The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada on Wednesday, March 31, announced the addition of two tech companies to Northern Nevada — Sacramento-based biotech firm StemExpress, which is expanding to Reno; and Los Gatos-based fintech company PayCertify, which is relocating its headquarters here. According to an EDAWN press release announcing the news, the companies are expected to create more than 200 combined biotech and fintech jobs “over the next several years.” EDAWN announced the news in a virtual press conference that featured presentations from EDAWN CEO Mike Kazmierski and Nevada Lt. Gov. Kate Marshall, as well as Cate Dyer, CEO of StemExpress, and Chase Harmer, CEO of PayCertify. According to a March 31 report from Jason Hidalgo of the Reno Gazette Journal, StemExpress is moving into a 52,000-square-foot facility in South Reno, which it purchased from International Game Technology (IGT). Of note, PayCertify on March 31 was also announced as one of nine companies to receive tax abatements from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development in exchange for doing business in the Silver State. According to the company’s application to GOED, PayCertify’s proposed Nevada location is off Pleasant Oak Trail in South Reno. Go here to view the full press conference; below is the full press release issued March 31 by EDAWN:
Two Biotech and Fintech Company Headquarters Make the Move to Northern Nevada RENO, Nevada (March 31, 2021) – The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) announced two new technology company headquarters moving to the Northern Nevada region at a live-streamed press conference today. Stem Express and PayCertify are expected to create more than 200 combined biotech and fintech jobs over the next several years. The location of these fast-growing companies in Reno is a testimony to the advantages of conducting business in Northern Nevada and the region's expanding tech ecosystem. Stem Express Since 2010, StemExpress has supported medical research, clinical trials, and commercialization of disease specific treatment, cell and gene therapies, precision and regenerative medicine. Since March 2020, StemExpress leaned into the COVID-19 pandemic and began bringing solutions to numerous states, tribal and territorial governments, public health departments, health care entities, K-12 schools, medical researchers, private sector organizations, and the public across the country. They have supported the NBA, Major League Soccer, and just opened testing facilities at four colleges in California to support the staff, students and athletes. “The choice for StemExpress to open a center of excellence, training center, and warehouse in Reno, stemmed from Nevada's established reputation as a business-friendly state - offering a multitude of incentives for growing companies. We have actively begun hiring and have plans to build a full team of scientists, warehouse and global logistics staff, including skilled business professionals at our location in Reno Nevada. We also look forward to offering internships with the potential for full and part-time employment opportunity to college and high school students with outstanding academic potential. We are excited for the endless growth opportunities that will inevitably follow this move to Reno," said StemExpress CEO Cate Dyer. "Advancing scientific research and fostering medical innovation is our number one priority, and there is no limit to what we can do." PayCertify PayCertify is a fintech platform that encompasses both a complete merchant and consumer experience front to back, pulling analytics and valuable insights to connect data sets in real-time from both the consumer and merchant side of the transaction that hasn't been done in the payments world before. As an All-in-One platform that uses the best in breed fraud prevention, acquiring and card issuing makes any business more profitable and provides consumer cashback on any debit card transaction.
"PayCertify focuses on technology and putting founders first, Nevada is building a big entrepreneur network so it's naturally a good fit", said Chase Harmer, Founder and CEO of PayCertify. "The company is growing considerably and in the next 2-3 years we are looking to hire over 100 people starting with establishing our client growth team in Reno, Nevada. Moving the company has always been part of the plan for PayCertify, California taxes are extremely high and the state has become extremely crowded, we wanted to go to a place where they help businesses grow and thrive, and Reno, Nevada is a great place to do it. We want to be where the action is, and Reno is now becoming the new Silicon Valley." "Northern Nevada's tech ecosystem is thriving, and high-growth companies, like Stem Express and PayCertify, are increasingly vital to our region's economic recovery and future," said Mike Kazmierski, President and CEO of EDAWN. "The work at Stem Express is so important to helping accelerate medical breakthroughs which will ultimately save lives and improve the quality of life for millions of people who suffer from disease and illness. While PayCertify is changing the future of e-commerce with its unique solutions platform. We are thrilled to welcome them both to our community." A special thanks to the Dickson Commercial Group, Tom Fennell, Dominic Brunetti, and Patrick Riggs for supporting PayCertify in locating their new Reno office; and to Dave Simonsen at Newmark, Knight, and Frank for his assistance with Stem Express and assisting in their decision to set up operations in Reno.
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