Vote Dillashaw, Hinke, Kratofil or Milligan for Startup Service Provider of the Year

Working across numerous sectors with startups of all different shapes and sizes, the four finalists for Startup Service Provider of the Year addressed a variety of ancillary but important issues so the startups they served could hone in on what they do best. At our inaugural Silicon Prairie Awards event on Aug. 30, one these…

Working across numerous sectors with startups of all different shapes and sizes, the four finalists for Startup Service Provider of the Year addressed a variety of ancillary but important issues so the startups they served could hone in on what they do best. 

At our inaugural Silicon Prairie Awards event on Aug. 30, one these four finalists will be recognized as Startup Service Provider of the Year. In anticipation of that celebration, we’re providing overviews of the four contenders for each of our 12 Silicon Prairie Awards. The finalists — 48 in all — are the result of public nominations in July and input from our selection committee earlier this month.

A public vote will help determine the winners of the awards, so cast your ballot for the Startup Service Provider of the Year below, or visit the awards page to vote on all 12 categories.

Join us for the Silicon Prairie Awards: We have a fun night of community celebration planned for Aug. 30 at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. Tickets still remain for the event, which includes an opening reception, keynote talk by TechStars founder and CEO David Cohen, awards ceremony and a closing party. Purchase your tickets today.

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Meet the finalists

The Startup Service Provider of the Year is a lawyer, accountant, marketer or other service provider who made things happen for startups, simple as that. (Italicized company descriptions below from company websites.)

Bart Dillashaw, Scudder Law Firm (Lincoln, Neb.)

Bart Dillashaw of Scudder Law Firm represents companies in formation, financing transactions, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance matters. He also serves as a network mentor for Pipeline and is the president of the Nebraska Angels.

Clients include: SkyVu Entertainment, Nebraska Global, Social Assurance and Vestn

From a client: “Bart breaks the mold of a typical attorney. He brought a large degree of expertise in startups, funding models and accelerated growth when he returned to Nebraska. We are fortunate to have him here. Bart’s commitment to working with the Nebraska Angels and connecting angel investors and VCs to startups is much needed in the area.” – Ben Pankonin, Social Assurance co-founder

More: Dillashaw bio

Joey Hinke, Miller Fidler & Hinke (Des Moines)

Joey Hinke of Miller, Fidler & Hinke Insurance Agency, an independent property and casualty insurance agency, helps tech startups by guiding them through the process of buying insurance, negotiating indemnification and insurance provisions in their contracts and implementing the best risk-management program available tailored for their specific needs.

Clients include: DwollaStartupCity Des MoinesFresk Labs and BitMethod

From a client: “For years we have counted on Joey Hinke and his firm to do the research required to formulate policies that uniquely suit BitMethod needs. Having a partner to help us navigate the insurance industry has allowed us to focus on our business.” – Dan Shipton, BitMethod founder and CEO

More: Hinke on LinkedIn

Greg Kratofil, Polsinelli Shughart (Kansas City, Mo.)

Greg Kratofil of Polsinelli Shughart helps software and technology entrepreneurs transform their ideas into reality, primarily through counseling clients on startup formation, licensing models and seed stage and venture capital financing. He also serves as local counsel for the Google Fiber project and is one of the co-founders and current board members of KCnext – The Technology Council of Kansas City.

Clients include: AgLocal, LockPath, EyeVerify and RareWire

From a client: “Greg was instrumental for AgLocal in that his focus on providing early counsel and a model fit for cash-strapped, pre-revenue/investment startups allowed us to get going quickly. … Greg is a Prairie rarity in that he understands his unique ability to impact this startup community and he likewise applies that awareness into action. I consider him a friend and am damn glad to know him.” – Naithan Jones, AgLocal founder

More: Kratofil bio

David Milligan, Advent IP (Omaha, Neb.)

David Milligan of Advent IP is a patent attorney who assists startups with protecting their ideas from imitation. He is a founding partner of Advent, a law firm that operates on a subscription fee model specifically created to assist startups. Milligan is also the lead Nebraska partner of Pipeline and  a member of the board of directors of InvestNebraska, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Entrepreneurship Center and the Entrepreneurship Clinic of the University of Nebraska law school.

Clients include: HudlGreen Bein’EyeVerify and QuickCal

From a client: “Dave has helped us by providing unparalleled legal support, but also (with) his knowledge is the startup space. Whether it was an intro to a key person, patent/copyright advice or even conversing about software, Dave is a wealth of knowledge. … Dave truly ‘gets it’ when it comes to running a startup. From the way he always goes out of his way to help you, to the system he’s implemented to billing his clients, he has really been a valuable asset to the GBP team, but more importantly the entrepreneurial ecosystem that is making the Silicon Prairie a great place to start up.” – Collin Caneva, Green Bein’ founder and president/CEO

More: Milligan bio

Vote



 

Credits: Headshots of Dillashaw and Kratofil courtesy of finalists. Headshots of Millgan and Hinke from LinkedIn.


Thanks to sponsors that are making this inaugural event a reality: Bellevue University, Hudl, Centennial BankLightbank, West Corporation, Koley – JessenGreater Omaha Chamber of CommerceVerizon WirelessUniversity of Nebraska and our Startup Alley participantsTo learn about more opportunities, contact geoff@siliconprairienews.com.

This story is part of the AIM Archive

This story is part of the AIM Institute Archive on Silicon Prairie News. AIM gifted SPN to the Nebraska Journalism Trust in January 2023. Learn more about SPN’s origin »

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