HUSTLE conference organizers hope to spur connections and candid conversations among Midwest entrepreneurs at their event in Omaha, Wednesday, Oct. 9. See what you can expect from the inaugural conference.

Apply for the first-ever Silicon Prairie Startup Week Pitch Competition by Oct. 6 for your chance to win the $10k grand prize! Showcase your startup in front of investors, mentors and community members, plus receive feedback from expert judges.

The IO2024 Summit: Innovation Unfiltered kicks off Silicon Prairie Startup Week in Lincoln on Monday, November 11. Learn more about what to expect at this year’s event and who should attend in this conversation with Brian Ardinger. Plus, get a special discount code to save $50 on summit registration.

The Midlands African Chamber continues to provide resources and mentorship to BIPOC and immigrant entrepreneurs through its MAC Xcelerator program. Applications for the next cohort are open through August 30, 2024.

The Nebraska Startup Academy recently announced the soft launch of its new incubator and coworking space at Millwork Commons. The Grove isn’t open to the public right now, but it currently houses eight Nebraska startups. Read the story for more details and to find out how to join the waitlist.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy will receive $307 million from the EPA to boost “climate-smart” agriculture and reduce agricultural waste from livestock.

Nebraska Startup Academy recently announced its first full time hire. Alyssa Cave joins the team as the new director of entrepreneurship. Keep reading to learn more about Cave and other upcoming plans for Nebraska Startup Academy.

This year’s Pitch Black event marks the first time the Midlands African Chamber hosted a conference alongside the annual pitch competition. The 2024 Pitch Black Conference and Tech Showcase attracted a diverse group of entrepreneurs, and one lucky startup walked away with $10,000 for their business.

The 4th annual Pitch Black Conference and Tech Showcase is happening Saturday, June 29 on the Creighton University campus. The event is designed to support BIPOC entrepreneurs in Nebraska and Iowa.

Despite the Kauffman Foundation’s new strategic plan to refocus its commitments to drive more impact in the KC community, Pipeline’s Executive Director Melissa Vincent says the Pipeline Entrepreneurs program plans to target their efforts in Nebraska this year.