David LaPlante

"Perception Is a Critical Factor in Attracting Expanding Companies" - Expansion Management Magazine; Reno, Nevada Named in Top 50 Hottest Cities

Expansion Management Magazine just named Reno of of the "2007 AMERICA'S 50 HOTTEST CITIES"! In it, they call out that "Perception Is a Critical Factor in Attracting Expanding Companies." Yep. Perception is reality. Sometimes we call that branding ;-)

In their annual poll of 80 prominent corporate site location experts, Reno, Nevada ranked in the top 50 out of 360+ metros to arrive at their list of the best places to expand or relocate a business.

Congratulations to EDAWN for their continued success in managing the perception of the Reno. Perhaps the unsung hero here is the RSCVA. If it weren't for their relentlessly drumbeating our outdoor adventure and diverse gaming+ activities, Reno's profile would be much less. Furthermore, their open dialog with EDAWN about leveraging tourism and economic development messages together has really given this region legs to stand on.

My prediction: Northern Nevada will start to emerge over the next 10 years as one of the more "green" economies to live/operate in as the University of Nevada, Desert Research Institute, the State and the numerous homebuilders and commercial developers create a catalyst of profitable and attractive opportunities for living and business expansion. I've been privy to a lot of the discussions going on and it's really exciting.

In ten years we could be recognized as the #1 "green" city for business and living. Easy? No. Doable? Yes.

  Technorati : branding, development, economic, edawn, expansion, growth, management, ncet, nevada, perception, quality, relocation, reno, reputation

First NCET Tech Thursday of the new year January 18th at the Redfield Campus

Please join us on January 18th for 2007's first Tech Thursday, Northern Nevada's premier technology and entrepreneurial networking event! EDAWN's Chuck Alvey will give a brief update on the Target2010 study and their action plan to make the Target2010 study a reality.  DRI Research Park's Jeff Pickett will provide an overview of DRI's incubator project and related feasibility study.

Facts and Figures   
Thursday, January 18, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, $10 donation at door. RSVP by Tuesday, January 16th to
Emily Lowe at RSVP at NCET dot org. 

Redfield Campus - Nell J. Redfield Building
18600 Wedge Parkway
Reno, NV 89511
(775) 850-2710

tags: NCET, nevada, entrepreneurship, technology, UNR, redfield, campus, EDAWN, Target 2010, DRI, Jeff Pickett, Chuck Alvey

Nominations open for the Business Report's Entrepreneur of the Year

The Business Report of Northern Nevada in partnership with Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology are calling for nominations for Entrepreneur of the Year. Nomination deadline is November 17, 2006.

Click the image for details.

Technorati : entrepreneur, reno, nevada, ncet, cet, award, business

Oracle's Safra Catz, Senator Ensign and Nevada's Workforce Future

Quick event summary:

• The time, money and energy we --America-- waste on the IRS and our ridiculous tax-code evasion game if invested in R&D and education would ensure our global dominating class-barrier-breaking affluent economy. We piss our advantage away on lawyers and accountants playing a stupid cat-and-mouse game with the IRS. Stupid we collectively are.
  
• Most of the most common practices of successful, profitable and consistently performing businesses-- accountability, terminating weak performers, employee and management incentives, innovation culture, free markets, access to union-free labor -- is absent in our public schools.
  
• Our H1B Visa policy is insanely bass-ackwards. "Let's educate our global competitors here in the US and then kick them out so we can outsource our jobs back to them." Sweet.
  
• Sarbanes-Oxley ('Sox') has exported our best small and mid-sized public capital offerings to foreign countries. While well intentioned, the lawyers and accountants again are making all the money while small businesses that used to be able to raise public financing in the US are headed to Canada, Europe and anywhere they can but the US.
  
• Safra Catz for President in 2012. What kind of person can put up with Larry "the Largest Ego in the World" Ellison? Safra Catz. Cool. Level headed. Smart. Witty. Plays the game to win. Humble. Self-depreciating. All the skills to lead one of the largest and most relevant businesses in the world...Oracle. Safra, please come back!
  

