Derek Branch first walked into Howard L. Hawks Hall as a freshman at Southeast High School when chosen as a Future Builders intern for his entrepreneurial potential. The month-long summer program led to a job offer and set him on a course to create a collaborative space to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen communities.

“The high school Future Builders opportunity opened my eyes to everything the University of Nebraska–Lincoln had to offer and the possibilities for me there,” said Branch.

Waiting on the job offer, he finished high school and initially committed to Cornell University to play football. In the end, he chose Nebraska and a management major, and once a college student back in Hawks Hall, he started to build on his entrepreneurial skills. Encouraged to participate in the Quick Pitch Competition hosted by the Nebraska Center of Entrepreneurship, he competed and won with his idea to help entrepreneurs in low-income areas start and grow their businesses while strengthening their communities in the process.

“That experience showed me how beneficial it is to have people in college who push me in ways that help me grow,” Branch said. “That competition wasn’t just about pitching; it was about collaboration and refining ideas, which reinforced my belief in the entrepreneurial process.”

Selected for the college’s three-year Clifton Builders program, he refined his approach to problem-solving and innovation. Builders take cohort classes together and aspire to change the world by building new businesses, teams or communities through leadership and involvement.

“Derek’s always been confident but brings a quieter form of leadership. He has big goals and plans but takes the time to build small wins and momentum before going public with his ideas,” said Timothy Hodges, Joan Heiser Endowed Presidential Chair, executive director of the Clifton Strengths Institute and assistant professor of practice in management. “He’s fantastic about building a constituency of people who follow him.”

In Foundations of Entrepreneurship (ENTR 321B) taught by Samantha Fairclough, associate director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and associate professor of practice in management, Branch and a team of students created a business and sold their Husker-inspired products at the annual Builders Marketplace.

“Derek is the student who says 'yes' to challenges because he knows he will learn and grow through the process. He views every interaction as an opportunity to learn more about the people and the world around him,” said Kaitlin Ferris, assistant director of the Clifton Builders Program.

He also challenged himself in the 48-Hour Challenge, leading a team around his vision for social entrepreneurship.

“Derek intentionally places himself in environments where he is surrounded by others who share his drive for innovation,” Ferris said. “He brings a sense of ease and grace to his peers, ensuring that the right people are involved in the right tasks.”

Branch’s time as a Husker football walk-on further honed his resilience and discipline. Despite early struggles, he remained committed to continuous improvement. 

“I had to decide whether to bear down and work even harder or let frustration take over. I chose to just keep working day after day,” he said.

His perseverance did not go unnoticed. Husker Head Football Coach Matt Rhule praised his dedication.

“Derek is the epitome of a student-athlete. He has worked hard to earn an increased role on our football team and does everything the right way on and off the field. He’s a great teammate, he’s proud to be a Husker, and he has a bright future ahead of him.”

Beyond football, Branch was committed to service. Through involvement with the Center for People in Need, the Food Bank of Lincoln, the People’s City Mission and an international service trip to Panama, he demonstrated his dedication to giving back.

“My dad (Troy Branch, ’93 & ’97) was a two-time member of the American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team, so maybe it’s in my blood,” he said. “You see what your parents (Julie Jones-Branch, ’94, ’00 & ‘09) have done, and you respect it and feel a responsibility to produce at a high level because that’s what they did.”

Troy earned history and juris doctor degrees from Nebraska. A three-time Husker graduate, Julie earned her doctor of philosophy in education and human sciences and worked at Ruth Staples Child Development Center on East Campus when Derek and his sister, Kya, were young.

“The University of Nebraska played such a pivotal role in my family,” he said. “My parents instilled that drive in me so I would make my time at Nebraska matter.”

Derek’s service earned him recognition as a three-time recipient of the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and Brook Berringer Citizenship Team awards. He also actively participated in Inner Circle and N-Volved for student-athletes.

“Derek is an amazing student-athlete not just because of what he has done in the classroom or on the field, but also his work in the community,” said Dennis Leblanc, executive associate athletic director for academics. “I had the opportunity to work with his father, Troy, when he came on a football scholarship from New Jersey. Troy was very involved in the community and passed that onto Derek, a second-generation Husker doing amazing things.”

Consistently on the Dean's List, this spring he earned Academic All-District Team honors and was selected as the Student of the Month by the Nebraska Business Student Advisory Board.

As graduation approaches, Derek remains committed to his winning Quick Pitch idea with plans to start a business incubator for startups in Lincoln. He also wants to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs.

“I’ve seen firsthand the level of entrepreneurial talent that walks these halls. The future is in this building, and I want to help build and grow their great ideas into successful companies,” he said. “I also plan to launch a high school entrepreneurship program where students are introduced to startups early and work as interns.”

Branch envisions a collaborative space where entrepreneurs exchange ideas, participate in pitch events and develop their ventures in an ecosystem designed for innovation. He recognizes that the biggest challenge will be finding revenue streams.

“Since these will be startups fresh out of college, it’ll be difficult to generate significant revenue early on,” Derek said. “My goal is to eventually negotiate equity stakes in the businesses we help grow. But initially, we’ll have to rely on government grants, potential loans and donations to get things off the ground.”

For Derek, entrepreneurship is more than just starting and growing businesses – it’s about making a difference.

“Most of my life goals center around community impact. I want to leave a lasting, positive mark on the people and places around me.”