Be a Catalyst for Change, Innovation and Creativity Through Entrepreneurship
The Entrepreneurship Catalysts program is a cohort-based, year-long scholarship program designed for first-year students of any major who want to explore innovation, build real-world skills, and connect with Nebraska’s entrepreneurial community from day one.
Selected students receive a $1,000 scholarship and join a small, high-energy cohort supported by the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship. If you have big ideas, want to start something of your own one day, or simply want to stand out in any career field, this is where you begin.
Apply for the 2026-27 Cohort
Apply Now
Priority deadline: February 1, 2026
Final Deadline: April 1, 2026
Program Benefits
$1,000 Scholarship
Selected students receive a $1,000 scholarship recognizing their interest in innovation and entrepreneurial leadership. Funds are dispersed in $500 increments after each semester of satisfactory program completion.
Direct Access to Entrepreneurs and Leaders
Meet founders, startup leaders and innovators who are building companies and creating impact. These connections expand your network and open doors to future opportunities.
Weekly Hands-On Experiences
Through the Entrepreneurship Catalysts Experience (ENTR 150) course, cohort members participate in engaging sessions designed to build practical skills in ideation, customer discovery, problem-solving and venture development.
A Built-In Community
Join a small cohort of motivated first-year students who share your curiosity and ambition. Catalysts build meaningful friendships and a support system that extends beyond the program.
Foundational Entrepreneurial Experience
Catalysts enroll in Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ENTR 121) during the fall semester, gaining foundational entrepreneurial knowledge while learning alongside their cohort.
Confidence to Build What’s Next
Students complete the program with the confidence and entrepreneurial toolkit to turn ideas into action, navigate uncertainty, and create value in whatever path they pursue.
The Catalysts program is built for the students who:
- Have big ideas and want to explore them
- Are curious about starting a business someday
- Enjoy solving problems and trying new things
- Want to build leadership skills early in college
- Want to create opportunities instead of waiting for them
- Want to connect with ambitious, action-oriented peers
- Are interested in startups, innovation or creating impact in any industry
- Want to stand out and build real-world experience from their first semester
To apply, students must:
- Be admitted to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln
- Have a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA
- Submit the application by the final deadline of April 1. Priority deadline is February 1.
The Mission
Entrepreneurship Catalysts is a first-year experience designed to empower students to be catalysts for entrepreneurial change.
Our mission is to cultivate community, collaboration and hands-on experiences that help first-year students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln recognize and develop their entrepreneurial potential.
Catalysts do not wait until junior or senior year to get involved. They start building skills, connections and confidence in their very first semester through:
- Weekly interactive, hands-on experiences
- Conversations with founders and business leaders
- Practical venture-creation and innovation skill-building
Entrepreneurship is not limited to business majors. It is a mindset that applies across every field of study. If you are curious, driven and ready to explore what you can create, this is where you begin.
Meet the Catalysts
2025-26 Catalysts
2024-25 Catalysts
Jordan Aschoff
Major: Management (Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management)
Jack Beals
Major: Business Administration
Gavin Dunlap
Major: Finance
Andreas Katsaounis
Major: Business Administration
Sammy Kendeigh
Major: Management (Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management)
Avery Lockridge
Major: Management
Thomas Subiabre
Major: Construction Management
Aiden Zimmerman
Major: Finance
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply if I'm from out-of-state?
Yes! All domestic students are eligible to apply for this scholarship.
Do I need to interview to receive this scholarship?
No. The selection committee will use the information provided in the application to select scholarship recipients.
When do I find out if I have received the scholarship?
Everyone who applies to the scholarship program will be notified of the selection results. Notifications will be sent to the email address provided in the application on or before April 1.
When would I receive the scholarship?
This first-year scholarship is awarded over two semesters to students’ MyRED account. For example, if you successfully complete the fall semester, $500 will be applied to your account in December and used for the spring semester. The remaining $500 of the scholarship can be applied to the summer session or the following fall.
What does this scholarship cover?
The scholarship can be applied to tuition and fees. It cannot be applied to room and board.
