Entrepreneur and writer Tony Bock is creator of the daily OMAPOD podcast and newsletter. Bock recently sat down with me, SPN Editor Stefanie Monge, to talk about the first-ever Silicon Prairie Startup Week. The 3-part series shares the backstory of why SPN and our partners saw an opportunity for a multi-city, multi-day event series to…

This week we’re launching the SPN Ecosystem Project to trace the impact and influence of different individuals and startups in Nebraska since the early 2000s. We start by exploring the role of community events in growing the ecosystem. In-person events have been crucial to connecting folks from different areas of the ecosystem to resources and…

Applications are open through Sunday, Oct. 6 at 11:59 p.m. CDT for the Silicon Prairie Startup Week Pitch Competition. This is your chance to win the $10,000 grand prize or $2,500 people’s choice award to grow your Nebraska-based startup. The cash awards are non dilutive funds. The competition is open to Nebraska companies that are…

A new $65M innovation hub is opening on the western edge of the UNMC campus in early 2025. Catalyst is a 170,000-square-foot development designed to support innovation in healthcare, biotechnology and entrepreneurship. The goal is to drive meaningful advancements in healthcare and contribute to the local economy by fostering collaboration, creating jobs and attracting new…

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…