Vegas Startup Scene cover art

Vegas Startup Scene

Vegas Startup Scene

By: LeDuc Leadership & Media Group
Listen for free

About this listen

 Vegas Startup Scene is your insider guide to the founders, investors, and operators building the future of tech in Las Vegas. Hosted by Jason LeDuc, this show delivers sharp analysis of startup funding, venture trends, ecosystem updates, and leadership lessons from the front lines of innovation. Designed for founders, tech investors, and ambitious entrepreneurs, each episode connects strategy with execution—spotlighting the people and momentum driving Vegas forward.LeDuc Leadership & Media Group
Episodes
  • Vegas Startup Scene February 23rd 2026 – SBIR Grants, AI Innovation & Non-Dilutive Funding

    Vegas Startup Scene February 23rd 2026 – SBIR Grants, AI Innovation & Non-Dilutive Funding
    Feb 23 2026
    If you’re a founder constantly thinking about your next funding round… you might be looking in the wrong place. This week on Vegas Startup Scene, host Jason LeDuc breaks down the biggest opportunities in the Southern Nevada tech ecosystem — and why non-dilutive capital, AI infrastructure, and founder education are becoming the smartest plays in 2026. Here’s what serious founders and tech investors need to know: 🚀 InnovateNV’s SBIR/STTR Accelerator (Starting March24)If federal funding is even remotely on your roadmap, this is a must-watch segment. Backed by UNLV’s Office of Economic Development, StartupNV, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, InnovateNV is helping Nevadastartups navigate the federal funding maze — not just talk about it.• 5-week SBIR/STTR proposal accelerator• NSF project pitch support• Phase 0 microgrants up to $5,000• Agency fit, budgeting, and submission strategy Deep tech founders: this is real, structuredsupport for winning government grants without giving up equity. 💰 Finance Fundamentals for Small Business (FounderEducation Matters)Before you scale, raise capital, or even apply for grants — your financial house needs to be in order. Alicia Stacey is hosting a session on entity structure, Nevada tax considerations, payroll, bookkeeping systems, and financial statement literacy.If you’re cleaning up your books before tax season or preparing for investor diligence, this matters. 🤖 Las Vegas AI Builders Meetup (Technical FoundersTake Note)Startup Vegas is teaming up with TensorWave to launch a new AI builder community — built specifically for technical founders training models, benchmarking GPUs, fine-tuning inference, and shipping AI agents into production.If you’re building in AI infrastructure, this is where you find your people. 👥 Agile Leadership & The Scrum Master RoleWe also dive into a conversation with Hoz Roushdi about what a Scrum Master actually does — and why agile leadership has been misunderstood in the corporate world.Leading without authority.Turning chaos into clarity.Holding teams accountable to the commitments they make to each other.For startup founders scaling engineering teams, this is leadership gold.💬 Question for you:If you had to choose one growth lever for 2026 — would you prioritize:1) Non-dilutive grants (SBIR/STTR)?2) Equity Investment?3) AI product development?4) Strengthening internal operations and agile leadership? Drop your answer in the comments and tell me why! And if you’re serious about building in Vegas — subscribe. We cover what’s actually happening on the ground every week. Links to every event mentioned are below.Send us your events, pitch nights, wins, and ecosystem news for next week’s rundown. Get out there. Do great things today! Onward and upward. 🚀 LINKS:StartupNVWebsite: https://startupnv.disco.co/InnovateNVlink: https://startupnv.org/innovatenv/StartupVegas Website: https://startup.vegas/gener8torWebsite: https://www.gener8tor.com/Governor’sOffice of Economic Development Website: https://goed.nv.gov/VegasCrypto Group: https://www.meetup.com/vegas-crypto-group/SAFeScrum Master Class: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/safe-scrum-master-classFusion42Website: https://fusion-42.com/Fusion42 Events: https://lu.ma/Fusion-42 Conversation with Hoz Roushdi at Tech AlleyDowntown: https://youtube.com/live/1ScNZuDGQ-4 Want to get your news or event in the rundown?Contact me here: Email: info@leducleadership.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-leduc-3469823/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leducleadership
    Show More Show Less
    7 mins
  • Vegas Startup Scene February 16th 2026 – Here’s What Founders & Investors Need to Know

    Vegas Startup Scene February 16th 2026 – Here’s What Founders & Investors Need to Know
    Feb 19 2026

    Las Vegas is becoming one of the most connected and opportunity-rich startup ecosystems inthe country.

