Meet Scott Asmus, Program Director at SourceLink Nebraska.

SourceLink Nebraska is a free resource offered through the Nebraska Business Development Center. The initiative helps entrepreneurs get connected to support and meetups throughout the state, as well as help them navigate questions regarding their business plans and ambitions. 

Asmus recently shared his background and experience with SourceLink and how he has been familiarizing himself with the Nebraska entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

What inspired you to become an entrepreneur or support other entrepreneurs?

I am inspired by the courage it takes for someone to say, “I have an idea, and I want to try.” I am equally inspired by the courage it takes to say, “I could use some help.” 

Entrepreneurs invest their time, money, energy, reputation and often a significant part of their future into something they believe can work. I have tremendous respect for that, and I want them to know they do not have to make that journey alone.

Nebraska is filled with people who genuinely want to help others succeed, and that makes me proud to call this state home. I am equally proud to be part of the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Nebraska Business Development Center. UNO and the University of Nebraska System have made a strong commitment to entrepreneurship, business development and economic opportunity across Nebraska. 

That statewide focus matters because great ideas are being developed everywhere, from farms and rural downtowns to college campuses, garages and kitchen tables. Opportunity should not depend on a ZIP code. I am fortunate to work alongside exceptional NBDC colleagues across Nebraska who care deeply about the entrepreneurs and communities they serve. 

I have also been greatly influenced by the SourceLink team at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Their ecosystem-building expertise, generosity, collaboration and friendship have helped shape how I approach this work.

Those experiences have reinforced one of my strongest beliefs: No organization builds an entrepreneurial ecosystem by itself. We build it together. When we collaborate well, entrepreneurs should feel the difference.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to when you were just starting out?

I would tell myself to invest in relationships earlier, trust my values and spend less energy trying to prove myself. You cannot convince everyone to believe in you, and you do not need to. Do the work, treat people well, remain consistent and let your actions and results speak over time. 

I would also tell myself to leave the door open. Some of my strongest supporters today began as critics. Disagreement does not have to end a relationship. Listen to criticism, learn from what is useful, remain open to being challenged and give people the opportunity to see your work evolve.

Most importantly, I would stop believing leadership means having all the answers. Strong leaders recognize what they do not know and surround themselves with people who bring different expertise and perspectives.

Sometimes one of the most powerful things you can say is, “I don’t know, but I know someone who can help.” Ask questions, listen longer, share credit freely, remain humble enough to learn and confident enough to lead and keep showing up for people. 

Relationships compound over time.

How can the Nebraska community support you?

Help us change the narrative about entrepreneurship in Nebraska. There is still a perception that entrepreneurs here cannot find help or that Nebraska lacks the resources to support them. 

That is not the Nebraska I see.

I travel across this state and spend time with entrepreneurs, economic developers, chambers, lenders, educators, consultants, community leaders, nonprofits, investors, and organizations committed to helping businesses succeed. What I see gives me tremendous optimism. 

Nebraska has a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem, and it is getting stronger. Collaboration is increasing, communities are investing, partnerships are forming, and organizations are recognizing that we accomplish more when we work together.

That does not mean we do not have gaps. Strong ecosystems continually listen, adapt, and improve. But an opportunity to get better does not mean the ecosystem is failing. 

Through SourceLink Nebraska, NBDC, UNO, and our partners across the state, I see entrepreneurs connected every day to advisors, lenders, mentors, education, technical assistance, and people who genuinely want them to succeed. Our challenge is often not the absence of help; it is helping entrepreneurs know where to start and making the network easier to navigate.

I am proud of the commitment UNO and the University of Nebraska System have made to entrepreneurship and economic opportunity throughout the state. I am equally proud of my NBDC colleagues, our SourceLink Nebraska resource partners, and the many local, regional, and statewide leaders doing this work. 

No single organization gets to claim Nebraska’s success. It belongs to the entrepreneurs willing to take the risk, the communities willing to support them and the people and organizations willing to collaborate on their behalf.

Nebraska is on an upswing, and we should have the confidence to say so. We should celebrate what is working, continue improving what is not and make sure every entrepreneur hears this message: You are not alone.

There are people across Nebraska who want to see you succeed, and we are going to work together to help you find them. I believe our strongest chapter is still ahead of us.