Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship

Meet the champions of the Innovation Challenge! 🎉

🏆 One Tap Fill Up: Revamped Costco app with preloaded payment info, gas preferences, and membership details to scan and fuel at the pump!
Gavin Dunlap, Judith Gelber, Jacob Hyder and Maddock Oberzan

🏆 The Click Bulb: A lightbulb that clicks into the socket with prongs, eliminating the need to twist and turn. Effortless and secure illumination at your fingertips!
Andreas Katsaounis, Ben Penner, Logan Thurber and Miles Wirth

🏅Innovation Hunt: Conner Gokie, Yamen Seanwan, Alex Swidler

Social Media Challenge: Hannah Gish

Dan Pauley is a partner, co-founder and co-owner of Smith Pauley LLP and Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship community fellow. We asked Dan to provide some advice and insight, and asked him why he contributes his time and talent to students interested in entrepreneurship at Nebraska.

📢 Is there any popular entrepreneurial advice that you agree/disagree with, and if so, why?
"That owning and having your own business is incredibly rewarding and frankly intoxicating. The freedom of being your own boss will likely set them on lifetime and career trajectory of entrepreneurship. It is certainly difficult at times, but the rewards are unlike anything you can find as simply an employee."

Eight first-time University of Nebraska-Lincoln freshmen are exploring entrepreneurship within themselves, on campus and in the community this year as part of the Entrepreneurship Catalysts program!

We're excited to see these students grow as leaders, people and entrepreneurs 🥳

Jordan Aschoff, freshman psychology (Raikes) major from Norfolk, Nebraska
Jack Beals, freshman business administration major from Omaha, Nebraska
Gavin Dunlap, freshman finance major from Milford, Nebraska
Andreas Katsaounis, freshman business administration major from Waterloo, Nebraska
Sammy Kendeigh, freshman management (Raikes) major from Omaha, Nebraska
Avery Lockridge, freshman management major from Walton, Nebraska
Thomas Subiabre, freshman construction management major from Lincoln, Nebraska
Aiden Zimmerman, freshman finance major from Rising City, Nebraska

>> Know a high school senior with entrepreneurial potential? Have them apply for to be a part of the 2025-26 cohort here: https://buff.ly/4dYbBcE

Nebraska College of Business Nebraska College of Arts and Sciences Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering

Twenty-three students have been selected for the inaugural cohort of the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Accelerator, a new program that empowers student entrepreneurs from across the university to make measurable progress with their business through individualized development plans, access to exclusive resources and mentors and structured peer groups.

"This inaugural cohort is full of go-getters, builders, doers and innovators. They're solving real problems that will positively impact the State of Nebraska and beyond," said Mallory Krenk, student engagement and recruitment coordinator for the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship.

We're excited to see what this group accomplishes this year!

>> Click below to read the full story.

Nebraska Entrepreneurship Accelerator Launches to Empower Student Innovators The Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship introduced 23 students as the first cohort of the Nebraska Entrepreneurship Accelerator. The accelerator's participants receive a $1,000 scholarship and tailored programming and resources while they build their businesses.

Breck Collingsworth, founder and CEO of Resort Lifestyle Communities, CEO of City Bank & Trust Co. and and community fellow at the Nebraska Center for Nursing shared why he enjoys working with students and offers his advice for those interested in entrepreneurship.

💭 What advice do you have for students pursuing business ownership or careers in the ecosystem?
"Develop the ability to see a problem where those wanting the goods or services you will offer are willing to pay more than the cost to produce the goods or services. Once you identify the opportunity come up with an plan to execute your business strategy. Learn as fast as you can and make adjustments quickly. When you run out of money the games is over. Never run out of money."

Emily Kist, Venture & Innovation Associate at Nelnet helps source and identify early-stage investment opportunities through Nelnet's corporate venture capital team. Emily also runs a newsletter with Maria Heyen called Soapbox, where they share their take on career, culture, and capital for early career VCs. Emily serves on the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and is a Community Fellow, keep reading to learn about some of her thoughts and ideas!

📚 What's one book or podcast that changed your life?
"13 Things I Wish I knew in My 20s by The Mel Robbins Podcast. Every college student or early 20-somethings should give this podcast episode a listen! It provides clarity and reassurance about the things we all battle in our early 20s. You are not alone, and you are doing better than you think you are! Here's the Youtube link and here's the podcast link.

