AIM Institute recently hosted its annual Heartland Developers Conference—including the first-ever Big AI event—in Omaha. Determining how (and when) to integrate artificial intelligence into your organization or product was a major theme of the conference. A mix of national and local presenters shared best practices and advice based on their own experiences with implementing AI.…

NMotion powered by gener8tor kicked off its latest accelerator cohort with six Midwestern startups, including four from Nebraska. The Fall 2024 cohort is exceptionally diverse in terms of product and founders. The startups will take part in a 12-week program to connect them with resources, coaching and connections to help grow their businesses. SPN reporter…

The first-ever Silicon Prairie Startup Week is just around the corner! The week of events kicks off with the IO2024 Summit in Lincoln on Monday, November 11. SPN recently had a chance to catch up with Inside Outside Innovation founder Brian Ardinger to find out more about what to expect from this year’s summit. Brian…

The 2024 Best of the Midwest: Startup City Rankings are out! The eighth annual rankings by M25 and Midwest Startups is a deep dive into how startup activity, access to resources and business climate stack up across the region. Nebraska saw improvements across the board due to rising startup investment and performance. Lincoln and Omaha…

Nebraska founders have a new resource available as the Nebraska Startup Academy opens its first physical space at Millwork Commons called “The Grove”. It’s a combined incubator and coworking space that currently houses eight startups and provides founding teams with curated curriculum, as well as opportunities for collaboration and mentorship.  The Nebraska Startup Academy (NSA)…

Nebraska is near the bottom of the list when it comes to EV adoption rates. “Range anxiety” is one common concern deterring potential new EV drivers who are worried about getting stranded without a charge. Current EV owners in Nebraska say access to charging options for their vehicle isn’t a problem today. But it could…

The third annual AgTech Connect convened startups, industry and producers from around the Midwest for a day devoted to learning about innovation in agriculture. The importance of connecting startups in the space with Midwest producers to drive real-world impact in the AgTech sector was a main theme throughout the event. Conference presenters included familiar faces…

A new industry-certified training program supported by the Heartland Robotics Cluster is upskilling Nebraskans to navigate a future or work that includes collaborative and industrial robotics. The training is available through the Nebraska Innovation Studio (NIS) at University of Nebraska-Lincoln Innovation Campus. Private businesses are sponsoring employees and individuals to get industry certified using robotic…

In June, Tessa Porter, candy scientist and founder of candy development company Sprinkk, opened a pair of state-of-the-art facilities in Nebraska to help up-and-coming confectionists bring their sweet treats to market.  Porter and her team hope to play a role in reshaping how startup candy makers develop and test their new product ideas with the…

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. Read more about the event and see the list…