Starting Sept. 3, four young entrepreneurs will spend 365 days together in a Midtown Omaha home as part of residential accelerator Year of the Startup.
Sabastian Hunt, organizer of Year of the Startup, hoped to get as many as 50 applications but ended up with 16.
- Scott Williams, who will continue to grow Omaha Biofuels Co-op, which started in 2008 with a mission to promote, produce and use biofuels.
- Eric Burns of VendorBids aims to simplify the RFP (request for proposal) process for small businesses.
- Jonathan Rolfsen will start a business called CrossFlow. It’s mission is simply stated as “improvement through movement.”
- Jason Minor will produce consumer goods from hemp fibers and oil.
The accelerator isn’t traditional. The $10,000 funding comes from personal savings. The office comes in the form of a shared startup house. Each month for a year, residents will pay $833 as if they’re paying rent, but all rent will be returned at the end of the year to allow individuals to start their companies. Individuals will leave the house with a minimum of $10,000 in startup capital. Grants, partnerships and a 3 percent stake in the companies will help cover costs.
The accelerator has a network of mentors, in-house web dev and graphic designers and occasional guest speakers. Curriculum will center on the Kauffman Foundation’s Ice House entrepreneurship program.
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Rolfsen, a Parkour/free-running trainer, hopes he can learn more specifically about what CrossFlow Fitness needs to succeed.
CrossFlow Fitness is a startup focused on promoting functional fitness through individual and group lessons. Working in gyms and anywhere outdoors, he uses a range of full-body exercises and movements to improve physical fitness and practical ability to react in emergency situations, Rolfson said.
“After being hooked by the first Parkour video I saw, I had always thought of having my own gym to train in, but it was only after I had been teaching for a number of years that I thought of turning my passion into something that could really sustain me,” Rolfson said. “I first started Nebraska Parkour as a way to grow and strengthen the community, then I developed the Parkour program at Premier Gymnastics. Building something more is just the next logical step.
“I have a decently comprehensive plan, but I’m sure there are gaps I need filling. I expect to get a better idea of how much I don’t know, so I can face it and dive head-first.”
Minor decided to apply because of what the accelerator represented and offered to a motivated, hungry entrepreneur, he said. He decided to start a hemp business because of his desire to get into the legalized marijuana “green rush” in Colorado, but didn’t know how to go about getting to work with the industry.
“What I know today is self-taught,” he said. “I feel that this program will provide acceleration to my education, and business idea with their knowledge and support. I also wanted to apply because of the peer group involved.
“Living and hanging out with likeminded individuals, we can brainstorm and help out each other.”
Eric Burns had similar motives.
“I am a big believer in surrounding oneself with an environment that will encourage success,” he said. “You are a product of your environment. By spending time with positive, motivated, and hard working people it will propel my business into something huge.”
VendorBids came about after noticing a problem with his small business. Vendor pricing for items such a paper towels, trash service, cleaning service was all over the board, and he needed a way to streamline the process to order products and services while still feeling confident he received the best price or service.
Scott Williams hopes to grow the Omaha Biofuels Cooperative which is a member-owned and operated organization that collects waste vegetable oil and process it for biofuels use.
The members are then able to use the prepared biofuels in their own vehicles.
“We have waste vegetable oil (WVO) available directly, and we also process oil to convert it into biodiesel, which is a drop-in replacement for petroleum diesel, and can be blended in the fuel tank of any modern diesel car or truck without modification.”
He plans on using the year-long program to engage people on the topic of biofuels, and find out the most effective ways to help everyone be a part of locally produced, clean and renewable future.
“YOTS provides a fantastic opportunity as an incubator for new ideas to develop in Omaha,” Williams said. “I have technical training and experience as a scientist and engineer, but less experience starting a new business.
“The programming provided by YOTS, and the close environment with other startup entrepreneurs, is a powerful way to jump start innovative ideas, and I want to be a part of that energy.”
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