Blog
June 21, 2020

Pipeline Progress: From Medical Devices to Virtual Reality to AI in Omaha’s Innovation Ecosystem

The Economic Development Administration's Good Jobs Challenge marks another milestone in Omaha's evolving innovation pipeline programs. The proposed Omaha AI Pipeline (OAIP) represents the latest evolution in a sequence of successful initiatives that began with the...

Omaha Startup Weekend: How to Build a Business in 48 Hours

Open Range and Techstars Omaha brought Omaha Startup Weekend back to town June 5-7, for a hugely successful event at Catalyst Omaha. After 20+ individual one-minute micro-pitches on Friday night from founders from the Midwest, 60+ attendees voted on their seven...

Forged and Ready: Steel Works Wraps First Cohort

When the Steel Works Health Accelerator launched, it was "only an idea on paper." Tyler Scherr, UNeMed’s Licensing Specialist and Business Development Manager, has now seen the program through to its conclusion. On June 10, the Steel Works Health Accelerator closes...

Entrepreneurship Is a Team Sport: What the MTVA Teaches About Relationship-Building

Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as a solo journey: one founder, one big idea, one breakthrough moment.  But inside the Maverick Technology Venture Alliance (MTVA) at the University of Nebraska Omaha, students learn something different. Innovation happens through...

Welcome to Catalyst, UNeTech Institute!

OMAHA, Nebraska — UNeMed Corporation and the UNeTech Institute have announced plans to share office space, a development that reflects the natural evolution of a working relationship that has grown steadily over many years. The two organizations, both rooted in the...

Hidden Startup Gems in Nebraska: Finding Your First Customers (the Right Way)

When Chad launched his logistics tech idea in Omaha, he assumed finding customers would be the easy part.  He thought: “I have a working prototype. Just find users. That’s what comes next, right?”  He was wrong.  For months, Chad marketed online, tweeted about the...

What Is … Product-Market Fit?

When founders talk about product-market fit, they talk about building something people want. They talk about finding their audience, getting traction, proving demand. Product-market fit is the milestone that means you've made it. It means you've built a product people...

What Warren Buffett Gets Right About Entrepreneurship Relationships

Warren Buffett has spent decades explaining how to build wealth. But some of his most important lessons aren’t really about money at all. In fact, one of his most famous reflections about success has almost nothing to do with investing. Speaking to students at Georgia...

Startup Update: Doug Miller

Oh my gosh, welcome to Start-Up Update. My name is Joe Runge and boy do we have a stellar show for you tonight. My guest is Doug Miller, original CEO and now CPO of Impower Health. What does the P stand for? You're going to have to read on to find out.Doug Miller,...

HOT TAKE: HR Hiring Needs an Overhaul to Function for Startup Culture

We met for coffee at Catalyst, a space buzzing with energy from the dozens of tech startups and entrepreneurs working on the next big idea. Dillon de Rozairo sat across from me, animated, leaning in when he got excited. He’s young, sure, but he runs his own...
The problem with the #girlboss

The problem with the #girlboss

You can picture her, can’t you? She’s white. She’s thin. She drives an SUV. She carries a Starbucks iced latte in one hand and a large Kate Spade tote is casually thrown over her shoulder. Her hair is up in a messy-on-purpose bun, and she wears designer black trousers...

What is UNeTech, Curiously?

What is UNeTech, Curiously?

Elated. I was elated. The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation made UNeTech part of its inaugural Heartland Challenge Program. Then I remembered: I’d promised to submit 30 SBIR/STTR applications in 12 months. I was in a pickle. I needed someone with amazing writing and...

What is UNeTech, Inclusively?

What is UNeTech, Inclusively?

“You told Ryan you’d make him brownies.” She was smiling but not joking. I’d promised and, arms crossed, Dr. Stephanie Kidd wasn’t going to let me forget.   Let’s face it: It’s easy to make a casual promise. It makes you feel good in the moment. We’d all make our...

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What is UNeTech, Creatively?

What is UNeTech, Creatively?

Noah Wester makes stuff. That’s his job. He is a 3D Modeling Technician at UNeTech and, in that capacity, he designs medical devices, laboratory parts, and other objects associated with healthcare innovation. He has deep and impressive experience in 3d printing,...

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