Brennan Costello has spent the past decade helping build Nebraska’s entrepreneurial pipeline—especially in rural and agricultural communities. He serves as Director of The Combine, Nebraska’s statewide initiative to accelerate high-growth entrepreneurs in food and agriculture. The Combine reaches across AgTech, robotics, food innovation, and biotech, supporting nearly 40 startups and helping raise over $40 million in venture capital and grant funding.

Previously, Brennan was the Chief Business Relations Officer for the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program, where he built networks and launched programming that empowered hundreds of entrepreneurs across the state. He is also a former National FFA Officer and a Kirchner Venture Fellow, where he helped lead investment efforts in agricultural innovation across Latin America. His background also includes early-stage sales and market development with BasicBlock and FarmAfield, the latter of which earned a National Science Foundation SBIR grant during his tenure.

He holds a B.S. in Agribusiness and an M.S. in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and is a current fellow in the Nebraska LEAD Program.