As the community celebrates 10 years of the Innevation Center, the Â鶹´«Ã½AV is spotlighting the people and ideas that have shaped its vibrant community.
Below, long-term Innevation Center resident Matthew Starrett answers questions about innovation, entrepreneurship and the impact the Center has had on him.
Background & involvement
Tell us a little about yourself and your organization. How did you first get involved with the Innevation Center and what inspired you to join the Innevation Center’s community?
10 years ago, I helped start a used cellphone buyback and recycling business out of my business partners basement. We were Juniors in college and were hungry for real-world business experience. While that business didn’t pan out – it served as a bridge into the world of entrepreneurship – and the Innevation center. We were about 8 months into running the business and realized we needed a better space to build from. When we found the Innevation Center in early 2016, we left our stuffy basement office and found our new home 450 Sinclair St. That decision has led to nine years of working at the Innevation Center, across three different businesses.
"The draw to the Innevation Center originally came from the first-class amenities and affordable price, but what’s kept me here is the community around it." - Matthew Starrett
In 2017, we shut the doors of our cellphone buyback company – and while not successful under conventional terms, it served as my first step in entrepreneurship, and led me to create my second company, TRU Venture Marketing in September of 2017.
I moved from working at a co-working desk to a partitioned office in 2018 after some success with startup clientele, and held that space from 2018 until early 2024, when after launching a second marketing brand, , we saw an opportunity to share a space with another marketing agency here in town. That hiatus from the Innevation Center didn’t last long, as we wound up back in the Innevation Center just eight months later when our colleagues' lease was up and we had a hard time justifying the cost of the big office space we shared with just four people.
Memorable moments & milestones
What’s one of your most memorable experiences or milestones at the Innevation Center? What’s an accomplishment you’re proud of that was supported by your time involved with the Innevation Center?
Some of my favorite memories come from the early days—prepping for the Sontag competition, launching TRU Venture Marketing, and hosting our first out-of-state client meetings. Having a professional space made a huge difference when it came to making a strong impression.
One of my proudest accomplishments that arose from our work at the Innevation Center, was to see the impact of the work we did with the Reno Innevator Accelerator. The Innevator Accelerator Program was actually one of my very first clients at TRU. Passionate about helping startups, I was elated to help the program grow and recruit companies.
In our work with the Reno Innevator, we built a website, set up key profiles on sites like Angel List and F6S, and led a major recruitment campaign to raise awareness for the program. That work helped attract startups from all over the world to temporarily move to Reno for the program.
Today, years after the program has ended, I’ve enjoyed following the successes of many of those startups – a few have even gone on to become clients of TRU—like Simplesense.io. That kind of collaboration just wouldn’t have happened without the ecosystem the Innevation Center supports.
Connections & collaboration
How did the Innevation Center help you connect with others – entrepreneurs, researchers and partners? Can you share an example of a collaboration that grew from your time here?
The Innevation Center has also helped us to connect with clients and businesses in the community, along with folks at the University of Nevada who have supported us through Internship Grant Programs and more.
One partnership we’re extremely proud of is with Manufacture Nevada. Our shared building led us to a relationship that ended in the very successful launch of the website.
Impact & evolution
How did your involvement with the Innevation Center shape your project, startup or career? What resources or experiences had the biggest impact for you?
My journey in entrepreneurship has been everything but Linear. My stint in iPhone recycling created a pathway into Marketing Consulting, and in 2017, I started TRU Venture Marketing as a solo founder – I probably wouldn’t have done that had I not met so many founders and business owners who needed marketing help while at the Innevation Center.
In 2023, when we launched Lease Engine, we knew we’d have our basecamp and HQ at the IC.
To me, the biggest resource here is the community. I’m always bumping into interesting people and like-minded founders. The ideas that flow and the opportunities that arise are always present for somebody willing to help.
Across all the twists and turns of my career in entrepreneurship, the Innevation Center has been one constant.
Reflections & the future
What does the Innevation Center mean to you personally? Looking ahead, what do you hope to see in the next decade for this innovation ecosystem?
The launch of Lease Engine has enabled us to build processes, a team, a brand and the foundation for a scalable company. As we grow this company, the Innevation Center plays a vital role as our basecamp, HQ, and as a place to connect.
When I look ahead to the next decade, I see the space growing up. I imagine a hub for the new wave of entrepreneurs, ideas, and the companies that follow.
Final takeaway
What advice or encouragement would you share with current or future Innevation Center members?
First and foremost, I would just recommend that members here participate in the water cooler chat, get to know other members, and go to odd events when it makes sense. The Innevation Center is an incredible resource for businesses, and for Reno. It’s a flexible space where you can sit down and work as a new founder, or set up shop for a team in the scaling up phase.
