LPED | Start Here

Startup Scene

Defy the Odds and Champion Change

#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!

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 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.

Learn More

Startup Resources

Nebraska Academic Research and Development Grant
Nebraska Innovation Fund Prototype Grants
Nebraska Seed Investment Program
Nebraska Small Business Innovation Research

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 the Department.
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.
Generally, each phase will be completed within 24 months of award.

Eligible matching funds include any non-state source including 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 may be considered for Academic R&D funding.

A project will be defined through 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 as they research and develop new products, 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 2023-2025

Academic R&D Grant Guidelines

Apply Now

The Nebraska Innovation Fund (NIF) Prototype Grant is a matching grant that provides financial assistance for product development to businesses operating in Nebraska.

This program is very competitive. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Department of Economic Development (DED) for help understanding the program’s requirements and expectations. DED will guide you to resources for making your grant more competitive.

About Prototype Grants

Prototype grants can be up to $150,000 per project for development.
Applicants must be businesses operating in Nebraska that can provide a minimum of 50% (2:1) of the grant request as matching funds. Value-added agriculture projects require a match of 25% (4:1).
Grant funds are accessed via reimbursement. DED reimburses project costs at a rate of 66% or 80% for value-added agriculture projects.
To apply, applicants must submit an application form and provide a business plan and evidence of matching funds.
If approved, the project must be completed and all funds must be drawn down within 24 months.

Eligible Businesses
Any Nebraska-based corporation, limited liability company, partnership, registered limited partnership, sole proprietorship, business trust, or other entity with fewer than 500 employees engaged in non-retail primary industries adding value to products or processes in Nebraska.

Eligible Use of Funds
Prototype grant funds must be used towards the development of a product. Examples of eligible costs are wages for employees or contractors, prototype materials, and limited preapproved tooling or equipment costs. Applicants must provide a budget at the time of application that will outline the anticipated project costs.

Eligible Matching Funds
Includes any non-state source—private foundations, federal or local governments, quasi-governmental entities, commercial lending institutions, investors, etc.—provided they are not using funds appropriated by the Nebraska Legislature. Matching funds must be in the form of a cash match.

Important Deadlines:
Applications for this grant are accepted on a rolling basis until funds are exhausted. Contact DED to determine the availability of funds.

Action Plan 2023-2025

NEDED Prototype Grant Guidelines

Apply Now

The program, through a private partner, can invest up to $500,000 in a Nebraska business for commercialization of a product or process. Think of it this way—our investment acts much like an angel investment for companies at the seed stage of the financing continuum.

How It Works

Seed-stage investments can be up to $500,000 per project.
Must be for the commercialization of a prototype or process from a business or individual operating in Nebraska.
A business plan stating potential sales and profit projections for the product or process must be submitted.
Applicants must provide matching funds equal to 100% of the amount of the investment.
DED will contract with a Nebraska-based non-profit to have that organization make investments, and administer and manage the investment process.

Are You Eligible?
Eligible applicants include high-growth, early-stage companies with potential to raise private capital that are developing and commercializing a technology, product, process, or service.

Corporation, Limited Liability Company, partnership, registered limited partnership, sole proprietorship, business trust, or other eligible entity engaged in non-retail primary industries that are adding value to products or processes in Nebraska.
Must have 500 or fewer employees.
Operating within Nebraska.
Matching requirements: 1:1.
4:1 for value-added agriculture projects

Important Deadlines
Applications are accepted January 1 through December 31 each calendar year or until all funds are exhausted for that year.

2023-2025 BIA Action Plan

Seed Investment Guidelines

Apply Now

The Nebraska Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Initiative (SBIR/STTR) is a matching grant that provides financial assistance to Nebraska businesses that have received a Federal SBIR or STTR grant.

How It Works

The Nebraska SBIR/STTR Initiative provides funding during two phases of the Federal SBIR/STTR process. In Phase 0, funds are available to assist Nebraska small businesses during the federal application process. In phases 1 and 2, matching grants from the Nebraska Initiative are available for successful federal applications to support research and commercialization.

Are You Eligible?

To apply for grants under the Nebraska SBIR/STTR you must meet the necessary qualification to apply for federal SBIR/STTR funds. Additionally, the Nebraska initiative requires you are a for-profit small business that conducts at least 51% of the activities proposed under the federal application in the State of Nebraska.

Available Funds & Grant Limits

DED may award up to $4 million per year in the SBIR/STTR program. DED reserves the right to award less than $4 million a year subject to demand, department budget, and available funds.
Phase 0 grants can reimburse for up to $5,000 per project for costs incurred in preparing a federal Phase 1 proposal.
Phase 1 and 2 grants will match federal SBIR/STTR awards up to $100,000 or 65% of the federal grant, whichever is less.
DED will not award funding to a qualifying business for more than one project every two years.

Selection Criteria

Evaluated criteria for applications under the Nebraska initiative include, but not are limited to:

Scientific and technical merit and feasibility of the proposal.
Qualification of the Principal Investigation, team, and consultants.
Potential for successful commercialization or federal contract of the new product or process.

