Silicon Prairie News

View this email in your browser

Newsletter, March 27: FDA authorizes Virtual Incision’s mini surgical robot

Virtual Incision, a Nebraska-based company founded by professors Shane Farritor and Dmitry Oleynikov, has achieved FDA authorization for MIRA, the world’s first Miniaturized Robotic-Assisted Surgery system, designed for colectomy procedures.

This week new SPN contributor Skylar Lathrop wrote about the recent FDA milestone and the potential MIRA presents for the future of minimally invasive surgery, particularly in remote locations like rural Nebraska.

Read more about Virtual Incision’s plans for the future and the benefits of its novel surgical robot on SPN.

Upcoming Events

  • Register for Employee Compensation & Equity | Startup Shop Talk hosted by the Nebraska Angels and Enterprise Legal Studio on Friday, March 29 at Millwork Commons in Omaha.
  • The Elevator Legal Series kicks off Thursday, April 4 as a free four-week course to provide entrepreneurs with a comprehensive understanding of the legal aspects involved in starting a business, hosted at Elevator Co-Warehousing in Omaha.  
  • RSVP for the 37th Annual New Venture Competition on Thursday, April 18 at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln.
  • Road trip! Save the Date for an SPN Meetup in Kearney, Friday, April 26, 5-7pm at Thunderhead Brewing Company.
  • There’s still time to sign up for the next 10 Hour Challenge hackathon on Saturday, April 27 on the University of Nebraska Kearney campus.

See more events on SPN »

ICYMI: Updates from around the ecosystem

  • University Medical Devices raised a $1.6M seed funding round to bring its first product, MicroWash, to market. 
  • Video: Charlie Cuddy, the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of MOVE Venture Capital and the Executive Director of the Nebraska Startup Academy shared his insights at the Scale Omaha February gathering.
  • Read: Modest Beginnings: Humbl Roots Scales Pasta Sauce Business with Unique Ingredient in the Midlands Business Journal.
  • Registration is now open for the 2nd Annual Flyover Fintech Conference on Oct. 21 at Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln. 
  • Last call to shape SPN coverage over the next year by filling out this very short 3-question reader survey.

Have an announcement or event you’d like to share in an upcoming newsletter? Send it to tips@siliconprairienews.com.

Until next week!

Sincerely,

Stefanie Monge, SPN Editor

Stefanie Monge, Executive Editor

Learn more about SPN sponsorship opportunities »

Support SPN

Silicon Prairie News is published by the Nebraska Journalism Trust, a 501(c)(3) public charity

DONATE

Follow SPN

Facebook • Instagram • X • YouTube • LinkedIn

Copyright 2025 Nebraska Journalism Trust. All rights reserved.