Welcome home, Huskers! The Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship is here to support you as you explore entrepreneurship both inside and outside the classroom. We can't wait to see all that you accomplish this year. Go Big Red 🎈

Josh DeMers, Program Manager of The Combine at Invest Nebraska, co-founder of Prepare Insurance and Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship Community Fellow, says one of the most valuable lessons he learned in the early stages of developing Prepare Insurance was the importance of engaging directly with people and embracing the power of asking for help. Josh says, "initially breaking through the barrier of approaching customers may seem daunting, but it's crucial to push past that resistance. The key is to get as many reps as possible, honing your skills through practice, until you become adept at it. This skill will not only help you become a successful business owner but will also set you ahead in the game of life."

💭 What advice do you have for students pursuing business ownership or careers in the ecosystem?
"Without a doubt, you are going to have to work hard and master the art of time and energy management. Entrepreneurship is a thrilling ride, with moments of clarity and instances of doubt. Perserverance is the key, you must continuously push yourself to get better every day. The caveat I have is, amidst all the hustle, remember to carve out time for yourself and your loved ones. I firmly believe that nurturing your personal life, prioritizing your health with ample rest and exercise, and establishing effective systems around you are vital components for thriving as an entrepreneur."

Submit your application for our Social Media Intern by Friday 🤩📸🎈

Our Social Media Intern will support the day-to-day management of the center's social media campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube, capture and edit photos, and create videos for use on social media and web platforms. This paid, part-time position will have regular weekly hours in the Center for Entrepreneurship as well as occasional evenings and weekends.

Review and apply through Handshake by August 16. Link in bio.

Andrea Fredrickson, owner of Revela a 35 + year old firm specializing in organizational health and leader development serves as a Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship Community Fellow. We asked Andrea a few things about why she contributes her time and talent to students interested in entrepreneurship at Nebraska.

📚 What's one book or podcast that changed your life?
"The Answer" by John Assaraf & Murray Smith

📢 Is there any popular entrepreneurial advice that you agree/disagree with, and if so, why?
"Today there is so much information available on how to build a business, entrepreneurialism, and leadership its hard to know what to pay attention to. Find mentors to help you in a variety of aspects of owning a business, especially those who have done it themselves. People to whom you can ask questions and maybe create substantial relationships. With that, be prepared. Research your questions. People love to mentor others who are serious about learning and prepared."

"There’s no better time to get started than now."

In 2020, Vishal Singh's company, , was acquired by Merck Animal Health. Since then, he's remained involved in the ecosystem and supports Nebraska entrepreneurs through his commitment to be an Entrepreneurship Community Fellow – the group of entrepreneurs and innovators we lean on to better prepare you for ownership or a career in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

"Entrepreneurs are people that do things and not just think about ideas. What I mean is that lots of people come up with interesting ideas of new products/services. But most people don’t act upon those ideas. That is what separates entrepreneurs from most people.

So, it’s important to just get going on making your idea a reality. But at the same time you don’t want to waste your time on low impact things. Such as coming up with catchy company names, reserving domain names, etc. You can do these things later. Rather, spend your time testing assumptions you have about the idea. Such as who will be the customers for this idea, are you solving a real need for them, will they be willing to pay for this? And the best way to answer these types of questions is by actually talking with the people who you think will be your customers."

Nebraska entrepreneurship students are hard at work building and growing this summer☀️ Visit our stories to see what they’re up to!

Save the date for our annual Innovation Challenge! On September 13, we're switching things up with a new format to help you innovate, explore entrepreneurship on campus and meet new friends.

More info to come!

All undergraduate and graduate students are invited and encouraged to participate.

Good luck to all the Huskers competing at the Olympic Trials for their spot on Team USA, but especially alum Kevin Shubert! 🎈🥳

"We live in an unpredictable world and it's crucial to have your real priorities in order. Careers and businesses come and go – we're all in this world for such a short time. Find your real 'why', something that matters in the long run."

Erin and Grant Stahla, '14 co-own Stahla Services, America’s trusted source for clean and luxurious portable restroom, shower, and laundry trailers, and both serve you as student entrepreneurs through speaking in classes, judging competitions, and more.

