Voted on by Mug News Staff and Advisors
Headliner: NOT UNDERGROUND ANYMORE
CompanyCam – 💰 🔧
CompanyCam has evolved from a Lincoln startup into one of Nebraska’s most visible SaaS scaleups, powering jobsite documentation for contractors across North America. With both Invest Nebraska investment and Nebraska Prototype Grant support, CompanyCam stands as the state’s most successful “proof of concept” that a world-class vertical SaaS company can be built from the Midwest.
Runner-Up: Workshop – 💰 🔧
Workshop’s internal communication platform continues to mature into a national competitor in the employee experience market. The company benefitted early from Invest Nebraska backing and a Prototype Grant, enabling it to refine a strong platform that now supports organizations of all sizes and locations.
Top 10 Nebraska Startups (2025 Edition)
1. Alpaca – 💰 🔧
Nebraska’s Top Ten Startups
Headliner: NOT UNDERGROUND ANYMORE
CompanyCam – 💰 🔧
Top 10 Nebraska Startups to Watch (2025 Edition)
1. Alpaca – 💰 🔧
Alpaca’s teacher well-being platform has moved quickly from concept to wide district adoption, supported by a $1.8M seed round in 2025. Strong early traction was enabled by Invest Nebraska funding and multiple Prototype Grants.
2. Nestimate – 💰
Nestimate’s $3M seed round in 2025 brought national attention to Nebraska fintech. Backed by Invest Nebraska, the company offers retirement-income evaluation tools used by advisors and employers seeking transparency and lower risk.
3. Peeq Pro – 💰 🔧
Peeq Pro is redefining eyelid hygiene through its Waiva device and clinical-grade cleanser system. With more than 100 offices around the country and thousands of patients using their patented device, cleanser, and process, Peeq Pro is transforming dry eye management.
4. Event Vesta – 💰 🔧
Event Vesta simplifies event marketing for organizations of every size. The company has expanded its offerings beyond sports and entertainment to include event marketing opportunities across many industries.
5. Grain Weevil – 💰 🔧
Grain Weevil’s robot keeps farmers out of dangerous grain bins by automating leveling, breaking, and management. Supported by multiple Prototype Grants, Invest Nebraska, and The Combine, it is one of Nebraska’s most investable ag-robotics companies.
6. FuturHerd Solutions – 🔧
FuturHerd’s Nursery Nanny aims to reduce piglet mortality while modernizing livestock operations. The company benefitted from a $150K Prototype Grant, LaunchLNK, and support from The Combine, giving it a strong foundation for broader commercial rollout.
7. DARO – 💰
DARO uses non-invasive molecular monitoring to detect herd disease early—before outbreaks occur. Its 2025 seed round was led by Invest Nebraska, strengthening its position as one of the Midwest’s most promising bio-surveillance startups.
8. Set Your Sites – 🔧
Set Your Sites provides modern reservation and management tools for campgrounds and event grounds. A Prototype Grant and participation in NMotion helped accelerate product development and customer adoption.
**9. Superb Shifts –
Superb Shifts offers flexible shift scheduling for hospitality and service industries, giving employers and employees greater control over workforce planning. With more than $10m crossing their platform, the company is ready to expand and partner with larger staffing organizations.
10. Major Talent – 🔧
Major Talent’s modern talent-matching platform connects employers to overlooked candidate pools with greater accuracy and speed. A Prototype Grant helped the company stabilize early product development and accelerate customer discovery.
Looking Ahead to 2026: Startups to Watch from Techstars Founder Catalyst, The Combine & NMotion
Nebraska’s next breakout companies are emerging from accelerator and pre-accelerator programs that are feeding the pipeline. Here are five to watch in 2026:
1. Grapple – Techstars Founder Catalyst
Grapple’s natural-language data interface allows businesses to query internal systems instantly without technical training. With the first Catalyst cohort behind it, Grapple is positioned for early enterprise adoption.
2. Docology – Techstars Founder Catalyst
Docology automates the creation of concise medical charts and histories from fragmented clinical documents. With healthcare systems exploring AI documentation tools, Docology enters 2026 with momentum and a clear market wedge.
3. Mission Accomplished – Techstars Founder Catalyst
This app supports neurodivergent children with emotion tracking and routines while giving parents real-time insight. Mission Accomplished is aligned with national demand for digital mental-health tools in families.
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Legend:
💰 Invest Nebraska Investment
🔧 Nebraska Prototype Grant Recipient
