Entrepreneur Awards | Entrepreneurship Community | Center For Entrepreneurship | Outreach & Impact | Business

In celebration of the local entrepreneurship community, the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship honors entrepreneurs and advocates for their innovation, success and entrepreneurial spirit. Nominations for award consideration will open in January 2024 and awards will be presented during the New Venture Competition reception on April 18, 2024.

Nebraska Distinguished Entrepreneur Award New Company Entrepreneur Award Start-Up Executive Award Entrepreneur Advocate Award New Venture Competition Grand Prize Winners

Nebraska Distinguished Entrepreneur Award

Presented to the founder of an established, successful entrepreneurial Nebraska company that inspires and demonstrates continued innovation.

Prior recipients include: Brett Thome, Spreetail; Matthew Wegener, ISoft Data Systems / Turbine Flats; Larry L. Snyder, Snyder Industries, Inc.; W. Patrick Clarke, Northstar Financial Services Group, LLC; David Graff, Brian Kaiser and John Wirtz, Hudl; Michael D. Hays, NRC Health

New Company Entrepreneur Award

Presented to a firm less than five years old that has proven successful in creating an innovative offering experiencing early growth and success.

Prior recipients include: Jordan Lambrecht, Karley Johnson and Tony Bertino, Pixel Bakery; Vishal Singh, QuantifiedAg; Matt Taylor, Tavern on the Square and The Other Room; Matt Medlock, Paysafe; Paul and Stephanie Jarrett, Bulu Julie Mahlock, Bloom.com; Blake Lawrence, Hurrdat / opendorse

Start-Up Executive Award

Established for a start-up person who made a positive and significant difference to at least one growth company.

Prior recipients include: Dillon Sadofsky, Presage Analytics; John Hogan, Home Instead Senior Care; Joseph Knecht, Venture Tech; Bill Hipsher, B2 Interactive; Joe Petsick, Proxibid; Thomas G. Guy

Entrepreneur Advocate Award

Presented to an individual who has made significant contributions in helping move Lincoln’s startup community forward.

Prior recipients include: Christina Oldfather, Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development; Dan Hoffman, Invest Nebraska; Gregg Christensen, Nebraska Department of Education

New Venture Competition Grand Prize Winners

Each year, more than 60 student teams compete in a bracket format for the right to be crowned champion of the New Venture Competition. Four final teams will compete for prize money totaling $45,000.

Year	Name	Company
2023	Grace Clausen, Tristan Curd, Bridget Peterkin, Schadrack Shumbusho	Dsylexico
2022	Seth Daup and Brooke Bode	Cattle Kettle
2021	Hunter Suchsland & Cade Ludwig	LS Lures
2019	Hannah Esch	Oak Barn Beef
2019	Alain Mutabazi and Kane Wellnitz	Savannah Breeders Service
2018	Justin Collier and Lizz Whitacre	Pawlytics
2018	Joseph and Matthew Brugger	Upstream Farms
2017	Grant Suddarth	Terrace Ag
2016	Ryan Erdmann and Derek Nordgren	Concise Research Group
2015	Thomas Frederick and Brock Smith	T&B Innovations, LLC
2014	Grant Stahla	Stahla Services
2013	James Verhoeff	PickIt
2011	Ashley Nunnenkamp	Pupkins Bakery
2010	Alex DeBrie & Michal Ritner	Kid Safe-D Net
2009	Doug Fernaays	IT Access
2008	Daniel Moore	The Other Side Garden Center
2007	Christopher Kingsley	Roundscape
2006	Heather Bittinger	Great Plains Nursery
2005	Becky Deitenbeck	Pampered Paws and Claws
2003	Jecek Woliek	The Edmonton Tennis Center
2003	Carly H. Grabner, Jennifer Vacek, Joel A. Masters, Dylan B. Cummings	Nanny & Bompa, Inc.

Contact

Center for Entrepreneurship

entrepreneurship@unl.edu
HLH 315
402-472-3353