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Like most businesses that depend on technology workers, we're constantly hurting for talent. Human capital is as important -- if not more -- than financial capital. Most sage entrepreneurs will tell you...and I'm one of them...human capital -- your workforce -- is what makes or breaks you. (By the way, we're looking for super cool talented kick-ass developers and creative's!)

First-off, what a great event. Awesome. I jotted down notes for about about 15 blog posts. It really got me thinking...

About the the only thing that sucked is that because it was organized by Senator Ensign & Crew a lot of "binary" people of the "D" flavor will immediately discount it and get crimped in their R v. D Kos-style black-and-white politics that dominates most dialog in an October predating an November election. If Reid had organized the event, the 98% of the same things would have been discussed.

So, kudos to Ensign & Crew! He did this event in Las Vegas yesterday as well. Yeah, he's trying to get re-elected. Duh. If you're not a fan of R's -- then at least respect the marketing. Splendid marketing. But at least my 'BS' detector didn't go off to many times today as I thought it would. The dialog was real and genuine. Education and workforce development is CRITICAL to Nevada. No matter what the attendees political flavor, everyone left with their thinking caps on.

The event stimulated great thought and dialog on education and workforce development to make help ensure that businesses (like mine) in Nevada can meet our human capital requirements. The silly thing right now is there's no shortage of "capital capital". We're consistently challenged (like most growing western cities) with attracting and/or retaining enough "human capital".

Again...kudos to Ensign. He's the MAN on the High Tech Task Force. That's a very good thing for Nevada.

While today's event was very science-math-education oriented, I think that there were a few facets of this problem that were not discussed and I'll pick those up in some future posts. Here's the teasers:

1. The Internet is not through trashing the paradigms of society and social institutions as we know it. Mainstream media is under the gun today. Education -- and our traditions built around education -- are about to be blown apart as well. Homeschooling and socialschooling(C) (I made that term up) is going to reshape how we educate.
   
2. I bet you can name 10 people most likely featured in any given issue of People magazine, can you name the top 10 scientists and mathematicians? Why Paris Hilton, Bono and Angelina Jolie will have more influence in solving our dilemma than the gray-haired PHD wielding education majors or the unions.
   
3. My experiences with public schools and parenting. New thoughts on what matters...can you say THESPIAN?
   
4. If access to knowledge, education and information is ubiquitous and a commodity, what separates a Stanford from a UNR? And why "who" you know still matters more than calculating the area of a dodecahedron...
   

tags: ensign, senator, senatorensign, Nevada, Reno, Las Vegas, education, workforce, schools, hightech, high-tech, oracle, Safra, Catz, TMCC, UNR

  Technorati : Catz, Las Vegas, Nevada, Reno, Safra, TMCC, UNR, education, ensign, high-tech, hightech, oracle, schools, senator, senatorensign, workforce
Del.icio.us : Catz, Las Vegas, Nevada, Reno, Safra, TMCC, UNR, education, ensign, high-tech, hightech, oracle, schools, senator, senatorensign, workforce

Congratulations to local entrepreneur Darik Volpa, "Best of Show for Nevada"

Fellow Reno-Tahoe Entrepreneur's Organization member Darik Volpa, CEO of UnderstandSurgery.com won "Best of Show" for Nevada at the 6th Annual Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference at the Peppermill in Reno, Nevada. Congratulations Darik!

If you want a full run-down of yesterday's events, you can read a great summary by Reno-Gazette reporter Zack Hall.

All-in-all this was perhaps the best Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference I've been too, and it is on par or better than many I've attended in California, Utah and New York. Golden Capital Network put on a great show. The energy level was high, the investors eager and plenty of entrepreneur's with great ideas and business plans.

A 'couple of my favorites:

• Obviously I love Reno, Nevada entrepreneur Darik Volpa's company UnderstandSurgery.com. He has developed has a unique product for the medical industry that has a tremendous market upside and can help people all over the world.
• While I didn't see the whole presentation, I did catch the 2-minute elevator pitch' by CEO Matthew Glenn of Plantsense. They make a sensor that you can place in a part of your home and it will take all kinds of readings and then you USB it in to your computer and it will make plant recommendations. (I should have started this company "LaPlante, CEO "Plansense" hahaha)
  
• Reno-based E-FanMail.com's CEO John Johnson has developed a wonderful way of showing support for sports teams through your email and allowing sports teams to raise additional awareness and sponsor dollars. I know a thing or two about email...and this has some promise to it.
  
