Cultivation removes weeds between crop rows but not within the rows. He could hire a crew for hand weeding, but that would be prohibitively expensive for row crops such as corn, soybean and sunflower. The weeds keep coming.

But now, three men may have found a solution.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor of mechanical and materials engineering George Gogos; professor of agronomy and weed sciences Stevan Knezevic; and graduate student of mechanical and materials engineering Chris Bruening, are the founders of Agricultural Flaming Innovations (AFI). With research on weed flaming since the summer of 2007, AFI is the leading research company in this field.

AFI’s flaming equipment will be used primarily in organic farming, which according to U.S. data increased by 350 percent from 1995 to 2005. In the United States, only 0.6 percent of the farmland is organic, compared to 5 to 6 percent in Europe. However, Gogos believes the U.S. will experience an increase in organic farming in coming years, thus making his work more important.

AFI testing

“You have to design a piece of equipment that treats the weeds but saves your crop,” Gogos said. “In that design, we get a lot of info from agronomists as far as the lifetime of weeds and crops and the size of weeds and crops. All these things we take into consideration as we design the equipment.”

AFI’s systems attack the weeds in either four or eight rows of crops at once. An even distribution of propane gas must be obtained for consistent weed control. Devices also have shields, so they are energy efficient and windy conditions don’t affect the weed control.

While weed flaming sounds like a dangerous procedure, the weeds actually experience a rather gentle death. When machinery passes over weeds, flaming destroys the cell membranes and water leaks out. Eventually, the weeds lose enough water and die over the next few days. In this process, neither weeds nor crops actually ignite.

“For AFI, the big thing it has going for it is it’s backed by a collaboration between engineers and weed scientists,” Bruening said. “Engineers help with the design and scientists help with how to use it correctly.”

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) funded the weed flaming research at UNL at approximately $1 million. A $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has also helped with the research. The University of Nebraska Foundation owns a percentage of AFI. The Nebraska Engineering Research Fund (NERF) has invested $50,000 to help the start-up.

Gogos said only one other company does flaming for row crops. However, this company has primitive equipment, according to Gogos. Several businesses make handheld units to eliminate weeds in gardens and driveways.

AFI’s devices are tested in the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory, a UNL Extension lab in Concord. The company also uses a mechanical engineering lab on UNL’s campus.

“Once we build things, we move them to Concord for the summer,” Gogos said. “At this time of year (January), we decide how many plots of corn, soybean and sunflower we will need. During the summer, students spend most of the time up in the fields.”

In October, crops are harvested. The yield of the crop is the main criterion for adjustments at AFI. Gogos said he wants AFI to continue to be a research and development business. He doesn’t want to turn into a manufacturing company.

Dr. Gogos (right) talking to the team during field testing

While researching and designing this major agricultural implement is part of Gogos’ career and Bruening’s schooling, they also have personal connections to what they do. Gogos said his family consumes organic food and he’s glad to be researching something he truly believes in. Bruening grew up on a Nebraska farm and knows the difficulties that come along with the agricultural industry.

“Working with these organic guys, you see them struggling with their weed control,” Bruening said. “We’re developing technology that will definitely help them out.”

Marvin Jaques, senior technology agent at NUtech Ventures, said he is impressed by the extensive work AFI has already completed.

“We enjoy working with Dr. Gogos and Chris and that we’re pleased to see inventions from the UNL College of Engineering help organic farmers with improved and more energy efficient weed control,” Jaques said.

AFI is currently looking for additional investors to commercialize the four-row and eight-row units. In the future, AFI hopes to create 12-row, 16-row and even larger devices. These designs will need additional testing and development to give the many torches uniform flames, Gogos said. The company also hopes to design and manufacture devices to allow weed control on railroad tracks.

Gogos offered valuable advice to new entrepreneurs in any field. He thinks it’s important to have a specialized concept and to avoid striving for perfection.

“Focus to a specific design and move on with commercializing it,” Gogos said. “Don’t wait for the perfect product; you’ll never get it. You have to define a goal, a partial solution.”

