It’s that time of year here in the Biggest Little City, where University of Nevada, Reno, students are about to wrap up the spring semester, and the 14th annual Sontag Entrepreneurship Competition—with its $50,000 winner-take-all prize—is well under way.
Any full-time student or graduate from the previous semester can apply with a simple letter of intent in January. By February, the 30 or so entrants are whittled down to 15 or so contenders, as judged by 20 community entrepreneurs, investors, business execs and a few professors—myself included. It is one of the most fun things I do each year.
The competition was established in 2011, thanks to a generous endowment from alumnus Rick Sontag, a successful entrepreneur and business leader. Sontag, who graduated from UNR in 1966, envisioned a program that would encourage entrepreneurship among students and foster a culture of innovation within the university. His endowment of $1 million has been instrumental in ensuring the continuity and success of the competition for decades to come.
I had the honor and privilege to be on the original Sontag Steering Committee in 2011 and am proud to have been a founding mentor and judge, setting up the rules and goals all those years ago. A whole bunch of dedicated volunteers (featured in my very first RN&R column in February 2023) have helped shape this competition and the incredible startup ecosystem that we have now. I wanted to use my 40 years of experience building startups to guide and support UNR’s smart young people, and to keep them here in the region, building their own startups. Then, we let the rest go back to California. (I’m just kidding! Please don’t twitch, Californian friends.)
According to a statement that current Sontag director Dr. Armina Karapetian sent by email, the competition is important to the university, but more important to the Reno/Tahoe community: “The Sontag Entrepreneurship Competition is a cornerstone of innovation at our university. It gives students the chance to take real business risks, learn from mentors, and gain the confidence to turn ideas into real companies. But its impact extends far beyond campus. The Reno-Tahoe region is rapidly evolving into a hub for entrepreneurship, and Sontag plays a critical role in fueling that momentum. By equipping young founders with the skills and connections to launch their ventures locally, we are strengthening the regional economy, fostering job creation, and reinforcing a culture of innovation that benefits the entire community.”
This year, seven semi-finalists pitched their plans to various judges three times over the last two months—twice live, and once on Zoom during the quarterfinals. I’d proudly like to introduce them, and then I’ll tell you who the finalists are, and where you can see them compete:
Atlas is a mobile app created by Chad Sherf and Jonathan Berrien that connects you with top certified personal trainers for in-person training here in Reno. The team believes there’s no substitute for face-to-face training—your trainer is there to correct your form, push your limits and adapt your workouts as needed.
Charm the Change is a customizable charm-accessory company that connects self-expression with giving back. It offers charm necklaces, carabiner charm necklaces, anklets, bracelets, bag charms and keychains—all customizable and at various price points. One-third of every sale is donated to a charity of the customer’s choice.
GlamNGo is a women-founded technology platform that connects clients with licensed beauty professionals who deliver on-demand services where and when they need them, eliminating the hassle of salon visits. The app aims to make beauty more accessible for busy professionals, seniors and homebound clients, while providing independent stylists with tools for financial growth.
Kent Weber is introducing Breiter Beer, a low-alcohol brewery. Launching with a lager and a pale ale, Breiter Beer offers a balanced alternative to full-strength beers at around 3% ABV, catering to those who enjoy high-quality beer without the effects of higher-alcohol options. While the U.S. beer market has embraced non-alcoholic options, the low-alcohol category remains underdeveloped—despite its popularity in Australia, where mid-strength, low-strength and zero-alcohol beers account for nearly a third of sales.
Sails of Conquest is redefining board games by blending strategy with hands-on action. Its innovative, pirate-themed board game combines tactical decision-making with physical dexterity, featuring real projectile-firing cannons and high-quality plastic components. Designed for both casual and competitive players, it offers multiple paths to victory, rewarding skill and strategic planning.
Dogwood Terra Dynamics is using 3-D concrete-printing technology in an effort to combat the housing crisis by building high-quality, affordable, sustainable housing developments. It is a service-disabled-veteran-owned small business that plans to seek partnerships with local businesses and developers to help secure government contracts, build in underdeveloped communities, and participate in disaster relief efforts.
Power Axis is a new, safer version of a Smith machine, designed to safely allow weightlifters in professional gyms to incline and angle their lifts while varying their grip spacing, for optimal muscle isolation. (This is Matt’s definition, because the founders didn’t make deadline—so my disclaimer is that inaccuracies likely exist.)
The finalists, in no particular order, are Dogwood Terra Dynamics, Sails of Conquest, Breiter Beer and Atlas. They’ll compete in what I am sure will be a very close final on Wednesday, April 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the National Automobile Museum, located at 1 Museum Drive, in Reno. The event is free to attend.
For more information on how to attend and/or support our future entrepreneurs, please email Armina Karapetian at akarapetian@unr.edu.