-
The Nebraska Women in Tech Summit is back for its second year to celebrate and support women in technology roles
Started in 2025 by the Aksarben Foundation and the Nebraska Tech Collaborative after seeing Nebraska women fall behind, the summit returns with new panels and sessions on leadership and work-life balance. An awards ceremony will also honor five Nebraska women for their work.
-
IO2026 Summit to convene ‘ties and T-shirts’ for corporate-startup learning and networking on Midwest innovation
The Lincoln event comes every two years, with this year’s theme being “the art and science of innovation.” Organizer Brian Ardinger sees an opportunity to refocus on human needs in the age of AI innovation, and for deep connections between established businesses and startups.
-
New data confirms Omaha struggles with wages and jobs as the Greater Omaha Chamber rallies for the city at its annual meeting
The chamber’s annual meeting included a presentation from labor consulting firm Lightcast about Omaha’s challenges and opportunities. Still, the meeting focused on uplifting and celebrating the local business community to chart a way to revitalization.
-
In new North Omaha innovation district plan, OIPA focuses on business and housing support and hopes to launch an entrepreneurship impact fund
Staff of the Omaha Inland Port Authority emphasized that development in North Omaha should benefit current residents so they aren’t left out of new wealth generated in the historically disinvested community. The innovation district aims to support early and growing companies, though there’s a long road from plan to action.
-
Business Innovation Act funding, AI regulation and online design code are top Tech Nebraska priorities for the 2026 NE legislative session
Tech Nebraska shared with Silicon Prairie News its top three bills for the 2026 session, all of which focus on innovation in the state. Funding the BIA is a key priority across the business and startup landscape after its instability in 2025.
-
AI policy and workforce needs affect startups and big companies alike, panel says at NE Chamber annual meeting
Despite anxieties over how AI will make some jobs obsolete, a Tech Nebraska panel sees an opportunity to grow the tech and tech-supporting workforce. But doing so will require business-friendly policies, as the NE Chamber celebrates Nebraska but raises concerns about economic development.
-
North Omaha elected leaders unite for new economic development initiative to boost workforce and community investment policies
The “New North: Economic and Innovation Development Initiative” is being led by State Sen. Ashlei Spivey and includes a variety of state and local elected officials serving North Omaha. They intend to better coordinate policy efforts for continued development in the historically disinvested area.
-
Nebraska companies, including Grain Weevil and Sentinel Ag, win top engineering awards in a show of momentum for the agtech ecosystem
Six of the 33 companies that won 2026 AE50 awards are in Nebraska. The strong showing is a win for Nebraska’s investment in agtech, including with resources like The Combine and Grit Road Partners. Advocates see this as the start of the state’s agtech journey, with more resources needed to maintain momentum.
-
Applications open for Steel Works Health Accelerator, a new public-private effort to support healthtech startups in Nebraska
CQuence Health, UNeMed and the UNeTech Institute are partnering on the 16-week curriculum to prep Nebraska startups to navigate the complex world of health care. As part of the program, companies will hone their business plans and apply for federal SBIR funding.
-
To solve poverty and workforce needs, Kellee Mikuls applies startup lessons from Swishboom to help Ignite Nebraska grow
Mikuls, the executive director of Ignite Nebraska, learned how to lead and solve problems with a startup mindset when founding Swishboom. The child care startup shuttered in 2023, but she found her skills can also work in the nonprofit world and help Nebraska in other ways.
Lev Gringauz