Bruening agreed, saying it’s vital to get a product out the door and selling. By adding an extra feature to an already substantial product, many start-ups lose focus, he claimed.

Barry Uphoff is Managing Principal at Capricorn Investment Group and has more than two decades of experience managing private equity, credit and hedge funds.  Barry earned a BA from Johns Hopkins University with highest honors and Phi Beta Kappa distinction.  He read for a Diploma in Law and an MSc in Medicine at Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar and received an MBA from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business with highest honors.  Barry Uphoff is a native Nebraskan who now lives in Palo Alto.

The Raikes School of Computer Science and Management is a nationally recognized leader in interdisciplinary computer science and business honors education.  The School recruits high achieving students and provides them with an intense and well-rounded educational experience that results in graduates that are world class innovators and leaders.

Hall started a product called PMOG, later changed to The Nethernet, which focused on making web browsing into a game format. His company started in July 2007 and ran until December 2009. In that time the company raised two rounds of funding, hired and de-hired 12 people and built a user base of around 130,000.

In this candid discussion Hall talks about the joys and tribulations of the startup and where things went wrong. Topics included games, mobile, the Internet, San Francisco, startups, scale and focus.

The Q&A session at the end of the presentation we felt had a lot of good information so we have included it here as well.

Q&A

The R&D grants were initiated to help solve specific problems that have been identified by a Nebraska company. The grant applies to areas where no current scientific or technological solution can be found. The intention is to encourage and enable Nebraska faculty members to work directly toward solutions for the industry partner’s existing limitations. Grant funding is to be matched by the industry partner.

To apply for Phase I of the R&D program, a Nebraska company must be a first-time partner with the university member. A partner who has a previous relationship with the university but is planning to work with a new faculty member would also be eligible for a Phase I grant. Maximum cost share for Phase I of the project is $10,000.

Phase II of the R&D program applies to more established partnerships. Eligibility for the Phase II grant depends on a partner submitting at least one grant proposal to a federal agency for further funding, which may be made during the period of the proposed project. The grant applies to any technology-based or scientific research that is anticipated to further the fiscal growth of a company. Submission is open to any Nebraska research university faculty member who is tenured or tenure-leading.

Selection of proposals is competitive. Applicants for the R&D grant should structure their proposals according to National Science Foundation (NSF), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) guidelines. Proposals also require a budget and approval form from EPSCoR. Proposals are due Jan. 20, 2012.

In 2010, Phase I grants were awarded to the “Self Healing Dental Composites” project, partnered by Dr. Stephen Gross of the Deptartment of Chemistry at Creighton University and Mark Latta of GG Materials Research. Also awarded a Phase I grant was Dr. Gregory Bashford of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering, in partnership with Michael Furtaw of Li-Cor Biosciences, for their project “Experimental study of plasmonic enhanced molecular detection using microfluidic controlled aggregation.”

Phase II awards for 2010 went to the “Improved Detection Technologies for Biologically-Active Contaminants in Water,” partnered by Dr. David Hage, UNL Department of Chemistry; Dr. Daniel Snow, UNL Department of Natural Resources; and Jack Silver of Teledyne Isco.

Nebraska EPSCoR Director Dr. Fred Choobineh

Nebraska EPSCoR Director Dr. Fred Choobineh said, “Scientific and technological collaborations between industry and universities enrich the academic experiences faculty and students while facilitating economic growth.”

Choobineh added that benefits to the university include research leading to direct product development, student experience working on commercial applications, and an increased potential for research publication and improved university facilities. Benefits for Nebraska companies involved in the partnerships would be more cost-effective research, access to university experts, state-of-the-art facilities, student participation, and a direct and efficient transfer of technology from the university to companies.

For more information about EPSCoR, or to find out how to format the proposal for the R&D grants, visit the following websites:

http://epscor.unl.edu/r&d_partnerships.shtml
http://www.eng.nsf.gov/sbir
http://www.nasa.gov/offices/education/programs/national/epscor/home/index.html

[Shane Farritor's Innovation Seminar series was filmed live at the NET studios in Lincoln, NE. This series is designed to change the way you think about business and engineering. It is designed to encourage you to work with imagination, to improvise, and to try unconventional approaches.]

