TEDxReno

What TEDxReno does

TEDxReno is an independently organized, non-profit licensee of the TED organization, founded in 2013 and based in Reno, Nevada. It produces an annual flagship TEDx conference — most recently the 2025 'Unity' event at Lawlor Events Center, University of Nevada, Reno — supplemented by smaller, themed Salon events held throughout the year at venues including the National Automobile Museum and Lake Tahoe School. The organization curates speakers ranging from Olympic athletes and academics to entrepreneurs and performers, and uploads all talks to the TEDx YouTube channel, which has over 35 million followers; TEDxReno content has accumulated over 100 million cumulative views, including five talks ranked in the Top 100 TEDx Talks of 2022.

The business model combines ticket revenue with corporate sponsorship. Main event general admission is $100 and student admission $25; Salon tickets are $20 GA with free student entry, and livestream access is offered at $10. Title and community sponsors — including Microsoft Reno, IT Avalon, Greater Nevada Credit Union, and Dolan Auto Group — fund the balance, alongside in-kind venue partnerships (National Automobile Museum) and broadcast reach via PBS Reno watch parties. Marketing runs through a ConvertKit-powered newsletter, the TEDxReno blog, and active social profiles on Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

TEDxReno is led by President and license holder Kaya Stanley, who assumed the license in 2023. The organization operates with approximately 7 employees supported by a longstanding volunteer team, and runs ticketing through Eventbrite and the University of Nevada Wolf Pack platform. There is no venture or equity capital structure; governance is consistent with a community-organized non-profit under the TEDx program guidelines.

Name

TEDxReno

Legal name

TEDxReno

Website

https://tedxreno.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TEDxReno is an independently organized, non-profit TEDx licensee in Reno, Nevada that produces an annual flagship conference and themed Salon events, serving the Northern Nevada community and global YouTube audiences via the TEDx channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Events & Conferences

NAICS

Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920), Professional Organizations (81392), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Virtual, Hybrid & Livestream Event Coordination (HSACAAAO), Abstract, Speaker & Session Management Systems (THAHAFAI), Virtual & Hybrid Event Registration & Streaming Access Platforms (THAHAFAM), Live Streaming & Broadcast Production (Multi-camera, Encoding, CDN Delivery) (THAHAOAB)

Keywords

• TEDx events
• Live conferences
• Thought leadership talks
• Community event organization
• Nonprofit event licensing

Headquarters

HQ city

Reno

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: TEDxReno generates revenue through ticket sales for annual main events and smaller Salon events. Main event tickets are sold at $100 for general admission and $25 for students. Salon events are priced at $20 for general admission with free entry for students.
2. Sponsorships and Partnerships: Corporate sponsors including Microsoft, IT Avalon, Greater Nevada Credit Union, Dolan Auto Group, and others provide support as title sponsors and partners for events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TEDxReno is an independently organized licensee of TED that produces an annual flagship conference and smaller Salon events in Reno, Nevada, featuring curated speakers delivering short talks on ideas worth spreading. The organization monetizes these events through paid ticketing (in-person and livestream) and corporate sponsorships, and amplifies content globally by uploading talk recordings to the TEDx YouTube Channel. It supplements live events with an editorial blog, an email newsletter, and a digital talk archive.

