Lincoln’s Investor Network
Nebraska's investor community is smaller than the coasts — but it's active, accessible, and increasingly founder-friendly. In 2025, Lincoln-based CompanyCam reached a $2 billion valuation, the first Nebraska startup to achieve unicorn status—proof that the capital and talent needed to scale a company exist right here. This page covers the key investors operating in Nebraska, from angel networks to venture funds, and how to get in front of them.
Before you pitch, make sure you have:
A clear, concise pitch deck (10–12 slides)
A defined ask — how much you're raising, at what valuation, and what you'll use it for
Evidence of traction — revenue, users, LOIs, or pilot customers
A financial model with realistic projections
An understanding of your market size
Free help preparing: The Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) and SCORE Nebraska both offer free one-on-one coaching for founders preparing to raise.
How to get investor-ready
Venture development & state-backed capital
Invest Nebraska Nebraska's primary venture development organization. Since 2002, Invest Nebraska has made 294 investments and leads most early-stage rounds in the state. They're often the first institutional investor in a Nebraska company — and a connector to the broader investor network.
Invests $100,000–$300,000 in early-stage, high-growth Nebraska companies
Industry agnostic; focus on tech, agtech, biotech, medtech, fintech, and SaaS
Also administers the Nebraska Seed Investment Program on behalf of DED
Acts as a front door to the broader Nebraska investor community
📍 Lincoln
Nebraska Angels Founded in 2006, Nebraska Angels is a member-led network of 90+ accredited investors. They've deployed over $40 million across 51 investments in early-stage companies across Nebraska and the Midwest.
Invests in early-stage, high-growth companies
Hosts monthly Startup Shop Talk events in both Lincoln and Omaha — good entry points for founders before you pitch
VC office hours available for founders seeking feedback
📍 Lincoln and Omaha
Angel Networks
Nelnet Ventures The corporate venture arm of Nelnet — one of Lincoln's largest employers. With 148 portfolio companies (including long-term backing of Hudl and ALLO), Nelnet is one of Nebraska's most active early-stage investors. They're known for being hands-on: providing board presence, warm introductions, and operational support alongside capital.
Typical check size: $100,000–$250,000, can go larger
Focus: fintech, edtech, future of work, renewable energy, climate tech, agtech
📍 Lincoln
Venture Capital Funds
MOVE Venture Capital A pre-seed and seed fund focused on Nebraska and Midwest startups, industry-agnostic, investing in capital-efficient software and technology companies. Founded by Nebraska entrepreneurs, MOVE is one of the most active early-stage funds in the state with 31 investments and a reputation for being founder-first and accessible.
Pre-seed and seed stage
Capital-efficient software and tech focus
Industry agnostic
📍 Omaha
PGSA Venture Capital (formerly Black Dog Ventures) Manages $500M+ in assets focused on early-stage Midwest founders with 20+ active Nebraska portfolio companies including Nestimate, Elevator, Alpaca, and Grain Weevil. One of the more active funds investing across the Nebraska ecosystem.
Early-stage Midwest focus
20+ active Nebraska investments
📍 Nebraska → contact via LinkedIn or portfolio companies for intro
Dundee Venture Capital An Omaha-based seed fund with a national footprint, focused on Commerce, FinTech, and Supply Chain. Invests at the earliest stages — from an idea through early product-market fit — and leads more than 80% of the deals they invest in. Known for championing overlooked regions and founders.
Pre-seed and seed stage
Commerce, fintech, supply chain focus
Leads rounds; invests nationally with Midwest roots
📍 Omaha
Grit Road Partners A Nebraska-based venture firm investing in seed-stage agtech companies across the Midwest. Founded by Ben Williamson and Mike Jung, Grit Road is built on the belief that the best agtech companies are built by people who actually understand agriculture. PitchBook recognizes them as a top VC investor in agtech. They're currently deploying Fund II with a $35M goal.
Seed stage; typical check size of $250,000; round sizes generally $500K–$2M
AgTech focus across crop and animal agriculture — precision ag, livestock tech, farm management, sustainability
Portfolio includes Grain Weevil, Sentinel Fertigation, Birds Eye Robotics, HerdDogg, Cattler, and Corral
Prioritizes Midwest founders; will invest nationally when thesis fits
Majority of fund investors have ag backgrounds — adds operational and customer network value beyond capital
Works closely with The Combine agtech incubator; a good first call for AgTech founders before raising
📍 Omaha
Accelerators with investment attached
NMotion powered by gener8tor — $100,000 investment for 7.5% equity; 12-week program (currently planning Fall 2026 cohort) → see our Accelerators page
The Combine — AgTech-focused; investor office hours and access to the Insights Network alongside commercialization support → see our Accelerators page
Nebraska Seed Investment Program — State-backed equity investment up to $500,000 via Invest Nebraska → see our Funding page
Nebraska has two university-run student venture funds — a genuinely unusual asset for a state ecosystem. Both deploy real capital into early-stage startups, with priority given to student and faculty founders. Check sizes are small but the barrier to access is lower than most institutional investors, and both actively host pitch events open to the broader founder community.
Student venture funds
Husker Venture Fund (HVF) — UNL A student-led venture fund at UNL. HVF gives students hands-on investment experience while funding early-stage startups. It's built by alumni and university supporters and managed in partnership with the Center for Entrepreneurship, the UNL Foundation, and Invest Nebraska.
Investment size: $20,000–$25,000 per company via preferred equity or convertible debt
Open to all Nebraska-owned early-stage startups in any industry; priority given to UNL student-led businesses first, then faculty, alumni, and community founders
Must have scalable, innovative technology or software
Applications accepted on a rolling basis
Co-hosts pitch nights with MOVE Venture Capital and Nebraska Startup Academy — open to all founders, not just UNL-affiliated
📍 Lincoln
Maverick Venture Fund (MVF) — UNO The first university-level venture fund in Nebraska, based at UNO. Student analysts do due diligence, run pitch events, and invest seed capital into startups — especially those founded by UNO students and alumni.
Investments up to $25,000; students research and recommend investments under the supervision of local venture capitalists
Open to UNO students, alumni, and community founders
Student analysts can also help founders unlock opportunities like DED grants through the due diligence process
Three-semester program; students manage the full investment lifecycle
Hosts regular pitch nights and networking events in Omaha
📍 Omaha