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Startup Scene

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#StartupLNK

With LOW costs, a strong workforce and ROBUST business climate, LINCOLN has a welcoming atmosphere for the INNOVATIVE entrepreneurial community.

Have a new business idea? It won't get lost in Lincoln. With our resources and tight-knit startup community, you'll have all the support you need to give your ideas wings. Lincoln provides an entrepreneurial-friendly environment which fosters its people with access to resources including a strong startup scene, mentors, coworking spaces and incentives. You’re sure to be successful within a community of entrepreneurs and a hand full of Inc. 5000 companies who already call Lincoln home. Call on your peers, befriend some CEOs and you’ll quickly find your place in this midwest incubator. Make a deal with Lincoln.

Don't have an office? We've gotcha covered. Fuse or Turbine Flats will let you set up shop and contribute to a growing community of makers and entrepreneurs.

Ready to launch your company in Lincoln? Find information about upcoming local events, Lincoln startups, resources and more on our startup website!

          

              startuplnk.com

Go For Launch

GO FOR LAUNCH is an experience designed to spark excitement for business creation and ownership in entrepreneurs and the Lincoln community! In this workshop, participants will learn from the IGNITE© curriculum created by entrepreneurship instructor Lisa Tschauner

In this immersive, entrepreneurship workshop, participants will attend eight value-packed sessions to help them build from a new idea or expand on an already existing business. Lessons will be taught about ideation, feasibility, funding, financial know-how, marketing, advertising, target customers, legal issues, insurance, small-business accounting, customer service and business relationships. All students will receive an electronic and printed manual to use throughout the course. In each session, guest speakers will share their experiences and connect with participants. Learning will be taught through innovative learning methods including hands-on activities. Students will meet regularly one-on-one with instructors and coaches to tailor their experience to their needs. Entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to present their business idea plans and progress to professionals and investors at the end of the workshop. Each participant will leave this workshop with a clear vision for the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. GO FOR LAUNCH is an inclusive learning opportunity open to small business dreamers of all ages, stages, and backgrounds. Those who sign up will have the option of registering for college-credit through Doane University or to take the workshop without credit. 

Startup Resources

This program offers Nebraska businesses a matching competitive grant for research and development activities done in conjunction with a Nebraska college or university.

    • Commercialization of new projects.
    • Modification of existing products that lead to substantially improved marketability.
    • Improvement of existing processes that may provide a new source of revenue to Nebraska businesses.

    Eligibility Requirements

    • Phase I R&D awards are capped at $100,000.
    • Phase II R&D awards are capped at $400,000. Businesses are eligible to apply for Phase II awards if they have successfully completed a Phase I award as determined by DED.
    • DED will not grant more than two awards in any four-year period per project.
    • R&D grant funding must be matched at 100% (1:1) of the requested grant amount with eligible matching funds. R&D Grant funding for value-added agriculture projects must be matched at 25% (4:1) of the requested grant amount with eligible matching funds. Please discuss project details with DED staff to determine if the project meets the value-added agriculture category requirements.
    • Each phase will generally be completed within 24 months of award.

    Eligible matching funds include any non-state source such as private foundations, federal or local governments, quasi-governmental entities, commercial lending institutions, investors, or other sources provided they are not using funds appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature.

    Any for-profit business that has physical operations facilities in Nebraska will be considered for Academic R&D funding.

    Projects are defined by the scope of work and the reasonable costs associated with the academic research and development activities undertaken by a business in cooperation with a Nebraska college, university, or faculty member. They’ll research to develop new products and processes and make modifications to existing products.

    Important Deadlines:
    Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Contact DED directly to determine the status of funding.

    BIA Action Plan 2018-2019

    Academic R&D Grant Guidelines

    Apply Now

    Read up on our latest startup community stories

    Unlock our key to a successful startup in Lincoln: Our Business Resource Guide

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