For Alli Vilines, entrepreneurship didn’t start with the traditional business plan. It started with an idea, a dorm room, and a willingness to figure it out as she went.
At 18, she launched her first venture, a clothing brand, learning early that building something from the ground up takes more than creativity. It takes grit, resourcefulness, and the ability to keep moving forward even when the path isn’t clear.
“That experience taught me resilience, self-confidence, and the importance of community,” she says.
Those lessons would later shape the foundation of She Means Business, a Reno-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting young female entrepreneurs. The idea came from Vilines’ own experience navigating her ambitions at a young age without the mentorship or community she felt she needed.
“When I was in high school, I wished I had people guiding me and conversations that went beyond grades or college applications,” she says. “I realized so many young women face that same gap.”
She Means Business focuses on women ages 16 to 20, providing mentorship, coaching, and a network designed to help young founders turn their ideas into something real.
“So many young women start with an idea but don’t have the guidance or community to support it,” Vilines says.
Since launching in April 2024, the organization is already making an impact. One of its core initiatives, the Female Founders Dream-to-Launch Program, is an eight-month experience designed to guide participants from early ideas to fully formed businesses. Through workshops, mentorship, and financial support, including a $1,000 scholarship for business expenses, participants gain both the tools and confidence to move forward.
For Vilines, that transformation is the most rewarding part.
“Watching these young women build confidence and take real steps toward business ownership is everything,” she says.
Her work is rooted in a broader belief that Reno’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is evolving in a meaningful way. She sees a growing community of founders who are collaborative, purpose-driven, and willing to take risks.
“The opportunities are huge,” she says. “It’s a space that rewards bold ideas and people who are willing to show up.”
Still, she’s clear about the harsher realities of entrepreneurship. It requires sacrifice, resilience, and a willingness to fail and keep going.
Through She Means Business, Vilines is creating a space where young women can step into their ideas with confidence, supported by a community that understands the journey.
“We’re building a place where women don’t just dream,” she says. “They do.”