The Employer Partner Network is a formalized approach to work with companies and nonprofits trying to cut through hiring processes clogged with AI applicants. For Ignite Nebraska, the network is a stepping stone to expanding beyond Omaha and helping Nebraskans find entry-level jobs.

Omaha 100 is partnering with Bootup Studios, a Miami-based startup, to offer 100 businesses free one-year access to Bootup’s AI tools. Applications close at noon June 12 for the first cohort of the two-year partnership.

The conference will celebrate Midwest innovation and bring together stakeholders across agriculture, startups and venture capital to network about the tech ecosystem. AgTech Connect will be held on the Nebraska Innovation Campus in Lincoln.

The 48-hour event is powered by Open Range and the global startup accelerator Techstars. The schedule centers on pitching an idea, forming a team, building a viable business and competing for a prize package valued at $30,000. Early bird registration closes May 22.

Awards ranging from Diversity Champion of the Year to Innovator of the Year were presented on March 6 at the Nebraska Women in Tech Summit.

The NASA Nebraska Space Grant and EPSCoR programs are designed to support STEM education in the state. Startups like Virtual Incision and research projects on subjects from anti-cancer proteins to recyclable antimicrobial material have visited space as a result.

The joint collaboration between CQuence Health, UNeMed and the UNeTech Institute is piloting its first cohort. Over 16-weeks, Steel Works aims to help the startups raise seed funds and be ready to navigate the challenging business of health care.

The fourth annual NWIS conference will feature sessions on leadership and AI while also hosting a variety of speakers and networking opportunities. The keynote speaker is Col. Eileen Collins, the first woman to pilot a space shuttle.

Omaha-based nonprofit Open Range announced its new Dinner Club series as part of its mission to bridge gaps and convene the Nebraska startup ecosystem. The first meetup will take place Feb. 25. Those of various career levels and venture ambitions are encouraged to register.