• As I mentioned in my previous post, Rudi Wiedemann's Biodiesel Solutions and Arthur Neumann's Free Water are amazing ideas and will really change the world.

Thanks again to John Gregory for putting on such a wonderful show and, of course, Bob Goff of the Sierra Angels for tirelessly beating the "angel investing" drum for Reno-Tahoe.

 
  Technorati : biodiesel, bob goff, ceo, darik volpa, david archer, david laplante, entrepreneur, eort, eort.org, john gregory, nevada, peppermill, reno, sierra angels, tahoe, technology, understandsurgery.com, venture capital

Notes from Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference and Investor Dinner...Investors Hungry for Deals

Last night was the welcoming reception for the Silver Gold Venture Capital Conference. My oh my! What a difference two years makes in investor confidence! The conference is packed and full of energy. It's BACK ON BABY!

Right up front here's the statistic that matters: Northern Nevada has 13 companies on the roster of 30 presenting companies.

That's up from 5 last year and almost 50% of the field. This is very very good news.

Presenting companies like Rudi Wiedemann's Biodiesel Solutions and Arthur Neumann's Free Water are not only killer concepts, but up-and-operating, clean, renewable energy-oriented businesses that will have global impact. I wish I was on the Board for these businesses!

Chuck Alvey of EDAWN did a wonderful job of kicking off the event by highlighting how well northern Nevada is performing in diversifying our economy...and yet not glossing over the challenges we face to continue that growth. The Target 2010 study they've released with Angelou Economics DEAD ON.(Of special note: Susan Voyles' article in today's RGJ on median-income buyers in the Reno area being priced out of the market is one of the better articles to grace the front page in weeks.)

Bob Goff of the Sierra Angels and the founder/former Chairman of Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology kicked off a private investor dinner later on in the evening in which I was lucky to attend.

The "keynote" presentation was from Susan Preston of Seraph Capital Forum, and Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Kauffman Foundation for Entrepreneurial Leadership on new proposed Federal tax legislation for private equity investing.

Susan talked about her work on the The Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs (ACE) Act of 2006 (HR 5198) which she was the main architect. The ACE Act fills a TREMENDOUS gap in current equity funding between venture capitalists and angel investors. This bill addresses that gap by encouraging accredited investors to increase equity investments in certain qualified small businesses through the creation of a 25% tax credit for accredited investors and certain partnerships (including angel investment pools if all are accredited investors) that invest cash or cash equivalents at an arm's length in a qualified small business (as defined by the Small Business Act).

Please write to our Senators (particularly Harry Reid and John Ensign) and support this Act.

What does it mean to local entrepreneurs? It means that all these wealthy Californians that relocate to Nevada for our tax benefits are incentives to take a chance on us entrepreneurs instead of sticking it in stocks and mutual funds. (Sorry to be blunt, but that's what counts.)

That means more small businesses get funded in this state through experienced private equity, and that's a VERY GOOD THING. Banks, despite their prolific full-page ads of their CEOs smiling and touting how "small business friendly" they are actually SUCK when it comes to start-up capital. Credit cards are better sources of start-up capital than you local bank. Angels are better, but they need an incentive like this.

The Dinner Panel topic was Venture Capital Fund-of-Funds: Insights for Emerging Fund Managers.

While I thought I was in for a real snoozer, it was actually a fairly insightful discussion of how well California's pension fund managers are performing and their secrets to success. (Note: CalPERS and CalSTRS are in good hands.) Panelists included Jesus Arguelles, Investment Officer II, CalPERS Solange Brooks, Investment Officer, CalSTRS Guillermo Borda, Managing Director, Banc of America Capital Access Funds Charles Merritt, Parish Capital Jeff Mills, Probitas Partners Amit Tiwari, INVESCO.

Perhaps the strongest message I heard repeated was that "fund managers invest in people". While everyone wants to methodologize the formula of success in to track records, years of experience, business plans, etc., PEOPLE trusting and investing in PEOPLE was the consensus. So what does that mean for any entrepreneur out there: focus on your poeple skills.

