Patent Attorney and Founder
Hey Omaha!
If you’re an inventor or entrepreneur, welcome to Bold Patents Omaha. I’m JD Houvener, founder and patent attorney here. I’m glad you’re here because if you’ve got an idea, Omaha’s actually a pretty great place to start building it out.
Over the years, we’ve come across some solid local resources that can really give you a head start. Whether you’re just sketching things out or ready to launch, these five spots can help you move faster, smarter, and with more support.
Let’s dive in.
1. The Startup Collaborative
This one’s been around a while. It’s what you’d call an “accelerator,” but really, it’s a fast-track for new ideas.
They give you access to mentoring, business coaching, and sometimes funding. Stuff that normally takes years? You could learn it here in a few months.
If you’re building something new and you don’t have a business background this is where you go to learn how to pitch, track numbers, and understand what investors want to see.
A big success story from them? Buildertrend. It’s a cloud-based tool that helps contractors and remodelers stay on top of their projects.
2. UNeTech Institute
This one’s tied to the University of Nebraska Medical Center. It’s geared toward turning research into real-world businesses.
If you’re working on a health or medtech product or if you’re a student, researcher, or alum, this is a great place to plug in. They offer help with prototyping, funding, and figuring out the early business side of things.
One cool company that came out of UNeTech is Virtual Incision. They make small robotic tools that surgeons can use in less invasive surgeries. Definitely worth checking out.
3. The Combine Incubator
Think agriculture meets tech. If your idea has anything to do with farming, food production, or ag-data, the Combine is your crowd.
They offer coaching, expert advice, and ways to get in front of the right people in that space.
A recent startup from them is Quantified Ag, they use sensors and data to track livestock health. Smart stuff with real-world impact.
4. Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC)
This group is big on helping small businesses get government contracts. That’s everything from state projects to federal ones.
They’ll walk you through the whole process, confidentially and step-by-step. A lot of our clients have used NBDC to apply for SBIR and SBA grants. If you’re looking for real funding to build something meaningful, don’t skip this one.
One standout from here? 21st Century Systems. They make decision-support software used by both the government and private companies.
5. Kitchen Council
Got a food product or a recipe you want to bring to market? This is your home base.
Kitchen Council gives you access to licensed kitchen space, mentors, business classes, and food industry connections. It’s great for startups working on sauces, snacks, meal kits, whatever your idea might be.
A great example? No More Empty Pots. It’s a nonprofit that came out of this program, and they’re all about food security, job training, and helping people become more self-reliant.
That’s the list. These five programs are just a starting point, but they each bring something unique to the table. Whether you’re building tech, food, hardware, or anything in between, there’s help available here in Omaha.
And of course, if you’ve got questions about patents, trademarks, or protecting what you’re building, we’re here to help. Reach out to us at Bold Patents Omaha anytime.
Take care out there, and as always, go big, go bold.