UNO Grads Tapping University as Resource to Grow Their Web and Mobile App Development Company
- published: 2025/06/27
- contact: NBDC Communications - Nebraska Business Development Center
- phone: 402.554.6256
- email: kjefferson@unomaha.edu
- search keywords:
- NBDC
- NebDev
- Nebraska Business Development Center
- Nebraska Tech Company
- UNO Alumni
Omaha – Two University of Nebraska at Omaha graduates who worked as student developers while earning their degrees are building the web and mobile application development company they founded, and also passing on what they have learned to current university students through classes and internships.
CEO Grayson Stanton, along with CTO Keegan Brown, co-founded NebDev LLC in November 2021. Stanton earned a degree in Computer Engineering from the UNL College of Engineering in May 2022. He also has experience in software application and hardware development. Brown has a degree in Computer Science and a degree in Cybersecurity from the UNO College of IS&T. Additionally, he has experience in software development and security verification for applications and websites.
Their company provides services including design, prototyping and testing for mobile applications; infrastructure, connectivity and security for web based applications; and custom design and prototyping for small-scale hardware solutions including IoT devices and various microcontrollers.
“It goes back to COVID when we both worked as student developers on the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s 1–Check COVID self-screening app,” Stanton says. “UNMC’s people were helping with the clinical pieces of the app, but across the NU system, there isn’t always enough grant funding for app development.
“We were able to keep costs low, and in turn they were helping students,” he says. “It was an exciting time, and an extremely valuable experience.”
As they moved toward starting their own company, Stanton and Brown turned to the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC ) a state-wide program that promotes new and small businesses, with its Omaha offices hosted by the UNO College of Business Administration.
We were able to keep costs low, and in turn they were helping students. It was an exciting time, and an extremely valuable experience.
Kiley Phelps, Omaha Center Director of America’s SBDC-Nebraska, a program of the NBDC, says the SBDC provided several business services to Stanton and Brown. “We asked for help in hiring employees and market analysis,” Stanton says. We also wanted to look at how to expand to other states.”
They also work with the NBDC’s Innovation & Technology Program, and Director Josh Nichol-Caddy to promote Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant funding.
Over time, Phelps says, NebDev has become a great resource for the NBDC and some of its small business clients.
“We help our clients stay aware of funding opportunities, and how people access non-dilutive funding sources,” Stanton says.
NebDev offers a popular “coding boot camp” during the summer. The eight-to-nine week course has attracted students from UNO, Hastings College, Creighton University, Notre Dame, Colorado State University, and Northeast and Southeast Nebraska Community Colleges.
“It’s a part of the Scott Scholars program, and it has grown from 12 students up to 45 this year,” Stanton says. “The final two weeks, students work on tech prototypes as a team, some working directly with community partners.”
He says many challenges lie ahead.
“Grant funding cuts have hit our market,” he says. “The next leap we are considering is hiring another full-time employee, but timing the hire to line up with new contracts will be critical.”
Along the way, Stanton and Brown plan to continue turning to the NBDC. “It’s a free service for entrepreneurs,” Stanton says. “Anytime you can get experienced advice regarding business, and the best course of action to take, it’s definitely helpful.”