Product overview

TEDxReno is an independently organized licensee of TED operating as a conference and event platform. The organization produces an annual flagship TEDx conference featuring talks from diverse thought leaders, supplemented by intimate Salon events throughout the year. The portfolio includes a digital talk archive distributed via the TEDx YouTube channel, an editorial blog with event content, and a newsletter program. The organization also offers partnership opportunities for corporate sponsors. Founded in 2013, TEDxReno has grown into one of Northern Nevada's most anticipated events, with videos reaching over 100 million viewers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TEDxReno Annual Conference Annual flagship TEDx event featuring thought leaders and performers delivering talks on ideas worth spreading, held at Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nevada, with paid ticketing for individual attendees ($100 general admission; $25 students).
• TEDxReno Salon Events Smaller, intimate gathering events held between annual conferences, featuring panels, audience participation, and themed discussions. Salon tickets are sold at $20 general admission with free entry for students, and livestream-only access is offered at $10.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5 of Top 100 TEDx Talks of 2022 came from TEDxReno
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KPS3minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025KPS3 provides social media support for TEDxReno 2025, helping amplify speakers and theme 'Unity' across platforms through strategic storytelling and digital engagement.
• Tahoe FundminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Partner for Crystal Clear Salon event on Lake Tahoe water clarity. Sponsors cocktail reception at the Salon event.
• Microsoft RenocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Microsoft Reno has been a consistent title sponsor of TEDxReno, bringing teams from Microsoft annually to gain new perspectives. The sponsorship aligns with Microsoft's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• IT AvaloncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023First-year title sponsor in 2023. IT Avalon found the experience rewarding, sharing TEDx talks with clients and followers. Looking forward to future speaker lineups.
• Greater Nevada Credit UnionminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Greater Nevada Credit Union has supported TEDxReno as a partner, valuing the event's impact on local, national, and global communities.
• Dolan Auto GroupminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Dolan Auto Group has been a community partner proud to support TEDxReno as an opportunity for the community to hear from impactful individuals.
• PBS RenocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023New partner in 2023 that held a watch party for the TEDxReno event, extending reach through broadcast partnership.
• National Automobile MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Hosted the 2023 TEDxReno event. President Phil MacDougall served as CEO host. Provides unique venue for thought leadership events.
• JamprominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Longtime partner of TEDxReno, providing ongoing support for event production and organization.
• Design on EdgeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Longtime partner responsible for website design and ongoing site maintenance for TEDxReno.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TEDxSanFrancisco: Established TEDx licensee in a major U.S. metro running annual flagship conferences with notable speaker lineups and sponsor relationships. Same operating model (licensed TEDx event, nonprofit, event-driven) but with a larger addressable market and sponsor base.
• TEDxPortland: Another independently organized TEDx licensee of similar scale, producing annual flagship conferences and Salon-style events in a U.S. metro market. Most directly comparable peer — same TEDx license model, volunteer-driven nonprofit structure, ticket + sponsorship revenue mix.
• TEDxBoston: Long-running TEDx licensee in a U.S. metro producing annual conferences with a similar speaker-curation approach and corporate sponsorship model. Directly comparable structure as a nonprofit TEDx event operator.
• PopTech: Nonprofit that produces curated gatherings of thought leaders, scientists, and innovators. Directly comparable in mission (ideas worth spreading) and operating model (nonprofit, annual event, speaker-driven content), though smaller and less frequent.
• IdeaFestival: Annual ideas-focused conference featuring thought leaders across disciplines. Comparable in audience (thought leadership consumers) and content style (TED-style talks), with a similar nonprofit/community orientation.
• TEDxNYC: Independent TEDx event in New York City producing annual conferences. Same license and operating model; comparison highlights how scale, venue costs, and sponsor tier mix differ across metro markets.
• TEDxAtlanta: TEDx licensee running annual flagship conferences and Salons in the Atlanta metro. Directly comparable operating model, audience targeting (regional thought leadership), and content distribution through the TEDx YouTube channel.

Others

• Eventbrite: Ticketing platform actually used by TEDxReno for ticket sales. Enabling technology provider rather than direct competitor, but comparable in the broader events ecosystem for understanding distribution and ticketing dynamics.

Emerging players

• Wisdom 2.0 Conference: Conference series focused on mindfulness, technology, and purpose — overlapping with TEDxReno's personal growth and leadership content themes. Comparable in audience (personal/professional development seekers) and speaker-curation model.

Broad incumbents

• SXSW Conference & Festivals: Much larger, broader event portfolio (conference + festival + film + music) sharing the thought-leadership, ideas-spreading thesis. Overlaps on TED-style speaker programming and sponsor relationships but operates at vastly greater scale and scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TEDxRenoNV
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLfNp8FjvOE2OUYhtND1DDtmCugYrYQ4KS
• Facebookfacebook.com/TEDxReno
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tedx-reno
• Instagraminstagram.com/tedxreno

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TEDxReno