You can have a better technology, a better education, a better business plan, a better business plan and still lose to the guy who can work a room.

  Technorati : ACE, ACE Act of 2006, Biodiesel, Bob Goff, EDAWN, HR 5198, Target 2010, angel, angel investing, entrepreneurs, investors, nevada, reno, vc, venture capital

Record Number of Nevada Companies Presenting at 6th Annual Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference

From an email from Nevada's Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology:

A record number of Nevada companies are scheduled to present at the 6th Annual Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference. At least eleven of this year's presenting companies are from Nevada, in contrast to last year when just three companies were from Nevada.

Co-sponsored by the Sierra Angels, the Silver and Gold Venture Capital Conference will be held October 3 and 4 at the Peppermill Hotel in Reno, NV. The conference will feature over 50 venture capital funds and angel investors - and 30 presenting companies - in four broadly-defined technology sectors: Life Sciences, Communications Technologies / Wireless / Semiconductor, Software and Internet Services, and Emerging Technologies.

The record number of Nevada companies reflects both the growing number and sophistication of Nevada's entrepreneurs, as well as the increasing influence within Nevada of this important Venture Capital conference.

This year's Nevada companies include clean energy, software, camping equipment, and specialty marketing services. (Complete list of Nevada presenting companies)

The Silver & Gold Venture Capital Conference begins at 4:30 pm on Tues, Oct 3 and wraps up at 5:30 pm on Wed, Oct 4. (View complete agenda here) Tickets are $395 per person. Seating is limited at this event, so please register now.

Technorati : Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Reno, entrepreneurship, event marketing, vc, venture capital

"Raising capital for your high-growth company" September 15 in Las Vegas

TBAN, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Vegas Valley Angels and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology present: Raising capital for your high-growth company: Keys and Tools for Growing and Financing a High-Growth Company in Las Vegas. __________________________________ When: Friday, September 15, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (7:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast) Where: Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino 129 E. Fremont Street Las Vegas, NV 89101 Registration: $35 for TBAN and LVCC members; $45 for non-members with a reservation; $50 for at-the-door registration RSVP: Call Dida at (702) 649-3495, email info@didava.com or fax registration form to (702) 435-3432. __________________________________ This informative workshop will give you first-hand, real-life accounts of what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur. Three highly successful business owners who created and developed their companies until each sold for $50 million will share their stories and offer advice. The program will also discuss entrepreneurial networking opportunities and education in Southern Nevada, and representatives from numerous professional organizations will discuss mentoring options for the entrepreneur. TOPICS: Overview of term sheets and supporting security documents What to achieve before soliciting funds Key elements of a business plan that investors require Building the right management team How to value your company or opportunity How to structure your capitalization table Common mistakes to avoid when raising capital Resources available to better develop your fundraising plan Local funding options The value of outside directors and what to offer them * This program conforms to guidelines for Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credit for CPAs. Recommended credits are four (4). SPEAKERS: Mike Ballard Chairman, Vegas Valley Angels Fritz Battcher Hale Lane Bill Botts Vegas Valley Angels Mark Brennan Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf Arnold Gold Next Phase Jeff Jonas SRD/IBM SPONSORS: Hale Lane Attorneys at Law Vanguard Media Group Whitehead Wealth Management Stewart Archibald & Barney Nevada State Bank Accountants Inc. FAX REGISTRATION TO 702.435.3432 Mail form and payment to: Vegas Valley Angels 3620 N. Rancho Drive, Suite #106 Las Vegas, NV 89130 Reservations must be made by 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 13, 2006. Cancellations must be received in writing by the reservation deadline to receive a refund. Fees are due if notice of cancellation is not received. Phone, fax and emailed reservations are considered firm and no-shows will be billed. For more information, call Dida at 702.649.3495 or email info@didava.com Registration Form Name: Company: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Fax: Email:

Technorati : capital, entrepreneurship, finance, las vegas, lasvegas, nevada, vc, venture capital
Del.icio.us : capital, entrepreneurship, finance, las vegas, lasvegas, nevada, vc, venture capital

Golden Capital Network Bringing Highly Renowned “Power of Angel Investing” Seminar to Sacramento Region

I received an email from the Golden Capital Network about what sounds like a great event on May 23rd.