In 2014, Grant won our New Venture Competition, earning $50,000 to propel Stahla Services forward. A decade later, the company, led by the duo, provides services across the country with a fleet of 60+ trailers. We recently recognized Erin with our 2024 Startup Executive Award that honors individuals that contribute to the success of a company and exemplifies exceptional leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering dedication.

Swipe to read their answers to a few questions and a few recommendations! 💭

Save the date💡📆 We can't wait to see you at our 16th annual 3-2-1 Quick Pitch this fall on Thursday, November 7!

You'll have 3 minutes 2 pitch 1 idea to a panel of entrepreneurs and innovators, telling a persuasive story about your vision. Win a top spot at Quick Pitch? You'll get a guaranteed spot in our New Venture Competition in April to get your business off the ground or spur new growth.

All University of Nebraska-Lincoln undergraduate and graduate students are invited and encouraged to participate.

New class scootin' to you in spring 2025 ☕️🥳

Through a new partnership with Scooter's Coffee, University of Nebraska-Lincoln students will dive deeper into the relationships, values and problem-solving skills of franchising through a course that works directly with Scooter's Coffee franchisees and their CEO.

Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, the franchise has grown to more than 775 locations in 30 states. "Don and Linda never gave up for 25 years, despite failures. They just kept saying, 'We can build this brand'. It truly takes a special person to be able to tap into that and power through it. We want to empower students and have them love franchising or want to own their own businesses," said Malorie Maddox, chief marketing officer at Scooter's Coffee.

Our very own Lindsay Thomsen, assistant professor of practice in management and director of business development, relaunched the franchise program in the spring of 2022, and enrollment in the franchising course have doubled since. "We want to offer more opportunities so students can continue exploring either a future investment or career in franchising. Thanks to the generosity and support from Scooter’s Coffee, we can create and offer a second class to delve deeper into franchising with an experiential, hands-on approach," said Thomsen.

Read the full story here: https://business.unl.edu/news/scooters-coffee-partners-with-nebraska-to-create-innovative-franchise-course/?contentGroup=home®ionName=tile

What's your order from Scooter's Coffee?

Start your entrepreneurial journey with the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship!

You have a vision, and we have the tools to help you succeed. From classes to competitions to resources and mentorship opportunities, we'll guide you every step of the way.

Don't know where to start? Fill out the quick form below so we can learn more about you, your passions and your goals!

https://go.unl.edu/studenthelpform

Start your entrepreneurial journey with the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship. You have a vision, and we have the tools to help you succeed. From classes to competitions to resources and mentorship opportunities, we’ll guide you every step of the way.

Don’t know where to start? Fill out the quick form in our bio so we can learn more about you, your passions, and your goals!

Throwback to earlier this year when 20+ young women gathered at the Nebraska College of Business for the inaugural EntrepreneuHER event, hosted by Junior Achievement of Lincoln!

Attendees from across Nebraska participated in small group discussions, heard from a panel of local entrepreneurs and leaders, took professional headshots, and workshopped a business idea to end the fantastic day.

Thank you to Toni Rupe and Kennedy L**h for including us in the inaugural event. We often get the opportunity to connect with high schoolers, but this was special. Looking forward to future collaborations!

Huge thank you to the panelists and small group discussion leaders for sharing their time and investing in the next generation of leaders and entrepreneurs: Brianne Faulkner, CFP®, Karla Frese, Kassy Knudson, Robby Renshaw, Renee Sobotka, Lyn Wineman

University of Nebraska-Lincoln |

Camera roll reveal from the best year yet 🤩📸🎈

Husker Venture Fund Senior Associate, Will Anderson, received the Oustanding Student Organization Member Award at the Student Impact Awards this spring! The Student Impact Awards recognize excellence within student organizations at Nebraska.

“I’m thankful to have received the award, but even more thankful to have been a part of such a talented and driven team. HVF is truly pushing the boundaries for what venture capital education and student involvement can look like,” said Anderson.

Interested in venture capital and the VC side of entrepreneurship? Follow and keep your eye out for their next recruitment cycle!

Cheers to the class of 2024 🎈🎓 Today is your day. It’s been a pleasure watching you grow as students, entrepreneurs, leaders, and people. We can’t wait to cheer you on in the next chapter of your lives. Go Big Red!

