Full Breakdown
Nebraska's Emerging Venture Capital Landscape: Student-Led Funds Foster Local Startups
9/6/2025, 11:22:09 AM
Overview of University Venture Capital Programs
In Nebraska, university-led venture capital initiatives are gaining traction as a means to support local startups and educate future investors. The Husker Venture Fund (HVF) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Maverick Venture Fund (MVF) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha are key players in this ecosystem. Since its inception in 2020, HVF has invested over $500,000 in 19 Nebraska-based startups, while MVF, established in 2018, has made 15 investments totaling approximately $275,000.
The Role of Student-Led Funds
Both HVF and MVF are student-led organizations that provide hands-on experience in venture capital. They offer students training in essential VC concepts, such as due diligence and business analysis. Sam Lockhart, a managing director of HVF, emphasized the importance of these funds in addressing the limited access to venture capital in the Midwest. “There’s a lot less total VC investment here, and less access to capital for founders,” he stated.
Emily Kist, a co-founder of HVF, noted that the initiative arose from a lack of campus resources related to venture capital. The HVF operates as a student group rather than a formal class, allowing for flexibility and rapid action in supporting local entrepreneurs.
Challenges and Opportunities
While these funds provide valuable experience and fill a critical gap in pre-seed funding, they face challenges such as maintaining consistent leadership and securing ongoing financial support. Alex Wewel, assistant director at UNO’s Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Franchising, acknowledged the difficulties in raising funds, stating, “Like everywhere else, it’s a little bit tough (to raise funds), especially right now.”
Despite these challenges, the HVF is currently in a strong position, with plans to raise additional funds to expand their investment capacity. In contrast, MVF has seen a reduction in investment amounts, with typical deals now around $10,000, down from $25,000-$50,000 previously.
New Developments: Creighton University
Creighton University is also entering the venture capital space, with plans to launch a new $1 million fund aimed at investing in student and alumni startups. Nathan Preheim, director of the Center for Enterprise Value at Creighton, intends to adopt a different model that includes debt investments alongside equity, reflecting the diverse needs of local startups.
Criticism and Future Outlook
Critics, including Charlie Cuddy, managing partner at Move Venture Capital, express concern that the current funding models may not sustain long-term growth. He warned that without adequate funding, successful startups may emerge only to falter due to lack of support. “What’s going to end up happening if we don’t fund it appropriately is we’re going to have two or three of their portfolio companies inevitably break out,” Cuddy cautioned.
As these university venture capital programs continue to evolve, they represent a significant opportunity for Nebraska's startup ecosystem, fostering a new generation of entrepreneurs and investors while addressing the unique challenges of the region.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When you look at the Midwest compared to other areas across the country, there’s a lot less total VC investment here, and less access to capital for founders,” — Sam Lockhart, Managing Director, Husker Venture Fund
- “We wanted to get things up and moving … and to have flexibility for future leaders to change things.” — Emily Kist, Co-founder, Husker Venture Fund
- “If we’re able to get additional donations, then we can expand either the size of investments or number of investments, as well as ensure the security of the fund.” — Maddock Oberzan, Managing Director, Husker Venture Fund
- “What’s going to end up happening if we don’t fund it appropriately is we’re going to have two or three of their portfolio companies inevitably break out,” — Charlie Cuddy, Managing Partner, Move Venture Capital
