected as a state finalist, you will receive a $100 cash award. We will then invite you to compete in a spring 2007 sanofi-aventis Regional BioGENEius Challenge event. At the Regional Challenge, finalists
will present their projects to a panel of judges who will select two finalists from each region. These two finalists will advance to the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge.

3. If you are selected as one of the two regional finalists, you will receive an all-expense paid trip to compete at the sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge in Boston, MA (May 5-7, 2007).

2007 sanofi-aventis International BioGENEius Challenge
The thirteen regional finalists from the United States and Canada will compete in the International competition that is held in conjunction with the Biotechnology Industry Organization’s (BIO) Annual International Convention. Finalists will present their projects to a panel of expert biotech judges. The first place winner receives a $7,500 cash award.
Other awards include $5,000 for second place, $2,500

For more information and to download an application, please visit:
http://biotechinstitute.org/programs/biogeneius_challenge.html