“Orbiting the Giant Hairball,” on Nov. 3rd, gives entrepreneurs strategies to avoid being bogged down in fixed practices and techniques. In addition, the discussion introduces tools to use within the creative workplace environment.

Oct 20 brought “Little Bets,” devoted to understanding how small risks can result in big payoffs, and exploring how learning to recognize small opportunities translates into more innovation for a business.

Steve Kiene, Patrick Smith and Doug Durham, who founded the software development fund in 2010, describe themselves as nerds with money. All three have extensive experience in business and technology and share a love for Nebraska. They believe that the state’s location and economy make it a fertile field for new tech companies. Investors apparently agree.

In October, Nebraska Global announced that it had exceeded its goal of raising $30 million to invest in new and emerging software companies. The founders decided to cap the fund at $37.3 million. Investors in the Nebraska Global Fund include Capricorn Investment Group, the University of Nebraska Foundation, Nelnet and Jeff Raikes, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“To have key foundational Nebraskans as investors in addition to well-known technology entrepreneurs is a testament to the strength and quality of Nebraska and of our strategy to create long-term sustainable value within Nebraska and the Midwest,” Kiene said in a press release.

In its first year, Nebraska Global has funded three companies: ECH3, Don’t Panic Labs and ICORA, and is working with other companies in which it will make investments ranging from $100,000 to $5 million.

A Different Entity

But don’t confuse Nebraska Global with any venture capital fund.

“We are an entirely different entity,” said Tom Chapman, vice president at Nebraska Global. “Lots of venture capital is based on the idea of a quick return, growing something then selling it. We are blessed with terrific investors who believe in investing in lots of great software companies rather than just one, then selling it and moving on to company number two.”

To achieve its mission of creating long-term economic development in Nebraska through for-profit software companies, Nebraska Global provides more than just funding. In fact, it turns away entrepreneurs who are only interested in capital. On its website, Nebraska Global describes how it wants to entrench itself in the businesses it funds so it can bring expertise and operational assistance to the table along with money.

“We have real development muscle,” Chapman said. “Some people say they can offer development assistance, but we really mean it. We have 45 people with development and domain expertise. We have a great technical acumen.”

Chapman used the example of a contract to demonstrate how Nebraska Global works. Other places might just provide a contract template that people can copy, he said, but Nebraska Global also provides the expertise behind the form.

Nebraska Global Vice President Tom Chapman speaks at Cowtown to Boomtown in Iowa City.

The other thing Nebraska Global offers their startups is a deep network of industry contacts. “We provide connectivity, not just advice,” Chapman said. “We can help entrepreneurs get to the best customers locally and nationally as soon as possible.”

When an entrepreneur partners with Nebraska Global, there is generally a three-phase process that includes working with a technical group to build out the alpha or beta product, developing a marketing program and beginning the sales cycle, then strategically building the team that will move the startup forward.

In Search of Domain Expertise

Nebraska Global is not a fit for every software startup, Chapman said. The fund is looking for applications with short sales cycles and real-world demand.

“We are looking at companies to discover where we can be powerful together,” he said. “We are looking for domain expertise. We want people who are experts not just in their industry, but in understanding what the customer is really wanting. To be able to say, ‘I’ve sat on the other side of the table and I’ve seen the solutions people brought me and I know what is needed,’ that is powerful.”

In June, Nebraska Global announced an investment of $1.5 million in EC3H, a Lincoln-based company established in 2009. EC3H has developed a platform that helps creditors collect money owed from the estates of deceased debtors. In a press release announcing the partnership, Smith said that EC3H “fits nicely where we love to operate, leveraging technology to solve complex problems to generate value for our customers.”

Chapman said that EC3H presented a big market opportunity, an exciting prototype and a great management team that made it a good fit for Nebraska Global. ICORA, the second company Nebraska Global invested in, has deep expertise in Microsoft Dynamics, a market Nebraska Global is eager to explore, Chapman said. ICORA’s first product was the result of research and development at Don’t Panic Labs, the first company funded by Nebraska Global.

