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LaunchLNK applications open until Oct. 16 for $20,000 non-dilutive grants for Lincoln startups
The program, run by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, aims to grow Lincoln’s economy by offering seed funding and the equivalent of $23,000 in business support to six companies.
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Ben Williamson makes the case that agtech is a blueprint for innovation across Nebraska
Williamson has been involved in Nebraska’s innovation ecosystem for about a decade, first while working at Invest Nebraska and now as a partner with Grit Road Partners. After being part of agtech’s exponential growth over the past few years, there are important lessons to learn about creating jobs and economic opportunity here.
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newsletter, September 23
Hiya folks, Lev here. We’ve all got some kind of physical pain we’re dealing with. In my case, it’s a wonky knee and what is probably a slipped disk in my back. Lying down or sitting, including for car rides or while writing this newsletter, can be uncomfortable on account of both issues. It’s part of the reason I work out and try to eat healthy, which — so far — have been successful ways to keep…
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Nurse, Ph.D., academic and entrepreneur: Marcia Shade is building Voice-It to explain pain with AI
Pain doesn’t fit neatly on the 1-10 scale that medical professionals have used for decades. So Voice-It is building a secure AI transcription app to record the nuances of patients’ pain and summarize them for clinicians who are short on time. Better knowledge, founder and CEO Marcia Shade hopes, can lead to better treatment and…
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Nebraska and Iowa are in line for up to $160 million for bioinnovation. Here’s what startups should know
The NSF RuralSTAMINA Biomanufacturing Engine is a partnership between about 70 different organizations in Iowa and Nebraska to develop an innovation ecosystem around biomanufacturing. Starting with $15 million, the engine will invest in startups, university faculty and workforce development.
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SPN Exclusive: An early look at MCC’s completed $3 million biotech lab
As part of Metro Community College’s new biotech program, the college invested in a lab to train students that is based on real bioscience labs. The workforce development program is supported by industry partners in Nebraska, who have been impressed with how MCC has listened to companies and their needs.
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Greater Omaha Chamber’s annual POWER Conference on workforce is back on Oct. 8
Tickets start at $250 to attend the Greater Omaha Chamber’s premier gathering on creating a positive business culture that can attract and retain talent in the region. The conference is tackling workforce at a time when Omaha, and Nebraska as a whole, is struggling with brain drain and slow job growth.
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Apply by Sept. 30 for the Farmers Tech Adoption Challenge to get feedback and commitments on agtech
The FTAC, part of the 2026 Spur AgConverge conference, flips the pitch competition format and lets farmers take the lead. They give direct feedback during roundtables with startups and can receive cash prizes to commit to adopt new tech from a chosen startup.
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How Werner Enterprises is leading the way for corporate support of startups in Nebraska
Local startups have found Werner Enterprises to be a strong partner in a state that otherwise has little corporate support, they said. For Werner, corporate innovation can’t happen without engaging with the cutting edge of today’s technology and the entrepreneurs driving it.
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Newsletter, September 9 – Werner
Hiya folks, Lev here. Since I came to Nebraska a little over a year ago, I’ve heard a common issue from startups: It’s pretty hard to find customers here. Which is pretty surprising (and extra frustrating) given the wealth of Fortune 500 and other corporations in the state. As a result, promising startups either close…
Lev Gringauz
