Reno Jumpstart program kicks off

Jumpstart, a new program that combines sharply focused classroom sessions with real-world mentors for entrepreneurs, kicks off in Reno this month.

Fifteen classroom spots are available for community members.

Also participating will be students from the University of Nevada, Reno, and Truckee Meadows Community College. The two institutions collaborated with numerous business-support groups in the community to develop Jumpstart.

Six days of sessions — Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the weekends of July 19 and July 28 — will cover subjects ranging from the personality traits of successful entrepreneurs to market analysis and financial reporting and the resources available in the area to help business startups.

The course will be taught by veteran entrepreneurs Rod Hosilyk and Matt Westfield.

After they complete the class, participants will be matched with a mentor with skills or experience that fit the young business.

The mentoring relationship will last as long as necessary to get the young business on its feet, said Westfield. The combination of classroom training and mentoring, he said, is designed to improve the success rate of startups.

“It enables Nevada business owners to leverage the resources of a number of dynamic organizations, including UNR, TMCC, the Entrepreneurs Assembly, EDAWN, Buy Local Reno Sparks, SBDC, NCET and C4Cube,” Westfield said.

The mentoring program is free. The classroom sessions, which are overseen by University of Nevada, Reno, Extended Studies, cost $395.

For registration information, call Extended Studies at 775-784-4062.

NNBW staff