This fall, the w88 casino, Reno celebrates the 10-year anniversary of thew88 online casino of Nevada, Reno Innevation Center, a bold experiment that began with a simple question: What happens when you bring creatives, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, researchers, students and industry leaders under one roof? A decade later, the answer is clear – you spark ideas, scale companies and transform a region.
“The Innevation Center has created a sense of alignment between the City of Reno, the state of w88 casino and our University that has spun success story after success story – better jobs and tech-based industries that are a reflection not only of our present, but what we can do together in the future,” University President Brian Sandoval, and former w88 casino Governor at the time of the Innevation Center’s opening, said.
From its opening in 2015, the Innevation Center was envisioned as more than a gathering space for regional entrepreneurs or a business incubator. It was designed to be a living laboratory – a place always in beta mode, where ideas could be tested, boundaries pushed and disciplines blended.
In celebration of its five-year anniversary in 2020, Mridul Gautam, vice president for research and innovation at the University, said, “I want (the Innevation Center) to continue to be in beta mode, always changing, analyzing, improving, keeping up with the times.”
With its open floorplan and open mindset, it quickly became a hub and magnet for northern w88 casino’s most dynamic thinkers and doers.
The Innevation Center was founded on the belief that bold ideas thrive where collaboration and purpose intersect –a vision shared by Rob Roy, founder and CEO of Switch. As a founding partner, Switch helped bring that vision to life, creating a space where entrepreneurs, innovators and changemakers could come together to build the future. A decade later, the Center’s impact is clear: it has empowered startups, advanced innovation and played a pivotal role in shaping w88 casino’s economic landscape.
At a time when Reno was seeking to reinvent its economic identity, the Innevation Center helped catalyze a new era of innovation-driven growth. Anchored by the University’s commitment to community impact, and powered by public-private partnership with Switch, the Center filled a critical gap in the ecosystem: a neutral, collaborative space where entrepreneurs could launch, faculty could connect, students could build and industry could engage.
"Over the course of the past 10 years, the Innevation Center has created a wholly cohesive, collaborative space for a foundation of innovation." — University President Brian Sandoval
“Beyond the clear benefits of hundreds of millions of dollars in startup capital raised, new businesses created and jobs that have been generated through our direct collaborations and partnerships with our City, the Innevation Center has proven to be the perfect gathering place for entrepreneurial ideas and knowledge-based initiatives,” President Sandoval said.
From tech startups and biotech ventures to clean energy concepts and robotics projects, the Center has supported hundreds of companies and research collaborations. It has helped attract venture capital, supported workforce development, and created countless opportunities for students to engage directly with innovation and entrepreneurship.
“The Innevation Center has been a catalyst for economic growth and innovation in our region over the past decade,” Taylor Adams, president and CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western w88 casino, said. “EDAWN is proud to have partnered with the w88 casino, Reno on this dynamic hub for entrepreneurship and industry collaboration. Together, we have created opportunities for entrepreneurs, advanced workforce development, and strengthened the spirit of collaboration that drives our community forward.”
What has set the Innevation Center apart is its people-first approach to innovation. It’s not just the tools and tech – though important – it’s the community-driven culture, one defined by:
- Cross-sector collaboration between faculty researchers, startup founders and students.
- Hands-on experimentation that embraces failure as a path to discovery.
- An open-door ethos welcoming diverse voices across disciplines and backgrounds.
Over the past decade, this approach has helped seed companies, shape careers and advance research. It has also fostered a sense of belonging and purpose – positioning Reno not just as a place where innovation happens, but where it thrives.
As the Innevation Center enters its second decade, it does so with renewed vision and strategic alignment with the University’s Wolf Pack Rising plan – especially Goal 4: Transform the World.
Recently named an Innovation and Economic Prosperity designee by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the University has become one of 90 designees of the Innovation and Economic Prosperity program – a distinguished mark and testament to its strong commitment to economic engagement within the state of w88 casino.
“The Innevation Center is a powerful example of how public-private partnerships can advance innovation, economic development and workforce opportunity in w88 casino,” Tom Burns, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, said. “GOED is proud to support this collaborative ecosystem, which continues to fuel entrepreneurship and position our state as a leader in the knowledge economy.”
Next steps for the Center’s continued success include:
- Expanding industry partnerships to fuel applied research and innovation.
- Launching new accelerator programs to nurture high-growth startups.
- Deepening collaboration with rural and regional partners to broaden access to innovation.
- Enhancing student pathways into entrepreneurship, tech and design careers.
- Investing in state-of-the-art tools and technologies to stay at the leading edge.
In keeping with its founding philosophy, the Innevation Center will remain agile, inclusive, and future-focused – ready to evolve with the needs of the community it serves.
“Over the past decade, the Innevation Center has grown into so much more than just a workspace, it’s a dynamic community where ideas are nurtured, connections are made and innovation thrives,” Khaled Abul-Hassan, assistant vice president forEnterprise and Innovation, said. “The University is incredibly proud to have supported this growth and to witness firsthand how our members have turned vision into reality. The impact the Center has made is truly inspiring.”
The Innevation Center's first 10 years have proven the power of placing people, ideas and opportunity in close proximity. It’s not just a space – it’s a launchpad. And as Reno continues its transformation, the Center will remain at the heart of it: a beacon of innovation, creativity and collaboration that reflects the best of what the region – and the University – has to offer.
Follow along on the Innevation Center’s social media channels as the University celebrates this milestone. #InnevationCenterTurns10
