-
First National Bank of Omaha to host first Code One Hackathon
Typically, banks try to prevent hackers from entering their systems. But later this month, First National Bank of Omaha and Straight Shot are inviting them in …
-
Cympel shares 5 conference lessons learned at TechCrunch Disrupt
Last week the Omaha-based Cympel team—a digital advertising agency—hopped on a red-eye flight to San Francisco carrying a small banner and orange tablecloth and made its way to TechCrunch Disrupt. The Disrupt conference is one of the startup world’s most notable launching pads for budding technologies. Its star-studded speaker lineup included the likes of SV…
-
Silicon Florist founder shares “ideas about ideas” with Speak Easy crowd
Rick Turoczy is the editor and founder of Silicon Florist, a 20-year veteran of the startup industry and co-founder of the Portland Incubator Experiment (PIE). I guess you could say we liken him to the Jeff Slobotski of Portland. Last week Turoczy brought a fresh perspective on what makes entrepreneurs successful to the more than…
-
Study: Omaha startups struggle to keep their Facebook fans engaged
In 2012, I was working for a large company in Omaha, in an unproven and newly introduced role managing social media. While social wasn’t new to me, it was always a side of my desk operation, an addition to other duties, similar to how many startups are operating today. Things had changed—it became my only…
-
Entrepreneurs: You are not alone if you feel a little clumsy at first
I fall down. A lot. But, in the process of founding two companies, I’ve learned a little secret: If you want to be the founder of a successful startup, there is nothing more important than resilience. You have to be able to take some tumbles and then, brush your shoulders off and get right back…
-
Bowden lays out challenge to make Omaha more attractive for startups
Setting up shop in Omaha (or Midwest for that matter) has been the one decision questioned regularly by many of our coastal counterparts. But the many startups that have successfully built, launched and attracted major investment dollars right here in the Midwest know that no matter the location, if you’re the best—relentlessly the best—success will…
-
My leap from PepsiCo to enjoying the ride as “that older guy” at Front Flip
“Have you lost your mind?” “No. This company is going to make it really big!” That was my go-to answer whenever someone felt like passing judgment. While I wasn’t 100 percent sure I bought my own story at the time, I was sticking to it. After 12 years at PepsiCo, I accepted an offer with…
-
Entrepreneurs: Get to know pending design patent law changes
A design patent is a patent that typically protects the ornamental design of a functional object. For example, jewelry, food containers, and computer icons are all examples of functional objects that can have an ornamental design that can be protected by a design patent. International protection for designs is very expensive for U.S. filers. Currently,…
-
How Midwestern startups can make themselves more attractive to talent
Since coming to Kansas City, I often get asked how the area stacks up to the valley. My answer is simple: This city reminds me of the valley six years ago. The biggest thing missing is the influx of talent. We are in an age with startups popping up like daisies and companies going public…
-
Take part in Omaha Gives, the city’s first 24-hour charitable challenge
(Guest post by Paige Reitz.) Today is the day every nonprofit in town wants you to know about. From midnight to midnight, it’s Omaha Gives—a 24-hour charitable challenge organized by the Omaha Community Foundation to rally the entire city to give to the local causes they care about. The minimum donation to give is set…