Opinion

Talk to tech entrepreneurs in Nebraska, and they’re likely to laud the region’s innovative spirit. Next-level startups like Flywheel, Buildertrend, Lunavi, Hudl and more have grown an international presence and put the Cornhusker state on the map. Even a cornerstone enterprise like Lincoln-based Nelnet has implemented its own innovation division. Conferences like the IO Summit,…
Read MoreWe think you should read more in 2021, and we can help. By giving you a rundown and key takeaways from what we feel are the most relevant books to founders and tech entrepreneurs, SPN’s Bookworthy series will help you decide which recent titles are worth your time and attention. Speaking of attention, the first…
Read MoreThis guest post written by Karen Borchert, COO of Flywheel, originally appeared in Medium. This March, I was planning to give a speech at SaaStr US, about how our company, Flywheel, built something big, right in the middle of Omaha, Nebraska. This week is my last week at Flywheel, and while the pandemic prevented me from…
Read MoreThis is an op-ed by Brian Waller, president of the Technology Association of Iowa, a statewide, member-based organization uniting Iowa’s technology community by connecting leaders, developing talent, driving public policy and fostering diversity and inclusion. Such cross-sector partnerships play a role in building the tech workforce and closing the skills gap that Midwestern businesses face…
Read MoreEarly on a Thursday, Beeso Studio founder John Bunting is typing a quick email while apologizing for not having his webcam on. This interview, by his estimate, is already his fourth or fifth meeting of the day. Bunting has been busy working out a deal that involves hiring a new team by the following Monday,…
Read MoreThis thinkpiece by Noni Williams forms part three of SPN’s three-part series investigating unconscious bias in the hiring process (be sure to read part one and part two). Williams is a Data Analyst at Kiewit with a passion for automation and the use of data to solve complex problems. Here, she analyzes the advantages and…
Read MoreOriginally posted on the AIM Institute blog No one knows how the coronavirus pandemic will evolve, how long the economy will stay underwater, or even what recovery looks like. But the radical workplace upheaval and sudden ad hoc shift to remote technology over the past month suggest two truths: We need more tech talent. We…
Read MoreOne thing the business community can agree on: no one knows how to adapt to the coronavirus, especially in marketing. We don’t know who needs to hear this, but just in case: please resist the urge to pandemicize your brand. You may have already seen companies shoehorning references to the pandemic into their ads and…
Read MoreMany of us can only dream of working from home. No more rush hour. No more sack lunches or $11 takeout sandwiches. And especially no more long, drawn-out conversations about the loose floor tile by Kelly’s office. Well, now we have to miss all of those things. Many of us are struggling with the reality…
Read MoreThis is a guest post by Maria Brady. In light of recent cancellations, the Omaha economy faces a period of uncertainty. The economic downturn will impact businesses, workers, families and individuals in various ways—and to differing degrees. We must remember that little steps can go a long way. While we should limit non-essential social contact…
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