Discover the Groundbreaking Winners of Nebraska's New Venture Competition!

Summary:

Lt. Gov. Kelly awarded prizes to aspiring entrepreneurs in Nebraska.
Golden Garden Compost won first place, creating premium organic compost.
brAIn Rot took second place with an educational coding platform.
IndoFilm secured third place, focusing on agriculture storytelling through videography.
The competition encourages student-led entrepreneurship across multiple industry sectors.

Lt. Gov. Kelly Unveils the Winners of the 2nd Annual New Venture Competition

LINCOLN, NE – Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly recently awarded prizes to three innovative teams of aspiring college entrepreneurs during the 2nd Annual Nebraska Governor’s New Venture Competition. The announcement occurred at the Nebraska Business Hall of Fame banquet held at the Lincoln Marriott Cornhusker Hotel. Out of numerous entries, ten teams were selected as semi-finalists. Here’s a look at the winners and their projects:

First Place: Golden Garden Compost (UNO) - $20,000 Prize

Golden Garden Compost specializes in creating premium organic compost for home gardeners, leveraging efficient production methods and innovative marketing strategies to maximize profits.

Second Place: brAIn Rot (UNL) - $15,000 Prize

brAIn Rot is an educational platform designed to enhance developers' coding skills through real-world puzzles and coding contests.

Third Place: IndoFilm (UNL) - $10,000 Prize

IndoFilm focuses on sharing impactful stories from the agriculture sector through videography, product photography, branding photography, and social media management.

“This program is a great opportunity to publicize and support Nebraska-based ideas with world-changing potential,” said Lt. Gov. Kelly. He emphasized the diversity of ideas presented, which spanned various fields such as education, healthcare, agriculture, and AI.

Governor Jim Pillen initiated this competition in 2023 to promote and foster student-led entrepreneurship. It's tailored for pre-seed businesses across nine industry tracks including Agtech, Fintech, Cleantech, and more. This year, 15 teams from various universities submitted proposals, with a panel of judges narrowing it down to 10 semi-finalists.

Dan Hoffman, CEO of Invest Nebraska, remarked on the challenges of starting a business while attending college, highlighting the robust entrepreneurial ecosystem in Nebraska that supports these young innovators.

The semi-finalist teams received mentorship leading up to their final presentations during the Nebraska State Chamber of Commerce annual meeting, where final judges selected the awardees.

K.C. Belitz, the Director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, praised the competition as a vital platform to showcase the creativity of Nebraska’s youth. “We’re building an entrepreneurial ecosystem to support young Nebraskans in turning their ideas into successful businesses,” he stated.

Congratulations to all participating teams for their remarkable entrepreneurial spirit!