Purpose In Every Step

St. Paul – Few moments are more rewarding for Rakesh Srivastava than watching a patient leave his clinic on their own two feet.

"It makes me very happy when someone comes into the clinic in a wheelchair and leaves walking with a device," Srivastava said. "Seeing their smile still gives me goosebumps. It's the most rewarding thing in my life."

Every day, Srivastava helps children and adults regain their mobility through custom prosthetic and orthotic care. Long before he began helping others take those first steps, though, he was learning to take them himself.

When he was 10 years old, a tragic accident in India resulted in an above-the-knee amputation of his left leg, forcing him to learn how to navigate the world in an entirely new way. As he learned to walk with a prosthetic limb, he experienced firsthand the physical and emotional challenges that come with limb loss — an experience that would eventually become the foundation of his life's work.

"My journey began when I became an amputee at the age of 10," Srivastava said. "When I moved to the United States as an immigrant, I wanted to build something meaningful and help others like me who are facing limb loss, mobility challenges, or disabilities. Life hasn't ended yet."

Finding Home in Nebraska

In 1997, Srivastava and his wife immigrated from India to Nebraska for career opportunities. Their first home was St. Paul, a town of just a few thousand people.

"We didn't know Nebraska would become home," he said.

Coming from New Delhi, where a single neighborhood could rival the population of an entire Nebraska town, the slower pace of life was an adjustment. But the people were what made them stay.

"We loved the people. We loved the community," Srivastava said. "We thought, 'Let's just call this home.'"

After earning bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and becoming board certified in prosthetics and orthotics, Srivastava founded Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics in Hastings in 2006, with a simple goal: help others facing the same challenges he once faced. The clinic started at 600 square feet with two employees; it has since grown into three full-time locations serving patients across Nebraska.

Building the business wasn't easy. "There were financial challenges, and there were challenges earning acceptance," he said. "Starting something new in a small community isn't easy."

His wife backed him from the start. "She told me, 'Go follow your dream. I'm behind you,'" Srivastava said. While he focused on growing the business, she continued working to provide financial stability for their family. Today, after overcoming her own battle with breast cancer, she works alongside him at the company they built together. "I think all of her hard work needs to be recognized," he said.

Every Patient Is Different

Despite the company's growth, Srivastava still spends much of his day caring for patients ranging from infants just a few months old to adults in their 90s, and each one presents a different challenge, which is exactly what keeps him motivated.

"It's not a repetitive job," he said. "Every day I get to be challenged. Every patient is different, and that inspires me to keep thinking and keep helping others."

He understands the uncertainty many of his patients feel because he has lived it himself, and for him, restoring mobility means more than fitting someone with a prosthetic limb or brace; it means restoring confidence and independence, too. Every new device, every successful fitting, and every patient who walks out with renewed confidence reminds him why he chose this profession in the first place.

From the Clinic to Manufacturing

As Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics grew, so did Srivastava's vision. He began using 3D printing technology to create prosthetic devices that were stronger, faster to produce, and more affordable for patients, and before long he realized the same technology could solve problems far beyond healthcare.

In 2014, he joined the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Cyborg Beast research team, led by Dr. Jorge Zuniga, to help develop affordable, 3D-printed prosthetic devices for children with upper- and lower-limb differences. The collaboration reinforced his belief that innovation should improve lives while making advanced technology more accessible.

Rather than relying on third-party manufacturers, Srivastava founded Shabri in 2018, an additive manufacturing company dedicated to helping businesses design, prototype, and manufacture products using advanced 3D-printing technology. The company grew out of his effort to better serve his own patients, and it now helps businesses across multiple industries solve manufacturing challenges while bringing advanced manufacturing capabilities to rural Nebraska.

That work also led to a deeper partnership with UNO. Today, Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics operates its Omaha clinic inside the university's Biomechanics Research Building — a first-of-its-kind model in Nebraska where patient care, research, and innovation exist under one roof. The partnership gives patients access to emerging technologies, creates hands-on learning opportunities for UNO students, and accelerates research that can move more quickly from the laboratory into real-world care.

Srivastava now divides his time between treating patients, leading two growing companies, and advancing research that has the potential to improve lives around the world. "I’m all over the place," he said with a laugh. "I'm running between clinics, manufacturing, and research."

Growing With the Right Partners

As his businesses expanded, Srivastava found another important partner in the Nebraska Business Development Center.

Over the years, NBDC consultants have helped him pursue government contracting opportunities, secure grants, develop business plans, navigate financing, and expand his manufacturing capabilities.

"As a small business, we don't have resources for every department," Srivastava said. "Whether it was government registrations, grants, or financing, the NBDC team always said, 'We've got you.' Having that guidance made a huge difference."

That support helped Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics continue growing while giving Shabri the foundation to expand its manufacturing and research capabilities. Srivastava is quick to point out that his success has never been achieved alone.

"This journey would not have been possible without the encouragement and support of many individuals and organizations," he said. "I sincerely thank our research partners, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I would like to extend my gratitude to the Nebraska Business Development Center for its continued guidance and belief in our vision."

Those partnerships continue to open new doors. Through Shabri, Srivastava now serves as an industry partner and sub-awardee in UNO's newly established Nebraska Center for 3D Innovation (NE3D), an $8 million National Science Foundation initiative designed to accelerate research, workforce development, and commercialization of 3D-printed healthcare technologies across Nebraska.

"Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics was one of my first clients as a consultant, so it's been incredibly rewarding to watch Rakesh's vision come to life," said Josh Nichol-Caddy, Director of Innovation and Technology at the Nebraska Business Development Center. "He's never been motivated simply by growing a business. Every decision he makes starts with improving people's lives. Seeing that mission grow into multiple companies, groundbreaking research partnerships, and new opportunities for Nebraska has been inspiring."

Investing in the Next Generation

For Srivastava, success isn't measured solely by revenue or growth. "It's hard to define success," he said. "Yes, you have to be financially strong. But for me, it's seeing the smiles on patients' faces, advancing research, and continuing to grow in ways that help more people."

He has also made it a priority to invest in the community that welcomed his family nearly three decades ago, whether through serving on community boards, mentoring students, or introducing young people to careers in healthcare and advanced manufacturing. Recently, his company welcomed more than 80 sixth-grade students to learn about prosthetics, engineering, and additive manufacturing.

"I want young people to see that they can make a difference in someone's life and still build a successful career," he said.

Years ago, during a conversation with then-Governor Pete Ricketts, Srivastava shared a dream that still drives him today. "I told him I wanted to put a star on the map that says Hastings, Nebraska," he said. "I want people to know that innovation doesn't only happen in Silicon Valley. It can happen in rural Nebraska, too."

Looking ahead, Srivastava sees both Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics and Shabri as vehicles for something much larger than business growth. "Through Innovative Prosthetics & Orthotics and SHABRI LLC, I am committed to creating skilled jobs and developing healthcare technologies in Nebraska," he said. "Through these organizations, I am committed to supporting rural and underserved communities by expanding access to prosthetic, orthotic, digital health, and advanced manufacturing solutions."

Every milestone traces back to the same purpose that first inspired him as a 10-year-old learning to walk again.

"Being an amputee has shaped both my personal and professional mission," he said. "I hope my story encourages other immigrants, individuals with disabilities, healthcare professionals, and aspiring entrepreneurs to recognize that personal challenges can become a source of purpose, innovation, and service to others."