Important Deadlines

Applications are accepted online from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017, or until all funds are exhausted.

For additional information on the Nebraska SBIR/STTR initiative review the current guidelines.

2023-2025 BIA Action Plan

SBIR / STTR Program Guidelines

Apply Now

Read up on our latest startup community stories

Lincoln Chamber, Silicon Prairie News, Greater Omaha Chamber to Host Silicon Prairie Startup Week in 2024

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Silicon Prairie News, and Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking collaboration to host the inaugural Silicon Prairie Startup Week later this year. This regional event, set to take place the week of November 11, 2024, aims to bring together innovators, entrepreneurs and business leaders to celebrate and foster the thriving startup ecosystem in the Silicon Prairie region with events in Lincoln, Omaha, Ashland and Council Bluffs.

LaunchLNK 2023 Recipients Announced

The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED), a division of the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and a public-private collaboration charged with fulfilling Lincoln’s economic development goals, announces the five local startups selected to participate in the LaunchLNK program for 2023.

Chamber, LPED, Visit Lincoln Launch Economic Vitality Survey

Planning for Lincoln's Economic Success

Today, the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development and Visit Lincoln unveiled the Economic Vitality Survey at the annual Economic Development Breakfast to solicit input from the public and to plan for Lincoln’s economic future.

LPED's Luke Peltz and Kaylie Hogan-Schnittker at Collision 2022 in Toronto

Marketing LPED and Lincoln Startups to the World

The ability to market Lincoln truly knows no boundaries, as the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development continues its exploration of Canada to market the city and its offerings.

NMotion to Expand Statewide

Plans to scale 24 companies over the next two years

NMotion, powered by gener8tor, today announced $3.7 million in new investments that will start and grow 24 Nebraska startups over the next two years, expand the startup accelerator’s programming to serve startups statewide, and create an Omaha location at Millwork Commons.

LPED Announces Five 2022 LaunchLNK Program Participants

The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) announces the five local startups selected to participate in the LaunchLNK program for 2022. Through participation in this innovative program, founders in the 2022 cohort will receive a $25,000 grant, connections to potential sources of additional capital and local mentors who may become early customers or partners.

Now in its fourth year, LaunchLNK was created by the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) to help scalable, high-growth startups grow in Lincoln.

LaunchLNK Grant Applications Due for 2022

Available beginning December 1

While there is still time left in 2021, it has already proven to be a tremendous year for startups in Lincoln and throughout Nebraska. With the culmination of Lincoln Startup Week at the end of October, we are already setting our sights on the future and how to further bolster our entrepreneurs.

Gearing up for Lincoln Startup Week

2021 Events Kick off on October 25

The schedule and list of events for Techstars Startup Week Lincoln is set, with events beginning on Monday, October 25th and continuing through Friday, October 29th.

After an all-online Startup Week in 2020, Startup Week 2021 will present a mix of in-person and online events.

Calix to Award Additional Prize at JumpStart Challenge Competition

There will be an additional bonus to this year’s JumpStart Challenge, providing even more incentive to solve problems for existing businesses and create new, scalable innovative startups in Lincoln.

Telecommunications and software provider Calix will award an additional $5,000 to the team that presents the best and most viable idea in the ALLO Challenge.

LPED Pairs with ALLO, UNL Athletics for Upcoming JumpStart Challenge Events

The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) is proud to announce that this year’s JumpStart Challenge will feature collaboration with two distinguished partners from the Lincoln community.

JumpStart Challenge 2021 events will be presented by ALLO Communications and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Athletic Department. The goal of the JumpStart Challenge is to solve problems for existing businesses and create new, scalable innovative startups in Lincoln.

The challenge is open to any creative thinkers, founders, innovators, designers, developers, students and more. Previous years have focused on industry challenges in fintech, real estate, insurtech and health care among others.

Five Nebraska Startups Selected for gBETA Lincoln

Three LaunchLNK recipients among those selected

Nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor and NMotion have announced the ﬁve companies participating in its gBETA Lincoln Summer 2021 program. This will be the fourth gBETA program oﬀered in Lincoln, open to all Nebraska-based companies.

Corral Technologies, Job Share Connect, Plug Sports, Sub Guru and VIZN Stats stood out of the over 52 applicants throughout Nebraska and represent a wide variety of industries and verticals including FinTech, InsureTech, AgTech and HealthTech.

Five Presented LaunchLNK Awards

The Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) has announced five recipients of the LaunchLNK program for 2021. LaunchLNK helps startups get established and grow in Lincoln by providing funding, resources and opportunities.

Corral Technologies, Sub Guru, Oculi Data LLC, Job Share Connect and Iron Sun have been named as recipients of the LaunchLNK award. The LaunchLNK program provides startups with a $25,000 grant, connections to mentors and potential corporate partners and professional services from HBE, Cline Williams, Suiter Swantz, Eakes Office Solutions and Firespring.