The Tech Nebraska Summit is back on Oct. 21 to bring the state’s technology community together and dive into topics ranging from policy and workforce to cybersecurity and AI.

Over 500 startup founders, business leaders and policymakers are expected to attend the conference, which will be held at the CHI Health Center in Omaha. Registration is still open, with individual tickets starting at $150.

“The theme, ‘What We Build Next,’ reflects where we are as a state and where we can go as a state,” said Emily Allen, the executive director of Tech Nebraska, in an email to SPN. “Nebraska has significant strengths in technology, infrastructure, industry, talent, and entrepreneurship, and the summit is designed to bring together the people who are actively shaping what comes next.”

Breakout sessions include “After the Exit: What Nebraska Builders Do Next,” a panel with founders of Nebraska startups like Flywheel and Home Instead about how they are contributing to the startup ecosystem after their exits.

Several other sessions are focused on AI, both its implementation and security concerns, as well as what it’s like building companies in Nebraska.

Executives from local corporations like FNBO, Tenaska and Scoular will speak about how big companies are navigating the current tech environment. And Sen. Pete Ricketts will appear for a fireside chat early in the day.

The summit will be Tech Nebraska’s first since becoming a fully independent organization in September and spinning out from the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce & Industry. The chamber is still involved, though, with new CEO Joseph Young leading a policy panel at the conference.