The 20-week Nebraska Innovation Fellowship offers funding, mentorship, and makerspace access to help entrepreneurs and creators turn ideas into real-world impact.

The Nebraska Innovation Studio (NIS) has officially opened applications for the next cohort of the Nebraska Innovation Fellowship, inviting entrepreneurs, makers, and visionaries across the state to apply before November 30.

Designed to transform Nebraska-built ideas into real-world innovations, the fellowship is open to any Nebraskan aged 18 or older. Applicants are required to submit a resume or CV, a personal statement, and a short project description. Finalists will be selected for brief interviews in December, with the program kicking off in January 2025.

“It’s an opportunity for taking ideas from the drawing board into the real world,” said John Strope, Program Coordinator for NIS Robotics and the fellowship.

The 20-week program offers fellows:

  • Extended access to the Nebraska Innovation Studio’s world-class makerspace and tools.
  • A $2,500 materials allowance to support prototype and project development.
  • Mentorship from experienced innovators and business leaders.
  • Networking opportunities with the local entrepreneurial community.
  • Media support and a new $1,500 professional services credit with Frontier Tech Lab, the studio’s in-house service center.

The fellowship builds on the success of the inaugural Robotics Fellowship Program, launched in early 2025 through the Heartland Robotics Cluster, funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Following overwhelmingly positive feedback, the program has now expanded to include all areas of innovation, from robotics and engineering to creative design and entrepreneurship.

“Our inaugural program was incredible, and we received so much positive feedback, with many asking, ‘How do we do more of this?’” said Strope. “We’ve been fortunate to continue through private donations.”

Mentorship will remain a cornerstone of the experience. Fellows will work closely with industry experts who bring a wealth of experience across business, innovation, and technology.

Fellowship Mentors Include:

  • Kathy Andersen, Co-founder and CEO, Brint Tech
  • Brian Ardinger, Founder of NXXT and Director of Innovation, Nelnet
  • Chafik Barbar, Founder and CEO, Marble Technologies
  • Michael Dixon, President and CEO, UNeMed
  • Dan Duncan, Executive Director Emeritus, Nebraska Innovation Campus
  • Santosh Pitla, Professor and Associate Head for Research and Innovation, College of Engineering
  • Rachael Wagner, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Materials Engineering

“Between working with each other and with the mentors, fellows will have an opportunity to turn their vision into something extraordinary,” Strope added.

Applications for the Nebraska Innovation Fellowship are open until November 30, 2024. Interested candidates can apply through the Nebraska Innovation Studio website to be considered for this transformative opportunity.