TechStars Startup Weekend Returns to Lincoln
No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination. And imagination was on full display in Lincoln in late January as the startup community hosted another successful event.
It was an amazing turnout for Lincoln’s recent Techstars Startup Weekend, with over 100 people participating in the 54-hour weekend from January 25 to 27 in the Capital City. The goal of the weekend was to pitch an idea for a business, form teams and get their business ready to launch within the three-day period.
People from Lincoln to Kansas City and even Boston participated, with nine teams in total pitching their ideas. The winning team of Chrisman Cutter took home top honors for their tree cutter than connects to an ATV or UTV to help farmers as they clear trees from their pastures without the backbreaking work. Second place went to Nutrikid, a module that helps Montessori schools and parents of homeschool children educate their kids about nutrition and science. Third place was awarded to ReLang Me, a platform used to help people learn other languages that focuses on the most frequently used words in that language.
The efforts of the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development, the UNL Engler Entrepreneurship program, the UNL Center for Entrepreneurship, FUSE and Don’t Panic Labs were unbelievable. As Lincoln hosted its first startup weekend since 2012, there was a lot of effort in making this year’s “return” to the Startup Weekend events a huge hit.
“The weekend was a great success. The mix of students, Lincolnites and others that came to the city to participate in Techstars Startup Weekend resulted in a lot of great ideas and collisions that will continue to have positive effects long after this weekend,” said Christina Oldfather, director of innovation and entrepreneurship for LPED.
Ultimately, Startup Weekend serves as a catalyst for another busy year of startup events in Lincoln as 2019 figures to be another year of growth in the community.
Meanwhile, the popular show Shark Tank will be hosting an open casting call on April 6, inviting entrepreneurs from across the Midwest in hopes of providing the next great product. This will be the first time that Shark Tank has come to Nebraska. The multi-Emmy® Award-winning show has helped launch numerous products into American homes over its previous ten seasons. This event on April 6 will be your chance as an entrepreneur to pitch your idea to producers of the show, who will then decide if you’ve got what it takes to advance and present to the “Sharks” themselves on the show.
The exposure to great entrepreneurs, panel discussions, and the insights from the speakers at the conference on April 5 and 6 will be worth their weight in gold to those that attend and connect while in Lincoln for the casting call.
We hope to see you at the Heartland Shark Tank event in April. There are plenty of opportunities to further or begin your entrepreneurial success in Lincoln and grow something for the years to come.
The Chamber’s mission is to improve the lives of Lincoln residents by providing increased economic opportunity and can only be accomplished together. For more information on the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, (www.lcoc.com) please contact Jaime Henning at jaimehenning@lcoc.com.