Jonathan Gerhardson

  • UNeTech-incubated startup Impower Health receives patent for new self-paced treadmill

    UNeTech-incubated startup Impower Health receives patent for new self-paced treadmill

    The exercise equipment startup Impower Health Inc. has announced the granting of a new U.S. patent (No. 11,185,740) for a treadmill that adapts to the users own running pace automatically. The invention was initially developed as a potential therapeutic device to help stroke patients by three students at the University of Nebraska Omaha, William Denton, Molly Schieber,…

  • Socially conscious tech startup GiftAMeal grows its team—and its reach

    Socially conscious tech startup GiftAMeal grows its team—and its reach

    St. Louis startup GiftAMeal has announced the hiring of Jeni Couch as its new Account Executive. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Couch will help GiftAMeal as the company sets its sights on nationwide expansion. “I just had to be a part of it,” said Couch, who comes to GiftAMeal after…

  • Lincoln agtech startup Sentinel Fertigation partners with crop irrigation systems manufacturer

    Lincoln agtech startup Sentinel Fertigation partners with crop irrigation systems manufacturer

    Lincoln-based agtech startup Sentinel Fertigation has announced a new strategic partnership with Agri-Inject, makers of crop irrigation systems.  Sentinel provides a sensor-based, data-driven model for predicting and prescribing nitrogen fertilizer applications, with the goal of increasing the overall efficiency per lb/acre of applied fertilizer.  Sentinel claims their approach can increase profitability of corn by an…

  • Arch Grants increasing award amount for annual startup grants competition, will fund relocation costs

    Arch Grants increasing award amount for annual startup grants competition, will fund relocation costs

    Arch Grants has announced it will increase the awards for its annual startup grants competition beginning this year. The program awards annual non-dilutive grants to startups and early-stage businesses who base their operations out of St. Louis for at least one year. Winners receive $75,000, with an additional $25,000 available for eligible applicants to cover…

  • Iowa’s dsmHack reschedules charity hackathon, seeks nonprofits in need of assistance

    Iowa’s dsmHack reschedules charity hackathon, seeks nonprofits in need of assistance

    The Des Moines Charity Hackathon, an annual 48 hour event hosted by dsmHack, is currently seeking project proposals from registered 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that serve Polk County, Iowa. The annual event—held every year since 2014, except 2021—seeks to implement software-based solutions for non-profit organizations that impact the local community. Throughout its tenure, that’s amounted to…

  • Here we go again: the tech community’s predictions for 2022

    Here we go again: the tech community’s predictions for 2022

    It’s been yet another wild year. The pandemic continues to be a concern, and people are ready to get back to normal. Here’s what that might look like. As we did last year, Silicon Prairie News reached out to entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and government officials across Nebraska to get their take on 2021 and…

  • LaunchLNK recruiting for 2022 startup cohort; applications due Dec. 31

    LaunchLNK recruiting for 2022 startup cohort; applications due Dec. 31

    LaunchLNK, a program that helps high-growth startups get established and grow in Lincoln, Neb., is currently recruiting its 2022 cohort of tech startups. Applications are due by December 31 to be considered for one of five startups to receive a $25,000 grant. The grant is funded by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED), a…

  • Omaha startup Bot Image set to revolutionize prostate cancer detection using cutting-edge machine learning software

    Omaha startup Bot Image set to revolutionize prostate cancer detection using cutting-edge machine learning software

    The Omaha-based MRI medical device company, Bot Image Inc., announced this month an addition to its line of software products aimed at assisting the detection of prostate cancer. Dubbed QT Prostate MRI, the new software-as-a-service utilizes machine learning to aid in the identification of prostate cancer by producing a colorized map of both normal and…

  • Omaha’s Retail Aware partners with Chicago’s Home Chef to deploy network of sensors to better measure consumer behavior

    Omaha’s Retail Aware partners with Chicago’s Home Chef to deploy network of sensors to better measure consumer behavior

    Omaha ad-tech company Retail Aware has announced a new venture in partnership with Home Chef—the Chicago-based meal kit and food delivery business—to deploy its network of sensor devices in up to 2,000 Kroger stores nationwide.  The move should allow Kroger – which owns the Home Chef brand – more granular control over its in-store shopper…