Invest Nebraska

Nebraska Innovation Fund

The Nebraska Department of Economic Development(“NDED”), through the Business Innovation Act, created the Nebraska Innovation Fund(“NIF”). The NIF consists of three core programs: (1) Pre-seed Fund (prototyping), (2) Seed Fund (commercialization stage), (3) Value-Added Agriculture.

The Pre-seed Fund provides grants to startup companies as they build out prototypes. Some highlights of the program:

  • Product must stem from research and development done by a business operating in Nebraska (or from a Nebraska college or university)
  • Business must have no more than 500 employees
  • Applicant must match the requested amount at 50% (i.e.: Company requesting a $50,000 grant would need to invest $25,000 for a total project of $75,000)
  • Additional details available at the NDED Website

 

The Seed Fund focuses on commercializing or creating a proof of concept for a product or process. Unlike the Pre-seed Fund this program is not a grant, but an investment. Some highlights of the program:

  • Adding value to a product or process in a NON-retail Nebraska entity
  • Business must have no more than 500 employees
  • Applicant must match the requested amount at 50%
  • Additional details available at the NDED Website

 

The Value-Added Agriculture Fund includes both a Pre-seed and Seed Stage component. The details of both components are identical to the above described programs with the following two exceptions:

  • Product or process must be agriculture-based
  • Applicant must match the requested grant or investment at 25%
  • Additional details available at the NDED Website