RebelForge
No-cost and confidential business advising for UNLV students
About
RebelForge is a joint initiative by the UNLV Office of Economic Development and Nevada Small Business Development Center that provides UNLV students with no-cost and confidential advising, resources, and training to help them in starting, growing, or managing their business. We offer one-on-one counseling and overall business assessment to support entrepreneurs at UNLV because #RebelsMakeItHappen.
Ways We Forge
All RebelForge clients can apply to receive a micro-grant, which is awarded after a case-by-case review. To apply for the micro-grant, clients can submit the following to their RebelForge advisor:
1) A 2-3 page grant proposal consisting of a detailed business model, marketing strategy (target audience and how you plan reach them), and how this grant will impact your business (what you will specifically use it for and the tangible impact it will have on your business/the community)
2) Future financial projections to show the potential performance of your business OR past financial statements to show the financial health of your business
Your RebelForge advisor will ensure that your submission is ready for the grant committee by actively providing assistance and guidance in finishing the grant proposal and/or the financial projections until the submission covers all the necessary areas. Once the submission is primed and ready, your case will then be reviewed by the grant committee for approval.
- License and permit compliance
- Export and import guidance
- Business financing
- Market research
- Economic and demographic analysis
- Technology development
- Business plan and canvas
- Feasibility study
- Financial statements
- Sales forecasting
- Branding and marketing
- Free occasional training by professionals
Our location at BlackFire Innovation gives RebelForge clients access to:
- The Makerspace has several 3D printers, a vinyl cutter, a CNC router, a sewing machine, and other technology that can be used to create prototypes for your business.
- Computer Lab has computers, supplies, and a large format printer to create marketing materials like stickers, signs, and T-shirts.
- eSports Arena gives you a space to test or preview inventions relating to esports but can also be an intimate event space.
- Integrated Resort Lab replicates the resort environment and includes a coffee and cocktail bar, a cafe, a connected hotel room, and a smart bathroom that can be used to test products or services in the hospitality industry.
Intellectual property is the underlying value behind your idea. RebelForge can assist in protecting your IP with:
- Patents – A patent is a form of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, selling, and importing an invention for a limited period of years, in exchange for publishing an enabling public disclosure of the invention.
- Copyrights – A copyright is a form of intellectual property that grants the creator of an original creative work an exclusive legal right to determine whether and under what conditions this original work may be copied and used by others, usually for a limited term of years.
- Trademarks – A trademark is a recognizable sign, design, or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others, although trademarks used to identify services are usually called service marks.
Ways We Bridge
In addition to serving UNLV student entrepreneurs through advising, RebelForge also aims to bridge the gap between the UNLV campus and off-campus initiatives at Black Fire Innovation, such as the UNLV Office of Economic Development. Some ways we do this include:
Located at the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park, Black Fire Innovation serves to accelerate innovation for hospitality, gaming, and entertainment. This tech showcase is ideal for engaging in cutting edge research and innovation. Within the facility, industry can work with researchers, students, and entrepreneurs to create disruptive innovations. As the home to both tech developments and early stage startups, Black Fire will have a resounding impact for decades to come.
Black Fire Innovation is one of the exemplary programs with associated physical assets within the Office of Economic Development. The Office of Economic Development also includes Technology Transfer, Industry Engagement, UNLV Innovation Incubator, Sports Innovation Institute, and Small Business Development Center (SBDC).
Within the SBDC, RebelForge provides UNLV students with no-cost, confidential business advising, training, and resources and also has access to the other programs and services within OED. To take a tour of Black Fire Innovation and learn more about it and the Office of Economic Development’s capabilities and programming, check out the Upcoming Events section below. If you would like to schedule a private group tour (such as for a class or RSO event), please email us at rebelforge@unlv.edu to set up a date and time.
RebelForge offers low or no-cost, Nevada SBDC-sponsored business presentations and workshops. For #SBDC Day, we hosted a Step By Step of Starting a Tech Business workshop at the Troesh Center on-campus, and are excited to offer more similar events in the future. See our Upcoming Events section to see if we have anything planned!
Upcoming Events
Contact Us
Renee Zhang
Advisory Intern
Email: renee.zhang@unlv.edu