Five Things: Hustle Conference 2026

New book released by Open Range celebrates 40 Nebraska startups and the wider state ecosystem

Open Range is an Omaha-based nonprofit with the mission of supporting the entrepreneurial hubs of Greater Omaha and Lincoln. Titled “Open Book,” the publication includes an index of company profiles and community stakeholders. SPN contributed original reporting and content adapted within the book.

DARO announces $2.5 million fund clothes to expand disease testing capacity for the swine industry

The Nebraska-based startup is led by a UNMC veteran and the former program manager at The Combine, the agtech incubator and accelerator in Lincoln. Like many local agtech startups finding success, DARO was incubated at The Combine.

Prairie Portraits: Scott Asmus

The Prairie Portraits series features founders, funders and community builders from Nebraska's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

LaunchLNK applications open until Oct. 16 for $20,000 non-dilutive grants for Lincoln startups

The program, run by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, aims to grow Lincoln’s economy by offering seed funding and the equivalent of $23,000 in business support to six companies.

Ben Williamson makes the case that agtech is a blueprint for innovation across Nebraska

Williamson has been involved in Nebraska’s innovation ecosystem for about a decade, first while working at Invest Nebraska and now as a partner with Grit Road Partners. After being part of agtech’s exponential growth over the past few years, there are important lessons to learn about creating jobs and economic opportunity here.