9 questions with the intrapreneurs of ES&S

One of the most unique teams in this year’s Straight Shot accelerator began as a nagging idea in an established company that couldn’t quite get off the starting line. Election management company ES&S partnered with the Omaha accelerator this summer to validate if this idea was worth investing company time and resources. ES&S identified Shari Little…

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One of the most unique teams in this year’s Straight Shot accelerator began as a nagging idea in an established company that couldn’t quite get off the starting line. Election management company ES&S partnered with the Omaha accelerator this summer to validate if this idea was worth investing company time and resources.

ES&S identified Shari Little and Rob Wiebusch as the intrapreneurs that would lead the effort, dedicating 100 percent of the two directors time for the 90-day accelerator. Since then, the two have validated the idea and have doubled down on shaping a profitable business model around it.

SPN: Who do you call on for advice? Either personally or as a hero-type.

RW: People that are trustworthy and will tell the truth, even when it isn’t what you want to hear. Advice that comes without judgment and is truthful is incredibly valuable.

SPN: What is keeping you awake at night right now?

RW: Ideas about what the future holds. There are opportunities everywhere, and it is such an exciting time to be alive. The elections industry is ripe for innovation and, as the market leader, we refuse to be satisfied with the status quo.

SPN: What was the latest milestone you achieve and how did your startup celebrate?

RW: We found a third party software that is doing the heavy lifting of what we are wanting to accomplish for our customers. Now we don’t have to recreate the wheel and spend big money to do so. We celebrated with a big high five and then dug in to get more work accomplished.

SPN: If your company had one motto, what is it?

RW: Maintaining voter confidence and enhancing the voting experience.

SPN: What’s the best reaction you’ve received when you shared that you’re an entrepreneur or work in startups?

RW: Nice hustle, change the world.

SPN: How do you stay focused?

RW: Our team is self motivated and believes in the work that we are doing. Those two things keep us incredibly focused on achieving our goals.

SPN: What makes your team the winning team? How will you beat your competitors?

RW: We will go to market leaner, smarter and faster than anyone else in our market space. Our team is backed by a company of 450+ election professionals. A winning combination!

SPN: How can the Silicon Prairie readers help you?

RW: Vote. If you aren’t registered to vote: Get registered and then vote.

SPN: What else should we know?

RW: ES&S is participating in Straight Shot in order to bring an idea to fruition in a much quicker way. The Straight Shot program has been very beneficial thus far and will have a lasting impact on the way we as a company approach a product/service idea.

ES&S will be presenting at Straight Shot’s Demo Day on September 10. Demo Day tickets can be reserved here.

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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