Innovation Studio seeking next cohort for fellowship program

Nebraska Innovation Studio is looking for budding entrepreneurs, builders and visionaries for the next cohort of Nebraska Innovation Fellows.

The Nebraska Innovation Fellowship — the makerspace’s premiere initiative to turn Nebraska-built ideas into real-world impacts — is open to any Nebraskan 18 or older. Applications — which require a resume or curriculum vitae, a brief personal statement and a short project description — are being accepted through Nov. 30. Applications will be reviewed and short interviews will take place with finalists in December.

Successful applicants will begin the 20-week program in January. Fellows will receive extended access to Innovation Studio, media support, a $2,500 allowance for materials, mentorship, networking opportunities and — new this year — a $1,500 professional services credit with Frontier Tech Lab, a service center offered by the studio.

“It’s an opportunity for taking ideas from the drawing board into the real world,” said John Strope, program coordinator for NIS robotics and coordinator of the fellowship.

The program is a continuation of the inaugural Robotics Fellowship Program that launched in January 2025 with funding from the Heartland Robotics Cluster, established under a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The success of the inaugural cohort encouraged giving to continue the program.

“Our inaugural program was incredible, and we received so much positive feedback, with many asking, ‘How do we do more of this?’” Strope said. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to continue the program through private donations.”

Though robotics was a focus of the first cohort, the fellowship now encompasses all the equipment and expertise Innovation Studio has to offer the fellows. 

Mentorship will play a large role, Strope said, adding that this cohort’s mentors provide a deep bench of experience in entrepreneurship, business and innovation.

“Between working with each other and with the mentors, fellows will have an opportunity to turn their vision into something extraordinary,” Strope said.

The current slate of mentors is:

• Kathy Andersen, co-founder and CEO of Brint Tech
• Brian Ardinger, founder of NXXT and director of innovation for Nelnet
• Chafik Barbar, founder and CEO of Marble Technologies
• Michael Dixon, president and CEO of UNeMed
• Dan Duncan, executive director emeritus, Nebraska Innovation Campus
• Santosh Pitla, professor and associate head for research and innovation with the College of Engineering
• Rachael Wagner, assistant professor of mechanical and materials engineering