AI Pitch Competition
2025-11-12 15:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Corporate Coworking Space, 5725 S Valley View Blvd Suite 6, Las Vegas, 89118, United States
Description:

The Nevada Small Business Development Center (SBDC), in partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS), is proud to announce the next AI Pitch Competition, happening November 12, 2025, in Las Vegas.
This is your chance to showcase your AI vision in front of AWS leaders and industry experts—while competing for up to $35,000 in AWS partner funding to bring your project to life.
What’s at Stake?
Up to $35K in total support to accelerate your AI project.
$10K in guaranteed engineering support – Access AWS engineers who will help you design and implement your AI solution.
Up to $25K in Proof of Concept (PoC) funding – Additional non-cash support to help build and validate your AI initiative.
Please note: No cash prizes or checks will be awarded. Support is provided in technical and strategic AWS resources only.
How It Works
Apply to Pitch – Up to 10 businesses will be selected. Submit your 300–500 word synopsis describing how you plan to use AI in your business.
Pitch Live – Selected businesses will deliver a 3-minute pitch on stage in front of a live audience and expert panel, followed by a short Q&A. Visual aids (e.g., PowerPoint) are allowed.
Network & Connect – After the competition, you’ll have the chance to meet with AWS leaders and industry experts to discuss AI-powered opportunities.
Who Should Apply?
This competition is designed for small businesses that:
Are building or integrating AI into their operations
Need funding, resources, and expert support to move their AI vision forward.
Want to connect with AWS leaders to refine and implement AI strategies.
Why Participate?
Gain exclusive access to AWS funding & technical support.
Pitch your idea directly to AWS and AI leaders.
Receive tailored feedback in a high-value, competitive pitch setting.
Build powerful connections with AWS experts and peers in the AI ecosystem.
About the Hosts & Sponsors
AWS (Amazon Web Services) – The world’s leading cloud computing and AI platform.
Nevada SBDC – Providing no-cost business advising, training, and resources to help small businesses start, grow, and thrive.
Key Details
Application Deadline: November 2, 2025
Competition Date: November 12, 2025

AI Powered Images Workshop
2025-12-16 10:00 - 14:00 | 8400 W. Sunset Rd #300, 8400 W Sunset Rd #300, Las Vegas, NV, 89113, United States
Turn 1 Product Photo into Unlimited Variations with a Free Google Tool
Remix. Reimagine. Reinvent.
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to take a single product photo and transform it into endless creative variations using a free Google AI tool.
From swapping backgrounds to changing outfits, creating memes, and adding visual effects — you’ll discover how to make your visuals stand out and go viral, all without needing a designer or paid software.
You’ll Learn How To:
Reimagine Your Images: Make your product or model wear different outfits, poses, or accessories — instantly.
Change the Scene: Swap backgrounds, add or remove elements, and experiment with styles and aesthetics.
Create Shareable Visuals: Turn your photos into fun memes, lifestyle shots, and ad-ready variations.

Tech Pitch Competition
2026-02-25 15:00 - 20:00 | 140 S. Water St., 140 S. Water Street, Henderson, NV, 89015, United States
This Tech Pitch Competition is designed for founders with a technology-based idea, platform, or AI-enabled solution who want real support to move from concept to execution.
You do not need to be a technical founder or run a traditional tech company. Many successful technology solutions are built by non-technical founders who clearly understand the problem and use technology to solve it.
The competition is open to all founders and demographics and is structured to increase access for capable builders who may not traditionally apply to pitch competitions due to lack of preparation, exposure, or clarity around pitching.
Hosted by Nevada SBDC / UNLV Office of Economic Development, sponsored by AWS, Elevate Las Vegas, and Tech Alley.

AI Day: Practical Tools for Small Business
2026-09-21 10:30 - 16:30 | Innevation Center, 450 Sinclair Street, Reno, NV, 89501, United States
AI is changing how entrepreneurs build, market, operate, and grow their businesses — and many of the most powerful tools are now accessible to anyone.
Join the Nevada SBDC for a hands-on day designed to help entrepreneurs and small business owners move beyond talking about AI and actually start using it.
You’ll hear from leaders working at the intersection of AI, startups, and technology, see how an idea can quickly become a working product, and then have the opportunity to build something yourself during our Lovable Vibe-Coding Hackathon.
No coding experience is required. Come with an idea, a business challenge, or simply your curiosity.

What to Expect
Attendees will have the opportunity to:

Explore what AI makes possible for small businesses right now
Learn how entrepreneurs are turning ideas into working products with AI
See a live walkthrough of building with Lovable
Enjoy lunch while connecting with Nevada’s entrepreneurial community
Develop an idea for something they want to create
Spend the afternoon building during a guided vibe-coding hackathon
Share projects, ideas, and lessons with other participants

Who Should Attend
AI Day is designed for:

Small business owners
Entrepreneurs looking for practical tools to save time or grow
Students interested in AI, entrepreneurship, and innovation
Non-technical founders who want to prototype ideas quickly
Community partners supporting Nevada’s business ecosystem
Anyone who wants to better understand how AI can be used in real businesses

You do not need coding experience or a technical background to participate. You do not need to be a programmer or AI expert.
Bring your laptop, bring your ideas, and come ready to build.

What You’ll Leave With

By the end of AI Day, attendees will leave with:

A better understanding of how AI is being used by small businesses
Practical ideas for applying AI to marketing, operations, customer service, and product development
Hands-on experience using Lovable to create a working prototype
New connections across Nevada’s entrepreneurial community
Clear next steps for continuing to build with support from Nevada SBDC

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business
Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at
least two weeks in advance. SBDC services are provided in a nondiscriminatory way
to all legal residents and citizens in the United States. This training event is supported
by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to
receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable
federal law and Executive Order 14218 ‘Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open
Borders’ (February 19, 2025)

Run the Practice, Don’t Let It Run You: Building Your Operating System from Day One
2026-11-17 12:00 - 13:00 | ONLINE, STATEWIDE, NV, United States
How to build policies, hire the right staff, create culture, and turn it into a competitive advantage.

This webinar will center on building the internal structure of the practice via the policy and procedures, hiring, onboarding, and creating a culture that drives consistency, retention, and ultimately growth.

Dereck Barrett is a business advisor and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business planning, financing, and growth strategy. After graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno, he began his career in banking sales, earning national recognition as a top performer.
In 2004, he co-founded and financed his first physical therapy clinic in Southern California. Later he and his wife returned to Reno, purchased a commercial building and started another physical therapy clinic. Dereck expanded the practice to multiple clinics locations and was the market leader before selling his majority interest.
While expanding the practice, Dereck became a commercial real estate broker and has worked in that capacity for the last 7yrs.
He attributes his life’s professional success to entrepreneurship and sincerely loves helping guide entrepreneurs through the challenges of launching, financing, and scaling their companies.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business
Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein
are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at
least two weeks in advance. SBDC services are provided in a nondiscriminatory way
to all legal residents and citizens in the United States. This training event is supported
by federal taxpayer funds. By registering, I certify that I am legally authorized to
receive services funded by U.S. taxpayer dollars, in accordance with applicable
federal law and Executive Order 14218 ‘Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open
Borders’ (February 19, 2025)