Garden Instead of Hunt

Chapman, who came to Nebraska Global in August from the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, said he was attracted to the company’s strong team culture. “Most entrepreneurs don’t recognize the power of a great team, but they (Nebraska Global) really got it.”

Chapman also believes in Nebraska Global’s vision of developing the Nebraska economy through gardening homegrown expertise rather than hunting smoke stacks.

“Hunting a Google or other big business to move to Nebraska takes a lot of resources and is a one-in-a-hundred shot,” he said. “Growing our way to success makes a lot more sense to us. We are also growing wealth in the community because most of the time, the entrepreneurs are here and we are not dependent on out-of-state owners.”

Chapman encourages new and emerging software companies to consider Nebraska Global as a funding partner.

“We are pretty expensive capital if you just want an investment,” he said, “but if you want technical expertise, we might be the way to go.”

Recent News:

Nebraska Global Investment Fund Raises $37.3 million

Nebraska Global and the State of Venture Capital in Nebraska

Startup lessons and insights from Nebraska Global and Agile Sports founders

Nebraska Global wins Walter Scott award for entrepreneurship

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Nebraska Global venture capital fund unveiled, website goes live

Shane Farritor, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln engineering professor and entrepreneur, aims to answer these questions and more in his upcoming series of Innovation Seminars. With thought-provoking titles such as “Orbiting the Giant Hairball,” “What The Hell Are You Talking About” and “We Need Your Gift,” Farritor plans to help new and experienced entrepreneurs understand where innovation comes from, how to manufacture it and how to harness its potential in their lives.

"we are all born with creative gifts and as children are willing to jump into unknown waters"

According to Farritor’s blog at www.shanefarritor.com, most people make the mistake of thinking that innovation and creativity exist in a vacuum, the select gift of a few lucky individuals. The aim of the seminar is to show entrepreneurs how to create the ideal environment for innovation to occur, how to be more improvisational in business, and to provide “concrete, actionable tools” that attendees can use to harness their creative energy.

Afternoon sessions of the seminar will be held at 110 Jorgensen Hall on UNL’s City Campus, with evening sessions at NET 1800 N. 33rd St. in Lincoln. Each title will have both an afternoon and evening session, and will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout October and November. Afternoon sessions will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.; evening sessions will begin at 6 p.m. All six sessions of the seminar are free.

The series kicks off Oct 18 with “We Need Your Gift,” focused on helping individuals rediscover their natural talents and offering methods to help entrepreneurs constantly expand and refine their gifts.

Oct 20 brings “Little Bets,” devoted to understanding how small risks can result in big payoffs, and exploring how learning to recognize small opportunities translates into more innovation for a business.

Two seminars are scheduled in the first week of November: “Brainstorming and Other Thinkertoys” and “Orbiting the Giant Hairball.” The “Brainstorming” installation of the series, to be held Nov. 1, examines the role and effectiveness of traditional brainstorming activities. Farritor will present examples of efficient and productive alternatives that generate ideas. “Orbiting,” on Nov. 3, gives entrepreneurs strategies to avoid being bogged down in fixed practices and techniques. In addition, the discussion will introduce tools to use within the creative workplace environment.

Shane Farritor

The Nov. 15 seminar, “Where Good Ideas Come From,” focuses on environments that work to foster innovation. Referencing historical data to illustrate the concept that “big ideas come from specific environments,” this seminar aims to help participants reinvent their work environment to promote creative thinking.

The series wraps up on Nov. 15 with “What the Hell Are You Talking About,” designed to discuss the role of communication in promoting business ideas. Farritor will illustrate how to present an idea as a “sticky” idea or an idea that people remember and discuss. Specific strategies for pitching ideas will also be presented.

According to Farritor, “The main point of the series is that we are all innovative and creative. However, you must work at it. I want to provide concrete steps that each of us can take to make us more creative. Your creativity will benefit us all.”

Farritor is a native of Nebraska, and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a professor in UNL’s Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and the founder of two companies, Virtual Incision and Mrail.

