Talent and Innovation Initiative: A Growing Help for Nebraska’s Businesses

Check back over the next month as we will be highlighting the different programs created this year by the Nebraska Legislature through the Talent and Innovation Initiative. Being an entrepreneur – or being involved in any capacity with a start-up — can be quite the challenge, yet successful entrepreneurs provide reward not only for themselves, but state economies [...]

Micro Businesses Depend on the Nebraska Enterprise Fund

Nebraska Enterprise Fund (NEF) is a private, non-profit organization that was formed in 1994 to help Nebraska’s micro and small businesses develop. Micro businesses are small, self-employed, start-up or home-based business consisting of 10 or fewer employees. Micro and small businesses’ growth and development fuel Nebraska’s economy and, for several years, NEF has helped these businesses [...]

Recent Developments Show Increased Cash on Hand for Startups

The Lincoln Journal Star today released an article about recent developments in funding for startups. With all of the new government programs, Nebraska is slowing catching up from being near the bottom in funding available. Nebraska has long lagged behind the rest of the nation when it comes to financing for startup businesses. More than one [...]

University of Nebraska highlights efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship

In conjunction with President Obama’s signing of the America Invents Act today – legislation that will streamline the patent process and foster economic development – the University of Nebraska is highlighting its key efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship that are helping to build a more competitive economy for Nebraska. The America Invents Act is the [...]

Opening Remarks: Pete Kotsiopulos, James B. Milliken, and Rick Sheehy

Opening remarks for the 2011 Nebraska Summit on Entrepreneurship on Friday, February 25th, 2011.

Governor Announces New Entrepreneur Mentoring Initiative

The State of Nebraska has announced a new partnership that will invest in those most likely to create new jobs: entrepreneurs. Nebraska will be the first state use a new business-to-business mentoring program developed by the Gallup Organization, Gov. Dave Heineman announced at a press conference in Omaha Thursday. The initiative will provide business development assistance [...]

State Chamber’s Technology Summit

Nebraska’s State Chamber has announced a summit set for January 19 focused on technology and economic development.  If you plan to attend, be sure to register soon.  For more information on the summit, see the press release below. Ken Jones Interview from Nebraska Entrepreneur on Vimeo. Heineman Interview from Nebraska Entrepreneur on Vimeo. LINCOLN – [...]

Report outlines state’s economic strengths, weaknesses

Invest Nebraska submitted a report to the Nebraska Legislature on Dec. 1 outlining the current state of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial programs in Nebraska. The report is called “Nebraska’s Innovation & Entrepreneurial Ecosystem.” Recent legislation proposed by Sen. Danielle Conrad of Nebraska’s 46th District prompted the Legislature’s Innovation and Entrepreneurial Task Force to ask Invest Nebraska, [...]

Loan guarantees breathe life into small business in Nebraska

Entrepreneurs know how difficult it is to secure financing. The risk-averse posture of banks has left many businesses struggling to survive. Some businesses in rural Nebraska have been thrown a lifeline through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The USDA announced on Oct. 28 that another $10 million guaranteed loan was made to [...]

Richard Baier – Director of Nebraska Department of Economic Development

Richard Baier, Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, talks about entrepreneurship and job building in the state of Nebraska.

Jeff Fortenberry discusses entrepreneurship in Nebraska

For more information please visit http://fortenberry.house.gov/

NDED helps entrepreneurs with risks

Taking risks is part of the business landscape. For entrepreneurs, those risks are significant; he or she can lose everything.  According to Gary Hamer, deputy director for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, failure is not only part of the game for entrepreneurs, it’s a good thing. Hamer is part of the team at the [...]

Diplomats draw business into Nebraska

Imagine a business environment where new entrepreneurs can work together closely with large corporations and build, expand and promote business in the heartland. This is the basic idea behind the Nebraska Diplomats Inc., a non-profit corporation that builds alliances and networks between businesses and promotes business in the state of Nebraska. Nebraska Diplomats has been [...]

NxBizSuccess reaching out to entrepreneurs via portal, podcasts

As social media becomes more prevalent and newer, bolder ways of distributing facts, figures and fictions enter the picture, it seems the paradigm for acquiring and analyzing information shifts on a near daily basis.  Although this means more people are able to actively search out the information they seek (we live in a world where “Google” has [...]

NDE encouraging earlier exposure to entrepreneurship

As is the case with reading, writing and even learning a foreign language, the earlier in life we’re exposed to crucial skills, the easier they are to pick up. Entrepreneurial expertise is no different. That’s why Gregg Christensen and others from the Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) are seeking to include more entrepreneurial options in the curricula [...]

High School Students Learn Real World Skills in Entrepreneurship Focus Program

On a Friday morning in late May, three young people huddle around a laptop, making last-minute tweaks to a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. New, bright blue t-shirts printed with inspirational words and business names rest on a table nearby. Across the room, a large foam board model of Lincoln’s Haymarket displays representations of new businesses including some [...]

Wayne Business Lets Customers Create Custom Headboards

Marilyn Wilson got the inspiration for a new Wayne, Nebraska business, Heady Bed, while watching a design show on television. She noticed the designer’s staff often had to carry large, unwieldy headboards up narrow, sometimes winding steps. She said she remembers thinking, “Wouldn’t it be good to have a modular system.” Later, when Wilson designed [...]