Nebraska Innovation Resources
Plug in this week. Three easy entry points: the StartupLNK Calendar (everything happening in the Lincoln startup community, week to week), Open Coffee (a standing Thursday-morning gathering at Crescent Moon, just show up), and 1 Million Cups in Lincoln and Omaha (free weekly founder gatherings). Pick one and go.
I have spent my whole career building in Nebraska, and the reaction I still get most often from people elsewhere is mild surprise that there is anything to build here at all.
There is, and more of it every year. This is the map I wish someone had handed me when I started Zimmer Consulting in David City. If you are a founder, a corporate innovator, or someone deciding whether to plant something in this state, these are the people, programs, and dollars that make Nebraska a real place to do this work. Start with one. The community is small enough that a single good introduction usually leads to the next.
Funding and investment
Invest Nebraska
The state’s venture development organization. Manages funds, co-invests, and provides operational support across the ecosystem. A good first call if you are raising in Nebraska.
Nebraska Angels
A network of more than 90 active local angel investors, operating since 2006. Where a lot of Nebraska founders meet their first outside check. I participate here.
gener8tor / NMotion
The venture fund behind the NMotion accelerator, writing investments into accepted Nebraska startups alongside Invest Nebraska.
Move Venture Capital
A Nebraska-based venture firm backing early-stage startups in the region.
Grit Road Partners
A Nebraska venture firm with deep roots in the agtech community.
Accelerators and programs
The Business Innovation Act (BIA)
Nebraska’s primary mechanism for funding early-stage innovation, with grant programs you can learn about and apply for through the state. I testified in support of LB1044 in 2026 to protect and extend it. See In the News for the testimony.
NMotion, powered by gener8tor
Nebraska’s mentor-driven, education-focused accelerator, now operating statewide with anchors in Lincoln and at Millwork Commons in Omaha. Accepted companies receive investment and a concentrated mentor network.
The Combine
An agtech incubator on Nebraska Innovation Campus that has helped its companies raise well over fifteen million dollars. The front door for agriculture-technology founders.
Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC)
University-based, SBA-backed consulting for Nebraska businesses at every stage, from startup through growth and government contracting. Practical, low-cost help that a lot of founders overlook.
Nebraska Startup Academy
Founder education and community, including a partnership with The Combine focused on building a path for ag-tech innovation.
Community and events
Open Coffee (Lincoln)
A standing Thursday-morning gathering of founders, developers, designers, and the startup-curious at Crescent Moon. The lowest-friction way to plug into the Lincoln community.
StartupLNK Calendar
The running calendar of Lincoln startup events, plus Lincoln Startup Week. Bookmark it.
Open Range
The connective backbone for the Silicon Prairie startup community, linking founders, funders, and builders across Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs to help people start, scale, and stay here. Its new Techstars Startup Community Partnership plugs Omaha founders into a global network for mentorship and capital.
Silicon Prairie News
The ecosystem’s paper of record. The fastest way to learn who is doing what across Nebraska and the region.
1 Million Cups (Lincoln and Omaha)
Free weekly gatherings where local founders present and the community shows up.
Nebraska.Code() and Hustle Conference
A developer conference and an entrepreneurship conference, two of the events I speak at most and good places to find your people.
IO Summit
Brian Ardinger’s InsideOutside summit on the art and science of innovation, held in Lincoln and drawing startup founders, corporate innovators, and creatives from across the Midwest. It runs every two years, and recorded talks from past Summits are posted on the site, so there is plenty to learn between events.
Policy and advocacy
Tech Nebraska
The policy voice for Nebraska’s technology and innovation economy, connecting founders and operators statewide. It runs a year-round series of events (summits, microsummits, and member gatherings around the state), not just one annual meeting. See the events calendar. I serve on its advisory board.
Nebraska Tech Collaborative
An Aksarben Foundation initiative focused on growing and retaining the state’s tech talent.
Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and the Greater Omaha Chamber
The two economic-development engines anchoring the state’s metros, both active backers of the startup community.
Pick one event off the StartupLNK calendar or show up to Open Coffee on a Thursday. You will leave with the names of the next three people you should meet.