A Founder’s Guide to ESOs: How to Choose the Right Support in Nebraska
A practical map of the accelerators, incubators, and support programs helping founders start, grow, and stay in Nebraska.
If you’ve ever tried to build something from scratch, you know how lonely it can feel. The right people, the right advice, the right nudge at the right moment — that’s often the difference between stalling out and breaking through.
That’s where entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) come in. They’re the backbone of any healthy startup ecosystem: accelerators, incubators, coworking communities, mentor networks, university programs, and early-stage funds that help founders turn ideas into companies.
Omaha, Lincoln, and Council Bluffs have more support than most people realize. The challenge isn’t scarcity, it’s navigation. This guide helps founders understand what ESOs actually do, how to choose the right fit, and where to find them locally.
What ESOs actually offer
ESOs differ wildly in structure, intensity, and resources, but most tend to support founders in these five ways:
Programming
Some are short and tactical. Others are multi-month accelerators with cohorts, mentors, and sprints. Some prep you for fundraising. Others help you build customers or scale operations.
Resources
Think mentorship, legal/accounting intros, workshops, coworking, lab access, coaching, pitch practice, and curated networking.
Stage & industry focus
Some programs are perfect for idea-stage founders. Others expect an MVP and early traction. Some focus on agtech or biotech. Some support women, students, or underrepresented founders. Others are wide open.
Funding
Certain ESOs write checks for grants, investments, or stipends. Others prepare you for capital and connect you to investors.
Community
Often the most valuable part. ESOs plug you into mentors, advisors, alumni, and peers who’ve been (or are currently going) through it with you.
No single ESO does everything. That’s why choosing the right one matters.
How to pick the right ESO
Forget the pressure of finding the “best” program. Instead, focus on the one that fits your moment.
Be honest about your stage.
Are you validating an idea? Building? Growing? Scaling? Choose a program built for where you are now, not where you hope to be.
Know what you actually need.
Capital? Customers? Accountability? Technical resources? Industry-specific mentors? Pick the ESO that aligns with the gap you’re trying to close.
Research their track record.
Look at alumni. Who has gone through? What have they built? Do the success stories look like the path you want?
Expect to apply more than once.
Competitive programs reject great founders all the time. Reapply. Iterate. Get feedback. Persistence wins here.
Choosing an ESO is ultimately about alignment — stage, goals, sector, and the kind of support you need most.
ESOs and resources across Omaha, Lincoln & Council Bluffs
Here’s a snapshot of the programs actively supporting founders across the region:
1 Million Cups (Omaha & Lincoln)
Weekly Wednesday morning pitch + conversation series. Free, informal, founder-friendly.
Advance Southwest Iowa (Council Bluffs)
A comprehensive support hub helping founders navigate funding options, refine business models, and connect to local resources.
Biotech Connector (Lincoln)
Wet-lab incubation and acceleration at the Food Innovation Center. Ideal for bioscience startups needing lab infrastructure and specialized support.
Coach N’ Group
A mentor network pairing founders with seasoned entrepreneurs for guidance, strategy, and industry intros.
The Combine (Lincoln)
Ag-innovation program on Nebraska Innovation Campus. Offers mentorship, capital-readiness training, and incubation space for founders building in food and agriculture.
Heartland Robotics Cluster
A multi-partner effort (led by Invest Nebraska) focused on robotics infrastructure, talent, and commercialization — backed by a federal EDA grant.
Husker Venture Fund (UNL)
Student-run seed fund investing in University of Nebraska founders — while training the next generation of VCs.
Intersect Coworking & Incubator (Norfolk)
Invest Nebraska–run coworking and incubation hub. Pairs entrepreneurs with students, hosts 1MC, and cultivates community.
Iowa Western SBDC (Council Bluffs)
Free one-on-one counseling, market research assistance, and classes for small businesses and early-stage founders.
Kitchen Council (Council Bluffs)
Shared commercial kitchen and food startup incubator designed to help founders launch and scale food-based ventures.
Kiva Iowa
Zero-interest microloans ($1K–$15K) backed by community lenders — flexible funding for early-stage entrepreneurs.
LaunchLNK (Lincoln)
A Lincoln-based program offering $25K grants to high-growth startups plus access to local mentors and corporate partners.
Nebraska Angels
A long-standing angel network offering early capital and mentorship for high-growth companies.
Nebraska Enterprise Fund
Micro-loans and guidance for small businesses in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa.
Nebraska Startup Academy
A practical training program for new and early-stage founders. The Academy offers workshops, coaching, and step-by-step guidance to help entrepreneurs validate ideas, build traction, and get investment-ready.
NMotion Accelerator (Lincoln)
Nebraska’s flagship accelerator. Mentor-driven, investment-backed, and deeply connected. Dozens of Invest Nebraska portfolio companies have roots here.
So… which one is right for you?
The short answer: the one that meets you where you are and moves you one step closer to customers, capital, or clarity.
You don’t need every program. You need the right next program. And in Nebraska, that next step is rarely far away, it just takes knowing where to look.
If you want help sorting through accelerators, incubators, coworking spaces, mentor networks, or university programs, reply to this post — we’re here to help you map your best path!
And if we missed an ESO you love, drop it in the comments so founders can discover it too.