Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship

A throwback to an exciting milestone for the Nebraska entrepreneurship community.

In 2024, the Nebraska Center for Entrepreneurship and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln was ranked as a top 50 undergraduate entrepreneurship program for the first time, debuting at No. 42 on the list compiled by Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. In 2025, the university moved up to No. 35 on the list.

Looking back on moments like these is a reminder of the students, faculty and staff, alumni and partners who continue building Nebraska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and drive innovation across campus every day!

Learn more here: https://buff.ly/lbHV7h0

Can't move on from the spring semester without sharing a few photos from the Catalysts' final presentations 👏

The presentations marked the culmination of a year spent learning, collaborating, and tackling real-world challenges. Students had the opportunity to reflect on their experience in the program, highlight key takeaways, and share some of their favorite moments from the year.

Joining us were leaders from Nomi Health, a direct healthcare company that partnered with Catalysts on a semester-long project. Throughout the spring, students identified opportunities for growth and innovation and wrapped up the experience by presenting their recommendations and solutions directly to the Nomi Health team.

Learn more about the program here: https://buff.ly/JYmWBsw

A few snapshots from a year worth celebrating 🥳

Kyra Boesiger has built her entrepreneurial journey through initiative, creativity, and a willingness to create opportunities for herself. By intentionally building her experience throughout college and developing a portfolio through hands-on work, she turned that foundation into Marke Social Agency, LLC — a business she launched during her senior year at University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

“The biggest benefits of college for me were the experiences and connections. Overall, my college experience gave me the confidence and self-assurance to start my business,” said Boesiger, founder of Marke Social Agency.

Today, she helps businesses grow through creative digital storytelling while continuing to build her own path as a young entrepreneur.

Find Kyra’s full feature below.

Alumni Feature: Kyra Boesiger Kyra’s entrepreneurial journey has been fueled by creativity, initiative, and a willingness to bet on herself. From building side hustles…

Meet the 2026-27 Entrepreneurship Catalysts! 🚀

23 students have been selected for the next cohort of the Catalysts program – a year-long experience for incoming University of Nebraska-Lincoln students to explore entrepreneurship, innovation and their own potential to create impact.

Throughout the year, these students will be immersed in Nebraska’s startup ecosystem through shared classes, hands-on experiences and opportunities to connect with founders, mentors and fellow student entrepreneurs across campus and the community.

Representing a wide range of majors, backgrounds and experiences, this group brings fresh ideas, curiosity and ambition to the entrepreneurial community at Nebraska. We can’t wait to see how they grow over the next year as they begin building connections, confidence and new possibilities together.

Learn more about the program here: https://go.unl.edu/catalysts

Halfway through our Mexico City study abroad program, and our students have already experienced an incredible blend of business, culture, and global perspectives 🇲🇽

Over the past week, students have explored markets, museums, cultural landmarks, restaurants, and businesses across one of the largest and most vibrant cities in the world. Beyond the itinerary itself, they’ve been learning how entrepreneurship, innovation, and community intersect within a global context.

A few highlights from the first half of the program include:
☀️ Exploring the ancient pyramids of Teotihuacán
🌱 Visiting Arca Tierra in Xochimilco to learn about regenerative agriculture and enjoy a farm-to-table lunch
🍿 Touring the Mexican headquarters of ConAgra and discussing global business operations
👨🏻‍🏫 Hearing lectures from faculty at La Salle University
🫱🏼‍🫲🏾 Visiting the National Museum of Anthropology
🪅 Experiencing the energy, history, and culture that make Mexico City unlike anywhere else

Study abroad experiences like this challenge students to think differently, adapt quickly, and engage more deeply with the world around them. We’re excited for what the second half of the trip has in store.

Now that the semester is officially over, here's a few favorites from our "Spring 2026" folder 📂

To the graduates of 2026, congratulations! Here's to you and all you have accomplished during your time at . It's been a pleasure watching you grow as students, entrepreneurs, leaders and people. As you embark on your next journey, we’re excited to see the incredible things you’ll continue to achieve.

The future is bright—go out and make your mark 🎓

Last month, two student teams, PROTO and Reach, represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln at the West Coast Hult Prize Competition — the world’s largest student social entrepreneurship competition, where teams build ventures to tackle pressing global challenges.

They joined 34 teams from across the country, advancing from a pool of more than 15,000 teams in the initial qualifier round. Each university is typically guaranteed just one advancing team, so having two teams selected to compete on the West Coast is an incredible achievement — especially as this marks the first time in over five years that UNL has participated in the Hult Prize.

We’re also grateful to the generous donors who made this experience possible by covering travel costs for both teams.

First place and $5,000 later 🥇

Husker Venture Fund recently returned from the global Venture Capital Investment Competition, where they earned 1st place and $5,000 against an incredible lineup of teams from across the country, including UC Berkeley, Miami University, University of Southern California, Boston University, University of Alberta, University of North Carolina, Saint Mary's University, and Washington University in St. Louis.

This first-place finish is the highest in the fund's history. Congratulations to the team: Elizeh Tarkian, Shahd Khourshed, Sebastian Pucher, Adam Messman, Maddock Oberzan, Sam Lockhart, and their student adviser, Amir Tarkian.