    In this week’s Vegas Startup Scene, host Jason LeDuc breaks down everything happening across the Southern Nevada tech and entrepreneur community for the week of February 16th, 2026 — from live pitch events and accelerator deadlines to blockchain meetups and advanced energy cohorts. If you're a startup founder, angel investor, venture capitalist, or tech entrepreneur looking for deal flow, partnerships, or visibility, this episode is your weekly strategic advantage.

    StartupNV recently hosted its Pitch Room at the International Innovation Center, where founders pitched for feedback (not funding) — a powerful reminder that refining your pitch before facing investors can dramatically increase your odds of closing capital. Companies including Maintrix AI, Hesh QTRS, Product of Grace, and Mach-AI received advisor-level scrutiny designed to pressure-test their business models and messaging.

    Downtown Tech Alley returns February 21st at its new Third Street Vegas location — proving once again that the Vegas startup community adapts, pivots, and executes. As Josh Leavitt shared on the livestream, Tech Alley has never missed a month in over four years — a testament to a resilient, community-run ecosystem. That consistency matters for founders buildingvisibility and investors tracking emerging companies.

    Tech Alley Henderson follows on February 25th with a pitch competition in collaboration with UNLV Office of Economic Development, America’s SBDC, AWS, Softchoice, and Elevate Las Vegas — exactly the kind of cross-sector partnerships thataccelerate innovation in regional markets

    If you're in advanced energy systems, next-gen batteries, or critical minerals circularity, applications are due February 22nd for Generator’s gBETA Electrified Nevada cohort.

    Zero Labs is also accepting applications for Cohort Eight, running July 5–7 in Las Vegas

    Beyond the headline events, we cover:

    • Vegas Crypto Group’s Multi-Chain Mondays
    • Web3 Wednesdays at Loaded Empanadas
    • Fusion 42’s Pitch Kung Fu
    • Founder Huddle weekly sessions
    • Veteran Entrepreneur Series workshops

    Here’s the bigger takeaway: the Las Vegas startup ecosystem is no longer just networking events. It’s structured feedback loops, accelerator pipelines, SAFE agreement discussions, founder forums, crypto communities, and investor-ready pitch development happening weekly.

    If you’re building a startup in Nevada — or looking to invest in one — proximity and participation matter. Ecosystems reward consistency.

    💬 Question for you:
    If you're a founder, what’s your biggest obstacle right now — capital, customers, or clarity in your pitch?

    If you're an investor, what sectors in Vegas are you watching most closely in 2026?

    Drop your answer in the comments. Your insight helps shape future episodes.


    Links to every event mentioned are below.
    Send us your events, pitch nights, wins, and ecosystem news for next week’s rundown.

    Get out there. Do great things today!

    Onward and upward. 🚀

    LINKS:

    Governor’s Office of Economic Development Website: https://goed.nv.gov/

    StartupNV Website: https://startupnv.disco.co/

    Startup Vegas Website: https://startup.vegas/

    Vegas Crypto Group: https://www.meetup.com/vegas-crypto-group/

    Fusion42 Website: https://fusion-42.com/

    Fusion 42 Events: https://lu.ma/Fusion-42

    Conversation with Josh Leavitt at Tech Alley Downtown: https://www.youtube.com/live/6U9W58D6KQ8?si=PuVxWK62WGTKT9DQ

    Want to get your news or event in the rundown? Contact me here:

    Email: info@leducleadership.com

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-leduc-3469823/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leducleadership
    Show More Show Less
    6 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.