Posts by Rod Armstrong
Acton Omaha Children’s Business Fair inspires entrepreneurship in youth
A unique event on October 28 at Kaneko in Omaha kicked off a series of activities designed to spark interest and self-discovery in youth entrepreneurship. The Acton Omaha Children’s Business Fair attracted 88 young people ages 5 – 16 representing nearly 50 businesses they developed in the weeks leading up to the fair. Total attendance…
Read MoreLincoln-based Fourstarzz closes $750K round, named a top ten influencer firm worldwide
Fourstarzz Media, a Lincoln-based influencer marketing startup, has had a busy year. Among other things, the company has closed a $750,000 round of pre-seed capital investment, been accepted into the Forbes Agency Council (invitation only), and been named as one of ten influencer marketing firms worldwide in the Gartner Marketing Technology Vendor Guide for 2018.…
Read MoreDon’t Panic Labs joins forces with Stone Fin Technology
Doug Durham and Carl Steffen have known each other for a while. “I met Carl through the Raikes School in 2010,” said Durham, Co-Founder and CTO of Lincoln’s Don’t Panic Labs. “Over time, I got to know Carl more through Raikes and in the community.” Steffen is the Owner and Founder of Stone Fin Technology.…
Read MoreLincoln Startup Week and Paul Singh return October 22 through 26
Seven years ago, a group of community organizers gathered to map out the first Lincoln Startup Week. It has since become an annual event that continues to grow and mature. This year, Lincoln Startup Week runs October 22nd through 26th in locations throughout the city. “It’s interesting to see how it’s changed in the types…
Read MoreDeliveRecon knowledge share app helps keep fleets informed and efficient
Truck drivers sometimes encounter unexpected challenges that hinder their efficiency or put them behind schedule. For example, a security code at an entry gate for a delivery may have been changed without notice. Plattsmouth, Nebraska startup DeliveRecon has created an app and driver knowledge base that allows drivers to communicate issues like this to each…
Read MoreThe Youth Entrepreneurship Clinic at UNL builds founder and STEAM skills in high school students
Increasing attention is being paid to identifying and nurturing entrepreneurial talent at the high school level. The Youth Entrepreneurship Clinics (YEC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is one such initiative designed to equip high school students with an entrepreneurial mindset and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) skills. “What’s most important is that we…
Read MoreBlueprint incubator initiated by Kidwell is helping startups launch and grow
Startup accelerators and incubators typically cater to digital businesses that don’t need much more than some tables, computers and Internet access to function. Blueprint, an incubator concept initiated by Kidwell, is helping startups in the trades launch and grow. “Lincoln has a very nice support system for startups,” said Todd Long, Vice President of Innovation…
Read MoreLPED’s new LaunchLNK initiative recruits early-stage startups to Lincoln
In economic development circles, business recruitment and retention are often associated with large companies and hundreds of jobs. The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) is adding a focus on recruiting early-stage startups through its LaunchLNK initiative. “We decided from an economic development perspective that it makes sense to look at recruiting startups for a…
Read MoreDealAnyDay rebrands as LocalAnyDay, focuses on building local communities
Two years ago, SPN profiled DealAnyDay, a Lincoln startup featuring a free mobile app that allows users to search for daily specials or promotions by categories like location, business type or population groups such as college students or military. Last year, the company rebranded to LocalAnyDay. SPN recently sat down with Founder and CEO Mailani…
Read MoreNMotion announces 2018 cohort and changes to program
NMotion, Lincoln’s startup accelerator, has announced its 2018 cohort of teams along with some changes in the program. “Moving forward the aim is to focus on the acceleration of our startups,” said Managing Director Carlos Estrada. “This year we have teams with more traction, and at least 2 or 3 people on their team. We’re…
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