Access to capital remains one of the biggest hurdles for Nebraska’s small business owners. A new $500,000 microloan fund launched by the Urban League’s Nebraska Opportunity Exchange aims to change that.

Midwest founders of high-growth companies can now apply for the 2026 Pipeline Fellowship and Pathfinder cohorts. Accepted participants will gain access to educational modules and expert networks to help scale their businesses. The application window closes Nov. 21.

The Omaha STEM Ecosystem is a nonprofit that supports STEM-focused workforce development in the greater Omaha area. Its new awards and annual event celebrate local leaders in advancing STEM initiatives in the region. The public can submit nominations through Sept. 15.

The second annual HUSTLE Conference has a revamped format over two days in October at Creighton University. Early bird tickets are available until Aug. 22.

The Techstars Founder Catalyst Fall 2025 program provides early-stage founders access to resources and networks curated by the global startup accelerator. It is a component of the inaugural Techstars Startup Community Partnerships initiative. Founders based in Istanbul, Sarajevo and Omaha/Lincoln may apply.

The community college is reworking its MCC IT Express location in Millwork Commons into a resource hub for teaching skills and building networks within the entrepreneurial community. The new center will serve aspiring and current business owners. Classes begin Sept. 9 and additional programming will follow.

The 2025 AgTech Connect Conference brought together producers, entrepreneurs and national leaders to explore the future of agriculture through technology, global collaboration and cybersecurity. From drone demos to FBI insights and Gen AI breakthroughs, the event highlighted both the risks and opportunities facing the ag industry today.

The annual Heartland Developers Conference produced by the AIM Institute covers tech industry insights, ranging from emerging technologies to cloud computing and cybersecurity. Professionals in related fields are encouraged to apply. The conference runs Sept. 30 through Oct. 1.

The Commonwealth Omaha and The Root Coworking – Builders have opened their doors for entrepreneurs and remote workers in need of flexible office space and business services. This comes as a recent study reports that remote workers make up 13.6% of the workforce in Omaha.