2026 Tech Summit: What We Build Next

Overview

Agenda

8:00–8:45 AM: Check-In, Breakfast & Networking

8:45–9:00 AM: Opening Remarks

What We Build Next: A Moment for Tech Across Nebraska

Nebraska’s technology ecosystem is entering an important moment. Across industries, companies are adopting new technologies, building new products, and redefining how innovation happens in the middle of the country.

These opening remarks will frame the opportunity before us and set the tone for the day ahead. From artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing to agricultural innovation and digital infrastructure, technology is no longer a single sector of the economy — it is the foundation shaping every industry.

The session will also introduce the central theme of the summit, What We Build Next, and highlight the role Tech Nebraska plays in bringing together the leaders, companies, and policymakers shaping the future of the state’s technology ecosystem.

As the day begins, attendees will be invited to engage in conversations about the companies being built, the technologies transforming industries, and the partnerships required to ensure Nebraska continues to compete in the next era of innovation.

9:00–9:30: Mainstage – Opening Keynote

9:30–9:45: Coffee/Networking Break

Breakout Block 1

9:45–10:30 AM: Track A — Builders

After the Exit: What Nebraska Builders Do Next

What happens after a successful exit?

Across Nebraska, a growing number of founders have built companies that have attracted national attention and led to meaningful acquisitions. But the most interesting chapter often comes after the exit — when experienced builders reinvest their time, capital, and expertise back into the ecosystem.

This conversation brings together Nebraska leaders who have navigated that transition to share what they learned from scaling companies, what surprised them about the acquisition process, and how they are continuing to shape the region’s innovation economy.

From angel investing and mentorship to launching new ventures, these builders are helping create the conditions for the next generation of companies to emerge.

9:45–10:30 AM: Track B — Industry Transformation

Reinventing Industry: AI, Automation & the Next Era of Work

Technology is transforming the industries that have long powered Nebraska’s economy. Artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, and advanced data systems are reshaping how companies operate — from factory floors and farms to logistics networks and healthcare systems.

This conversation explores how organizations are deploying new technologies within established industries and how these changes are driving productivity, competitiveness, and entirely new business models.

Leaders across sectors will discuss what it actually takes to implement technology at scale, where the greatest opportunities for transformation lie, and why the companies that successfully integrate technology into their operations will define the next era of economic growth.

10:30–10:45 AM: Coffee/Networking Break

Breakout Block 2

10:45–11:30 AM: Track A — Builders

Built Here: Building Teams that Build Companies

Scaling a technology company — or building a technology-driven team inside a traditional industry — requires more than capital and good ideas. It requires teams capable of navigating rapid growth, constant change, and the realities of building complex products.

This conversation focuses on the leadership, culture, and talent decisions that shape successful companies. Panelists will share insights from building engineering teams, recruiting specialized talent outside traditional tech hubs, and creating organizations capable of moving quickly while sustaining long-term growth.

The discussion will provide practical insight into one of the most important — and often overlooked — aspects of company building: assembling the teams that ultimately determine whether great ideas become great companies.

10:45–11:30 AM: Track B — Frontier Technology

AI at Scale: From Pilots to Measurable Value

A new phase of AI adoption is emerging. After an initial wave of experimentation and pilot programs, organizations are now under pressure to translate early activity into measurable business outcomes. The focus is shifting from exploration to execution—where value is defined not by potential, but by performance.

While many AI initiatives have shown promise, the path to scaling them across an organization remains complex. Questions around data readiness, integration, workforce adoption, and return on investment are shaping how—and where—companies continue to invest.

This conversation will explore what leaders should understand about moving from pilots to production: where meaningful value is being realized, how organizations are operationalizing AI at scale, and what distinguishes efforts that deliver measurable impact from those that stall.

11:30-12:15 PM: Lunch

12:15-12:45 PM: Afternoon Keynote

12:45-1:30 PM: Mainstage: Technology, Policy, and America’s Next Innovation Economy

Technology policy increasingly shapes how innovation ecosystems grow and compete. This conversation brings together leaders from government, industry, and public policy to explore how regulation, investment, and national strategy will shape the next decade of technological advancement.

1:30-1:45 PM: Afternoon Break

Breakout Block 3

1:45–2:30 PM: Track A — Capital

Track A — Builders

Built Here: The Companies Powering Nebraska’s Next Economy

Nebraska’s innovation economy is not defined by a single industry. Across the state, companies are building globally competitive products in agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, infrastructure, advanced materials, and emerging technologies.

This conversation highlights leaders behind companies being built right here in Nebraska — the problems they are solving, the technologies they are deploying, and why they chose to build in the middle of the country rather than relocate to traditional tech hubs.

Panelists will share lessons from building companies in this environment: how they attract talent, raise capital, scale operations, and compete globally from the Midwest. The discussion will offer an inside look at the companies and leaders shaping the next chapter of Nebraska’s innovation economy.

1:45–2:30 PM: Track B — Trust & Security

Security & Trust in the AI Economy

As digital systems become more powerful and interconnected, the risks facing organizations continue to evolve. Cybersecurity threats, data privacy concerns, and the governance of artificial intelligence are now central challenges for companies operating in every industry.

This conversation explores how organizations are navigating this rapidly changing landscape. Leaders in security, technology, and policy will discuss emerging threats, the growing complexity of protecting critical systems, and the frameworks needed to manage risk while continuing to innovate.

The discussion will also examine how companies can build resilient systems that balance security, trust, and technological advancement in an increasingly complex digital economy.

2:30–2:45 PM: Late Afternoon Break

2:45–3:15 PM: Built in Nebraska: Founder Lightning Talks

Across Nebraska, founders are building companies that are transforming industries, solving meaningful problems, and shaping the future of technology.

This fast-paced session will feature five to six founders, each delivering a brief lightning talk about the challenge they’re tackling, the technology they’re building, and the vision driving their company forward.

Together, these stories offer a snapshot of the ingenuity, ambition, and momentum defining Nebraska’s innovation ecosystem—and the founders helping shape what we build next.

3:15–3:45 PM: Where the Midwest Wins the Next Tech Cycle

For decades, the narrative around technology innovation has been dominated by the coasts. But the forces shaping the next technology cycle — artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, robotics, agricultural technology, and defense innovation are increasingly rooted in regions where industry, infrastructure, and applied research already intersect.

This conversation explores where the Midwest has a real strategic advantage in the next decade of technological development. Leaders from industry, investment, research, and entrepreneurship will examine how emerging technologies are reshaping traditional sectors, where new companies are likely to be built, and what it will take for the region to compete nationally and globally.

The discussion will move beyond aspiration to focus on practical opportunity, identifying the industries, technologies, and partnerships that position the Midwest, and Nebraska specifically, to lead in the next era of innovation.

3:45–4:00 PM: Closing Conversation

Throughout the day we have explored a central question: What are we building next?

Across industries and communities, a new generation of builders is shaping the future of Nebraska’s technology economy — founders launching companies, operators transforming legacy industries, researchers translating ideas into real-world applications, and investors backing the next wave of innovation.

This closing conversation reflects on the moment before us. What does it mean to build from the middle of the country? What advantages do regions like Nebraska have as technology becomes embedded across every industry? And what responsibility do today’s leaders have to create the conditions for the next generation of builders to succeed?

4:00–5:30 PM: Networking Happy Hour

Platinum Sponsors

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Gold Sponsors

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Silver Sponsors

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Bronze Sponsors