Formerly Silicon Prairie Startup Week, the annual event will return this year under Open Range leadership.

Open Range has acquired Silicon Prairie Startup Week and will lead the annual week-long celebration of entrepreneurship under a simplified name: Startup Week. The event will remain community-driven, bringing together founders, investors, students, companies, and partner organizations from across Nebraska to exchange ideas, build relationships, and celebrate the work happening across the state.

“Open Range couldn’t be more excited to carry Startup Week into its next chapter,” said Laurel Oetken, Chief Executive Officer of Open Range. “I first became involved with Startup Week in 2022, and I’ve had the privilege of helping shape it alongside this community ever since. I’m incredibly honored to continue that work through Open Range.”

Programming throughout the week will give participants opportunities to learn from one another, discover resources, and begin collaborations that continue beyond the event. The goal is to help founders find the support to start here, the momentum to stay, and the opportunity to scale.

Bringing Startup Week under Open Range expands the organization’s growing slate of programs for Nebraska founders. This summer, Open Range brought Startup Weekend back to Omaha for the first time in a decade, gathering nearly 60 aspiring entrepreneurs, mentors, and community leaders to turn early ideas into seven new ventures at Catalyst Omaha. Through its work with Techstars and year-round founder support, the organization also connects entrepreneurs with capital, networks, and opportunities to keep building in Nebraska.

The acquisition is part of a broader transition announced by the Nebraska Journalism Trust. Silicon Prairie News will move to Omaha 100, where its existing newsroom will continue leading editorial coverage of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Existing sponsorship commitments for Startup Week will be honored. Dates, programming, and additional details for this year’s event will be announced in August.

About Open Range

Open Range is a nonprofit backbone organization championing the Greater Omaha and Lincoln entrepreneurial ecosystem. Open Range helps founders, builders, and creatives move ideas forward by connecting them with guidance and capital. It brings people together around bold ideas and amplifies the stories shaping the region’s innovation economy.

The organization leads Startup Week and Startup Weekend and helps founders navigate the startup community year-round. Together, this work makes it easier for more people to start, scale, and stay in Nebraska.

Contact:
Kacie Hughes
kacie.hughes@openrange.org