"Surround yourself with peers and mentors that can help you to think through how best to capitalize on your entrepreneurial vision."

During his time at Nebraska as a student, Jeff formed the first Students in Free Enterprise national competition team and led the university's Entrepreneurship Club. Now, he shares his time with current Nebraska students through supporting Husker Venture Fund, judging competitions, and making connections for budding entrepreneurs and job-seeking students in the startup ecosystem.

"The team at the center have been tremendous in terms of setting a course for excellence and then executing on all cylinders to educate and inspire a large number of students both inside and out of the classroom. Our communities in Nebraska will benefit for years to come from the future contributions and accomplishments of the students who today are gaining an education and exposure to entrepreneurship at UNL."

Swipe to read Jeff's advice for students and his book recommendation (which you can now checkout in the center's library!) 💭

Many great ideas shared by students from Standing Bear High School last Friday! Ninth and tenth graders got a taste of campus and pitched their business ideas to University of Nebraska-Lincoln student and faculty judges.

In weeks prior, we visited the high school to give examples of exemplary pitch format and presentation. The students arrived with feasible ideas and impressive pitches that "wow"ed the judges. The future is bright!

Congratulations to the finalists:
(1) Jericho Herrman
(2) Adelyn Haden
(3) Ruby Lyon
Alexis O'Keefe
Parker Fellers

Connecting with and learning from an Inc. 5000 founder >>>

Franchising (ENTR425) students were joined by Carey Gille, co-founder and CEO of Franchise FastLane, last week! They heard her journey as a alum, founder, franchisee, and her current role at FastLane.

Clear messaging and proven results landed Franchise FastLane on the Inc. 5000 list for fastest growing companies in the US and the title of #1 franchise sales organization in the US. Since it's inception in 2017, FastLane has helped dozens of companies scale through franchising. Many thanks to Carey and our ENTR425 students for a fantastic Thursday!

Interested in franchising or company growth? Mark your calendars for ENTR425 in Spring 2025!

"In my experience, most businesses come down to understanding your customer’s needs, and then delivering a solution. Entrepreneurs should spend more time getting out of the building and focusing on that, rather than preparing pitch decks and spreadsheets."

Bart Dillashaw, Founder and Managing Principal at Enterprise Legal Studio, contributes to your student experience by consulting with student-founded businesses and serving as an Entrepreneurship Community Fellow – the group of entrepreneurs and innovators we lean on to better prepare you for ownership or a career in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Enterprise Legal Studio works with early stage entrepreneurs and investors and helps them through their formation, financing, and general corporate needs. Swipe to see his advice for you as a budding entrepreneur and more 💭

The legal landscape of business ownership can be hard to navigate, but with community members like John Lukowski and Bradford Peck from Koley Jessen, our students are able to ask questions, connect over lunch, and get valuable legal advice as it relates to their venture.

John and Brad joined Dr. Sam Nelson for both sections of his Business Plan Development & Decision Making course (ENTR 423) last week, and had the chance to spend some time with a few students who are already operating their ventures and looking at growth opportunities.

Many thanks to John and Brad for your time and advice!

Just a few years after competing, Emily Kist, '22, and Maria Heyen, '23, were invited to judge the Global Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, both Kist and Heyen have fostered community and conversation around venture capital in their new post-grad homes of St. Paul, Minnesota and Columbia, Missouri, but continue to serve the community of their alma mater, Husker Venture Fund, and the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship. After leadership roles in Husker Venture Fund and a few years post-grad as Venture & Innovation Associate at Nelnet and Investor at Redbud VC, Kist and Heyen launched a new venture, Soapbox, an email newsletter that shares their takes on all things career, culture, and capital.

Heyen credits her friendship with Kist partly to the center. "I wouldn't have met Emily if it wasn't for the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship. The physical space gave myself and other entrepreneurially minded students a place to congregate and chat about what we were building! The staff and faculty are and continue to be beyond supportive of our projects, lives, and initiatives," said Heyen. We are so grateful for Emily and Maria's leadership and involvement during their time at Nebraska and their presence at center competitions and programming as alumnae. Read the full story, follow along on their journeys, and subscribe to Soapbox here: https://newsroom.unl.edu/announce/coe/17406/94979