As we work toward our spring goals and beyond in the College of Business, we know big things happen with collaboration. At Nebraska Business, our engaged community of people like you, supports students at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln to leverage their strengths, embrace an entrepreneurial mindset and prepare to lead the future of business.  

At Nebraska Business, more than 1,400 students from across the university are enrolled in entrepreneurship courses for their major, minor or as an elective. Whether students plan to pursue their business idea, dream of owning a franchise or want to explore their options, our faculty and staff in the Center for Entrepreneurship serve as advisors, mentors and chief collaborators. They connect students to resources and provide innovative programming, coaching and experiential-learning opportunities including entrepreneurial competitions to help raise capital for new or aspiring businesses.

Housed in the center, the student-led Husker Venture Fund offers funding for early-stage startups in Nebraska while also providing a hands-on investment experience for students. A testament to the power of collaboration, this fund was established through support of alumni and friends. If you or someone you know has an early-stage startup in Nebraska, learn more about how to apply for funding.

Often referred to as Silicon Prairie, both the university and the state of Nebraska are part of a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem. Nebraska Business graduates founded Hudl (providing global sports solutions for coaches and athletes), Home Instead (a global homecare franchise for aging adults) and Opendorse (a leading national athlete marketplace and name, image, likeness technology company). Alums also serve as CEOs of companies like Scooters Coffee, Nelnet and Empower Brands and choose to be headquartered in Nebraska. These leaders and many others also engage with our students by sharing their insight, judging competitions, guest lecturing in classes, and more. In fact, we launched our inaugural Community Entrepreneurship Fellows this fall, naming 43 founders and leaders as mentors and collaborators (with more to be added each semester).

Collaboration impacts our students, the college and the world in many ways like the following stories included in this newsletter about:

• Interdisciplinary research impacting the obesity epidemic by Özgür Araz, Ron and Carol Cope professor of supply chain management and analytics, and S. Sajeesh, associate professor of marketing.
• Student Harley Edic who found her career path at a high school summer camp and plans to work with a firm in Minneapolis after she finishes the MPA program.
• Actuarial science graduate, Tim Meyers, '94, who started a business after retirement and he and his wife, Carmen, impact the future of actuarial science through a student scholarship.

With strong support from and continued collaboration with our greater Nebraska Business community, we continue to prepare students to lead the future of business.

Together, we are Nebraska Business.
Kathy Farrell

P.S. Consider making a gift of $5 or more now for Glow Big Red - 24 Hours of Husker Giving - and help the university reach 5,000 gifts by noon on February 16. Anyone who gives $60 or more prior to that time will also receive a special Husker bucket hat in the mail.