To:        Friends/Colleagues of GCN
From:    Jon Gregory, President/CEO
Golden Capital Network Bringing Highly Renowned “Power of Angel Investing” Seminar to Sacramento Region

GCN Also Joins National Angel Capital Alliance
Sacramento, Calif.—April 17, 2006— Golden Capital Network (GCN) today announced it is bringing the exclusive “Power of Angel Investing – Angel Investing – An Overview” seminar, a program of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and Angel Capital Education Foundation, to the Sacramento Region for the first time on May 23.  The full-day seminar, which has received rave reviews in over 60 U.S. cities across the U.S., and in Canada, Australia and New Zealand, will occur at the new Holiday Inn Express in El Dorado Hills.  Early registration is strongly encouraged as attendance is limited to 35 participants in order to provide attendees with the greatest opportunity for interacting with the expert instructors.  Cost to attend the seminar is $295 for advance registration (by April 21) and $375 thereafter.  To view the full agenda and register for the event, visit the events page on GCN’s web site at www.goldencapital.net.

Reminder: CET Tech Thursday @ Twelve Horses Reno Office January 12, 2006

In my Inbox from CET:

Happy New Year from Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology! We have a fantastic year planned and we are kicking it off with our monthly Tech Thursday networking event. Join us for Northern Nevada’s premier technology and entrepreneurship networking event Thursday, January 12 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at the Reno Tahoe Tech Center. This month’s Tech Thursday is sponsored by Twelve Horses, Morrison College, and Trans World Health Services who will provide appetizers and a hosted bar for the first hour of the event. Mark your calendars and RSVP now to rsvp@cetnv.com.

Details:

When: 5:30 pm Thursday, January 12, 2006

Where: Reno Tahoe Tech Center click here for directions

How: RSVP to rsvp@cetnv.com We look forward to seeing you there!

Donald W. Reynolds Business Plan Competition Announced

From my inbox:

Carson City, NEVADA. (January 5, 2006) – Nevada students are now preparing for the second annual Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup, a business plan competition for university and college students statewide.  This year’s judging and awards gala will be April 26, 2006 at the Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas, Nev.

During the next several months student teams and their faculty advisors will prepare business plans and compete in undergraduate and graduate divisions for cash awards valued in excess of $100,000.  Unlike the 2005 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup, graduate and undergraduate students will compete separately in the 2006 competition.

Student teams that combine members from technical disciplines with members from business disciplines are encouraged.   “Multi-disciplinary teams strengthen the quality of the idea and quality of the execution of the plan,” said Dr. Peter Hackbert, Chair of the Entrepreneurship Department at Sierra Nevada College.

Student business plans will be judged by a panel of venture capitalists, industry leaders and other Nevada representatives.  The judges will decide the viability of students’ business ideas based on written plans and oral presentations. Students involved in the competition gain access to networks of successful entrepreneurs, lenders and investors, team-building opportunities, business planning skills, and media exposure. The 2005 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup first place winner, Stephanie Luongo a student at the University of Nevada, Reno, benefited from the feedback of professional judges.  “The judges gave us suggestions and looked at our business from different angles,” said 2005’s Luongo.  “They gave us confidence in starting a business.” 

The Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup enhances Nevada’s image as an entrepreneurial and business-savvy state.  Students who participate in the business plan competition are more likely to be involved in a new business venture, creating more jobs and technology for Nevada.

For more information about the 2006 Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup visit www.dwrgovernorscup.org.  The intent to compete deadline is February 15, 2006 and the business plan submission deadline is March 17, 2006.

The Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup is produced in partnership with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce - the ultimate business resource in Clark County – and managed by Nevada’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (CET).  CET is a non-profit 501(c)3 and is dedicated to accelerating economic growth through entrepreneurship and technology. For more information about the business plan competition contact Jeanie L. Ashe at (775) 687-4325.  For more information about CET, contact Scott Frost, Chairman of CET, at (702) 523-1208.