The Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship at the will host a networking event through its initiative, LaunchNevada, on Feb. 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Joe Crowley Student Union Theatre. The initiative provides support for entrepreneurs at the University through workshops, presentations and student start-up awards.
“The LaunchNevada program is in its second year, and we are thrilled with its development trajectory,” Armina Karapetian, lecturer of marketing involved with the LaunchNevada initiative, said. “In the past, we have organized four guest-speaking and networking events and awarded 14 student awards. We have another exciting event scheduled this semester that highlights different aspects of the entrepreneurial ecosystem that has been developing on and around the campus.”
The event will feature several presentations, including a talk by Dr. Richard Kelley, the senior engineer at the Nevada Center for Applied Research (NCAR), about Nevada Autonomous. Nevada Autonomous works with industry, entrepreneurs, faculty, staff and students at the University to develop, test and deploy technology related to robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. Kyeema Zerbe, the corporate and entrepreneurial services coordinator for NCAR, will also provide an overview of the Center’s facilities and services.
In addition to the presentations from NCAR, David Maine, a University Research and Innovation senior licensing associate, will discuss licensing and marketing suitable for technologies at the University. The director of the Nevada Career Studio, Katia Albright, will share her insights about internships and career paths available to University students interested in working in start-up companies.
The event will conclude with presentations from student start-ups and a networking reception.
“We are really pleased about the popularity of this program,” Dr. Mehmet Tosun, director of the Ozmen Center for Entrepreneurship, said. “It is already a great addition to the entrepreneurship ecosystem in our university.”
In addition to networking events, LaunchNevada also offers Student Startup Awards of up to $500 to help fund students’ innovative ideas. All applications for Student Startup Awards are reviewed by a panel of judges from across the University.
LaunchNevada events are open to all students and faculty members at the University who want help developing their business ideas. LaunchNevada is funded in part by Inc. Authority.
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