Inc and Fast Company magazines have recently touted the program as a top entrepreneurship program in the nation. PIPELINE has also been recognized by State Science Technology Institute CEO Dan Berglund as “the next evolution of entrepreneurial capacity building in the United States.” “An immersion experience,” this program offers mentorships and expansive resources to identified, high-potential entrepreneurs to enable their growth. PIPELINE alum Rhythm Engineering recently made the list of Inc Magazine’s 500 fastest-growing companies. Reggie Chandra, CEO of Rhythm Engineering, explains his visions for the future and how PIPELINE has been a key to his company’s rapid growth. (http://vimeo.com/28072982)

Nebraska entrepreneurs now have the chance to apply for the regional class that will be selected for 2012. The deadline is Oct. 24. “We are eager to work with PIPELINE over the coming weeks to identify Nebraska entrepreneurs, mentors and partners who share this drive to foster innovative companies in our region,” said Dr. James Linder, president of the University of Nebraska Technology Development Corporation.

Ideal candidates should already be running their venture and entering a phase where a year of intense resources, skill building and netwotk-building will accelerate their growth and scale their venture. Applicants must be willing to spend the time and effort necessary for the fellowship experience. An informational meeting on PIPELINE will be held on Oct. 14 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Urban Wine Company in Omaha.

Also, more information on the PIPELINE  program is available at www.pipelineentrepreneurs.com.

The fund was oversubscribed – closing at $37.3 million far exceeding the original target of $30 million. Ultimately, the fund turned away an additional $10 million to ensure a strategic fit with its investment approach.

Steve Kiene, co-founder of Nebraska Global, noted: “We are extremely pleased to have not only completed our funding, but to have far exceeded our goal and expectations in both dollars and quality of investors. To have key foundational Nebraskans as investors in addition to well-known technology entrepreneurs is a testament to the strength and quality of Nebraska and of our strategy to create long term sustainable value within Nebraska and the Midwest.”

Investors in the Nebraska Global Investment Fund include Capricorn Investment Group, the investment arm of Jeff Skoll (former President of eBay), the University of Nebraska Foundation, Jeffrey S. Raikes, Nelnet, co-founder Kiene and approximately ten others. All of the investors have Nebraska ties and have expressed a commitment to growing software businesses in the region.

Capricorn Chief Investment Officer, Stephen George, commented, “As a Nebraska native and resident, I believe the next decade in technology development can include great innovative business success from Nebraska and the heartland. The region has a unique pioneering and hard-working spirit, is strong in math and science, and the Internet provides a mechanism for companies here to compete on a global basis. Capricorn is excited to be an investor in Nebraska Global and it will be an important capital and operational engine for terrific entrepreneurship here.”

With regards to the other investors, Kiene explained, “We have a group of investors who have built or run world-class businesses and who invested because they understand and agree with our approach of building sustainable businesses, long term.”

Nebraska Global intends to invest its funds in multiple companies with target investments from $100,000 to $5 million. Nebraska Global has already invested in three companies — Don’t Panic Labs, EC3H and ICORA and is currently working on finalizing three others. One investment is an outside deal and the other two are internal ideas. In order to invest in and create great software companies, the company will leverage its technical aptitude, particularly on Microsoft platforms.

The company is seeking new ideas and projects to start and in which to invest.

“We are actively looking for solid business ideas, great employees, and determined entrepreneurs,” Kiene said.

With the size of the fund, Nebraska Global believes that it will be able to create a lasting impact on Nebraska and its technology landscape.

Nebraska Global is a software investment company based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The company invests only in new or young software companies. Generally, the company is seeking partners where the company can leverage its capital as well as its technical competence. Learn more at NebraskaGlobal.com, or learn about the companies in its portfolio at DontPanicLabs.com, ICORA.com, or EC3H.com.

Recent News:

Nebraska Global and the State of Venture Capital in Nebraska

Startup lessons and insights from Nebraska Global and Agile Sports founders

Nebraska Global wins Walter Scott award for entrepreneurship

Nebraska Distinguished Entrepreneur Award Winners

Nebraska Global venture capital fund unveiled, website goes live