Las Vegas is becoming one of the best places to build a startup, but most of the early-stage entrepreneurs we speak to aren't aware of the local tech resources that are available to help them.
With applications for the Las Vegas Founder Institute now open, we're excited to release the Las Vegas Startup Resource Guide, which is currently in Draft v1 below! It was developed by the Southwest Founder Institute and local leaders: Mike Sherbakov (General Partner, The Veteran Fund), Ryan Micheletti (Head of Global Operations, Founder Institute)
This is just a draft, and while we spent many hours on this research, more input is needed. Please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document to help us complete the list. There are definitely omissions on this current version.
Are you looking to build a startup in Las Vegas? Then apply to the Southwest Founder Institute today!
Text version included below, for ease of searching:
Startup Stages
There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.
1. Idea Stage
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.
A. Inspire
- Las Vegas Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters)
- Inspirational Las Vegas Startup Events: Open, inclusive startup events that often focus on ideation. (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups)
B. Educate
- Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing tech events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire).
- Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development events and startup bootcamps for entrepeneurs. (Includes comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, code camps, etc)
- Artificial Intelligence : Las Vegas
- Data Science Las Vegas
- ENTITY Academy
- Founder Institute
- Internet of Things (IoT) : Las Vegas
- Las Vegas Startup: Idea to IPO
- Las Vegas Startups
- Las Vegas Startups and Entrepreneurs
- Lean Startup Machine Las Vegas
- Learn Digital Skills | Las Vegas
- Microsoft Tech Talks - Las Vegas
- Polymath's Place
- PunchCode
- PunchCode Meetups
- SCORE Las Vegas
- StartUp Vegas
- StartUpNV AngelNV Bootcamp
- The Exponential Entrepreneur : Las Vegas
- The Iron Yard Las Vegas Meetup
- Thinkful Las Vegas Meetups
- Troesh Entrepreneurship Bootcamp
- UNLV Software Development Bootcamp
C. Validate
- Team Formation: Events for Finding Co-founders in Las Vegas. (i.e. tech networking events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)
- Build First Product: Hackathons & product events in Las Vegas.
2. Launch Stage
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.
A. Start
- Establish: Las Vegas law firms & banks for startups
- Albright, Stoddard, Warnick & Albright
- Bank of America
- Bank of Nevada
- Bank of the West
- Brooks Kushman
- Chase Bank
- City National Bank
- DC Advisory, LLC
- East West Bank
- Ghandi Deeter Blackham Law Offices
- Gile Law Group
- Greenberg Traurig
- Hogan Hulet PLLC
- Messner Reeves LLP
- Nevada State Bank
- Procopio
- Raich Law
- Selman Breitman LLP
- Spencer Fane
- US Bank
- WaFd Bank
- Wells Fargo
- Whitehead & Burnett
- Las Vegas Workspaces: Co-working and flexible workspaces for startups in Las Vegas.
B. Develop
- Formalize: Las Vegas accounting, development and HR tools for early-stage startups.
- 702 Pros
- Adlava
- All-In Recruiting
- GC Web Studio
- Godby Tech
- Hillsdale Consultants
- John W. Reddall CPA LLC
- KMJ Web Design
- Loud
- NMG Technologies
- Paramount Tax & Accounting
- Phoenix Staff
- Rich, Wightman & Company
- Siefers Accounting
- Software Developers Pro
- Starfire Web Design
- The Warnick Group
- Unique Accounting
- VerveLogic
- Woo Sender
- Las Vegas Incubators: Groups that prepare companies for seed investment and provide advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources)
C. Launch
- Las Vegas Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)
- Pitch & Demo Events: Tech events that showcase Las Vegas startups for investment.
- AFWERX Spark Tank
- AngelNV Pitch Competition
- Blackstone LaunchPad Ideas Competition
- CoinAgenda Global 2021 plus BitAngels Pitch Day
- Founder Showcase: Pre-Seed Startup Pitch & Networking Event
- LevelUp
- MoneyPitch
- Pitch Startup To VC's Panel & Get Feedback
- StartUpNV Pitch Day for $50k
- The $100,000 Veteran Pitch Competition
- UNLV Pitch!
- Urban Chamber of Commerce Business Pitch Competition
- X Co Demo Day
3. Growth Stage
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.
A. Recognition
- Las Vegas Investor Networking: Events and groups that connect professional investors with founders.
- Major Media: Mainstream local business press that often showcase local startups.
B. Funding
- Las Vegas Angel Investors: Seed-stage investors and micro-vcs.
- Las Vegas Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond
C. Growth
- Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
- Expansion: Las Vegas Growth accelerators and consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)
4. Las Vegas Startup Success Stories
Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.
Supporters
To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.
1. Las Vegas Startup Leaders
Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.
2. Las Vegas Government Startup Resources
Public organizations that facilitate local economic development
3. Talent
Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.
- Local Las Vegas Tech Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)
- Las Vegas Tech Employers
Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Las Vegas Canvas on this collaborative Google document (This is just a draft, and more input is needed!)
