As we get closer to the Silicon Prairie Awards, we still need you to help us determine which individuals and companies will take home these shiny golden analogs. We’ve compiled a few highlights from the massive number of nominations we received, so you can get to know the finalists a little bit better.
Remember, you can vote every day for your favorites, and you still have over 2 weeks to spread the word! Voting ends August 31st
2015 Corporate Innovator of the Year finalists
First National Bank
Long known as a pillar of the Omaha community, First National Bank of Omaha launched the Emerging Business Referral Partnership in May of this year, an alliance of local organizations dedicated to helping small businesses grow and succeed. Along with that, they also sponsor startup events, send their employees to interface, and are creating a corporate innovation team. Vote now
Thanks to our sponsor
Gallup
Gallup has put together a high school internship program, in which high schoolers are given the opportunity to learn and work with actual designers and developers on real Gallup projects. Along with the professional skills learning, Gallup provides the students resume and interview advice/training. Internship programs like this help foster the kind of talent pipeline the Silicon Prairie needs. Vote now
Nelnet
The innovative educational service group based in Lincoln is an active investor and sponsor of regional and local startup groups. Nelnet has been active in running an internal innovation hub within their company. “They are an investor, an innovator, an incubator, and a customer. Much of the startup success in Lincoln can be directly linked to support from Nelnet.” Vote now
Proxibid
Over the past year Proxibid has innovated to bring new partnerships, products, and services to the Marketplace, making Proxibid a full-service destination for buyers and sellers of all sizes. In February of 2015 Proxibid announced a partnership with eBay and in April Ryan Downs Proxibid CEO, spoke at the Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference, an event put on by the University of Nebraska in Omaha for college students. Vote now
Union Pacific
Union Pacific, a 153-year-old company, has a new way of thinking when it comes to the typical corporate environment. They have created “Innovation Station”, a solution that allows employees to submit ideas or recommendations anonymously and peers within the company vote on the submissions for a chance to be implemented into the company. “Luke Christianson and his team are hard at work DAILY to bring innovation to the corporate environment and Union Pacific Railroad is one strong place to start!!!” Vote now
Sprint
The Sprint Accelerator Facility in Kansas City is committed to showing that a big corporation cares about startups. They have an award winning community center that invites all to come and work and communicate. Their accelerator program, powered by Techstars, is in its third year of existence, focusing on mobile technology, with more than 100 professional mentors, and up to $120,000 in funding for each enrolled startup. Vote now.
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Join us at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln on October 1st to celebrate our region and to recognize the individuals and companies who are doing big things in the Silicon Prairie!
Jake Hull is the Nebraska editor for Silicon Prairie News and a Community Builder for AIM in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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