Nebraska Innovation Labs Serves Entrepreneurs, Builds Tech Workforce to Help Nurture Ecosystem
- published: 2024/07/17
- contact: NBDC Communications - Nebraska Business Development Center
- phone: 402.554.6256
- email: kjefferson@unomaha.edu
Omaha – Just as with the entrepreneurs it helps to find success, Nebraska Innovation Labs has taken an idea and developed it into a resource for business hopefuls, and opportunities for young tech talent in the state.
Launched in 2023, Nebraska Innovation Labs offers entrepreneurs and start-up companies a wide range of services including software development and business and IT consulting.
The second element of Nebraska Innovation Labs is the effort to grow and sustain the state’s young tech talent by providing learning and working opportunities and access to real, hands-on projects.
“These opportunities include real-world experiences and mentorships pairing junior and senior talent ranging from late high school through postgraduate students,” says Nebraska Innovation Labs’ Chief Operating Officer, Dillon De Rozairo. “The goal is to build tech skills while also helping to grow Nebraska companies.”
The goal is to build tech skills while also helping to grow Nebraska companies.
De Rozairo says the Nebraska Innovation Labs has talked to entrepreneurs at various stages. “We’ve met with some at just the idea stage, and others that are in the growth stage,” he says.
With a degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in business management, De Rozairo has experience in a cross section of business needs. “I have an entrepreneurial spirit that resonates with our clients,” he says.
In February, Nebraska Innovation Labs became a resource partner of SourceLink Nebraska, a statewide program that connects entrepreneurs and business owners to resources that help start and grow businesses. The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) is the host for the program.
“Nebraska Innovation Labs is a great addition to the Nebraska startup ecosystem,” says Scott Asmus, SourceLink Nebraska Program Director. “Not only can they help founders turn their ideas into products, but they also create opportunities for young talent to gain experience as developers. The convergence of serving Nebraska entrepreneurs while building the tech workforce talent pool creates a thriving innovation ecosystem for the state. Nebraska Innovation Labs is making significant contributions to this effort.”
Since launching in November 2021, SourceLink Nebraska has grown significantly as a resource hub for entrepreneurs and business owners across the state. The program website now showcases more than 950 partner organization resource profiles, business-themed events and business guides.
“SourceLink Nebraska has worked closely with Nebraska Innovation Labs to connect them with resource partners across the state and create collaborations,” Asmus says. “The state has gained an organization that serves the dual role of supporting entrepreneurs and cultivating a future tech workforce.”
De Rozairo says local and state economic development organizations, along with the University of Nebraska system, are actively supporting the entrepreneurial community. “Many entities are providing resources and encouraging students and young entrepreneurs to pursue their ideas outside the classroom,” he says.
He says SourceLink Nebraska is one of those valuable resources. “No matter where you are in the development process, SourceLink Nebraska is a great tool,” he says. “The program offers access to so many resources and contacts across the entire state. And, it helps us get the word out about what we’re doing.”