Ties and T-Shirts: Accelerating Innovation in the Midwest | IO2026 with Brian Ardinger
About this episode
Shonna Dorsey interviews Brian Ardinger about Nebraska's startup ecosystem and the upcoming Inside Outside Innovation Summit 2026.
In this episode of the TEN Podcast (Tech. Entrepreneurs. Nebraska.) , Nebraska Tech Collaborative Executive Director Shonna Dorsey sits down with innovation leader Brian Ardinger to discuss the evolution of Nebraska’s startup ecosystem and the upcoming Inside Outside Innovation Summit 2026 (IO2026) on April 13, 2026 at the Sheldon Museum of Art . Learn more: https://www.theiosummit.com . NTC listeners can use code NTC100 for $100 off summit tickets . Brian has played a key role in supporting startup growth across Nebraska. As the founder of NMotion , the state’s first startup accelerator, he helped early stage technology companies connect with mentors, investors, and corporate partners to accelerate their progress. Today Brian serves as Director of Innovation at Nelnet , works with venture investments, and hosts the Inside Outside Innovation Podcast . In this conversation, Shonna and Brian explore: • The early days of Nebraska’s startup ecosystem • How accelerators helped launch companies like CompanyCam • Why collaboration between corporations and startups matters • The role innovation plays inside established organizations • What to expect at IO2026 – the Inside Outside…
Sponsors
Nebraska Tech Collaborative
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