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Technology fueled the rise of election skepticism. Now, experts say it could help reverse the trend (maybe).
The culmination of the 2020 U.S. general election was every bit as messy as it promised to be, and the Jan. 6 insurrection that left five people dead and dozens injured exposed the biggest threat facing U.S. elections. It’s not cybersecurity, or foreign interference, either; it’s the idea that the credibility of election results may…
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8 Qs for a Silicon Prairie Founder: Lizz Whitacre of Pawlytics
Lizz Whitacre is co-founder of Pawlytics, a cloud-based operations software provider for animal shelters and rescues working to develop electronic health records for pets and build the world’s largest pet database. SPN recently spotlighted the company and its socially driven mission to use data to save as many animals as possible. It’s a mission that…
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Brand agency Daake infuses passion, community spirit and design thinking into every. single. project.
This is a sponsored post paid for by Daake and written by SPN. The day he launched his eponymous branding agency Daake in 2001, co-founder and CEO Greg Daake grabbed pen and paper, sat down in the rented duplex in midtown Omaha that doubled as an office and drafted a guiding purpose for the company.…
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ReEnvision Ag develops new way to plant
A northeastern Iowa agtech startup is developing technology that will change the way farmers plant crops, all while saving them money and reducing environmental impact. Nora Springs, Iowa’s ReEnvision Ag is one of five agriculture technology companies participating in the AgLaunch 365 accelerator program, which aims to cultivate startups that will transform regional agriculture; create…
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SPN Bookworthy: “How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy” by Jenny Odell
We 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…
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Women in IT: Shelly Blakeman, MSOL, CSM, builds stable bridges between business and tech
Shelly Blakeman thrives on knowledge-sharing, curiosity and drive. She can code (she earned a B.S. in computer information management). She can execute (certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Agile Scrum Master). She can teach (instructor in the AIM Institute Emerging Leaders Program). She can write (currently working on her first book). And she can…
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HerHeadquarters adjusts to an unpredictable year by giving back—and growing
When SPN first spotlighted HerHeadquarters in February of 2020, few of us were aware how drastically the looming pandemic would change our lives. While HerHeadquarters has not been immune to the changes wrought by COVID-19, the past year nonetheless offers a tale of trial and triumph for the Omaha-based brand. The start of 2020 came…
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With support of local business and tech leaders, new website aims to encourage interest and participation in STEM
To help remove barriers to tech education, address the ongoing shortage of tech workers in the Silicon Prairie, and spark interest in science, technology, engineering and math careers, the Omaha STEM Ecosystem and the AIM Institute have launched the online STEM Community Platform, presented by Cox. The STEM Community Platform, located at stemplatform.org, connects youth,…
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Omaha startup Pinata specializes in blockchain, plays vital role in emerging digital art market
Companies and tech-savvy individuals alike are increasingly adopting blockchain—a decentralized, distributed method for storing data securely—for their business needs, with global spending on blockchain solutions forecast to top $17 billion by 2024. Used in everything from food supply chain tracking to public transaction ledgers for cryptocurrency, blockchain presents a win for cybersecurity and data safety.…
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Certified Cell gives users more autonomy over technology
An up-and-coming Omaha startup is advising iPhone users to think twice before swapping out their old or damaged devices for new ones. Joshua Hample, co-founder and CEO of Omaha-based startup Certified Cell, says in many cases, defects that seem irreparable are actually fixable, though wireless carriers don’t necessarily want you to know that. Hample said…