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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.
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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.
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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.
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Three sites being explored for Airport Business Park as leaders work to rebuild community trust
The project, supported by $90 million in state funds through the Omaha Inland Port Authority, had a rocky start. But a recent community meeting showcasing plans for three sites was met with a positive response as developers hope to get moving on their work in 2026.
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NE Chamber hires Luisa Smith to lead lobbying for Tech Nebraska as director of government affairs
Smith comes to Nebraska after several years working on policy in Washington, D.C., for an Idaho senator. She is the first dedicated government affairs and policy lead for the Nebraska tech industry group.
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Abby Bartholomew is the new director for entrepreneurship and innovation at the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development
Bartholomew, who started Jan. 5, is an entrepreneur and business owner hoping to support all parts of the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Top of mind: making sure all businesses know about and can access the founder community for help.
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After interim role, Cheryl Horst now guides UNL tech transfer as executive director of NUtech Ventures
NUtech Ventures works with researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to protect and license their innovations for commercial use. As funding gets tight, Horst leads a greater focus on entrepreneurship and industry relations.
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LaunchLNK applications open for $20,000 in 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 $15,000 in business support to six companies.
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Pillen un-pauses BIA but signals “new direction” that leaves the program’s future cloudy
In a victory for startup ecosystem advocates, Gov. Jim Pillen announced on Dec. 22 that the Business Innovation Act will resume operating. The program was paused for over two months in a move seen as damaging to business and innovation in Nebraska.
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Cabela’s headquarters back in local hands and an Economic Development Corporation is on the way as Sidney aims for long-term stability
An EDC is a common model in Nebraska to provide gap financing for small businesses while also supporting such workforce development needs as housing and business attraction. Learning lessons from its previous dependence on one employer, an EDC could anchor Sidney’s efforts to diversify its economy.
Lev Gringauz
