Silicon Prairie News

Silicon Prairie News
Name	Silicon Prairie News
Type	Online news outlet
Founded	2007
Founder	Jason Schoettler
Headquarters	Omaha, Nebraska
Language	English
Website	(official site)

Silicon Prairie News is a regional digital newsroom focusing on startups, technology, entrepreneurship, and investment across the Midwestern United States. The outlet reports on venture capital, accelerators, incubators, university research commercialization, and civic innovation across metropolitan areas including Omaha, Nebraska, Des Moines, Iowa, Kansas City, Missouri, Minneapolis–Saint Paul, and St. Louis. Its coverage intersects with regional economic development organizations, angel networks, and technology conferences.

Overview

Silicon Prairie News publishes articles, profiles, event listings, and analysis on founders, investors, accelerators, and research institutions in the Midwest. It highlights activity tied to entities like Creighton University, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Iowa State University, University of Iowa, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, University of Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University and organizations such as Nebraska Department of Economic Development, Iowa Economic Development Authority, Kansas Department of Commerce and regional venture groups including Flywheel Fund, First Dakota Ventures, Cultivation Capital, and i2E. The outlet frequently profiles startups that participated in programs from TechStars, Y Combinator, 500 Startups, StartUp Health, and regional accelerators like The Startup Factory and AlphaLab. Coverage often references events such as South by Southwest, CES, Collision, Midwest IoT Day, and state-level innovation summits.

History

Founded in 2007 by entrepreneur Jason Schoettler, the outlet emerged amid growth in regional startup ecosystems and collaborations with civic entities such as Greater Omaha Chamber and MAPA (Metropolitan Area Planning Agency). Early reporting intersected with seed-stage funding rounds led by angel networks like AngelList syndicates and regional venture capitalists tied to firms such as Alerion Ventures and Flywheel Fund. Over time, the publication documented milestones including corporate relocations to anchor tenants in innovation districts similar to those seen with CHI Health Center Omaha adjacent developments, university technology transfer efforts at institutions like Omaha’s Strategic Research Initiatives and the emergence of coworking spaces inspired by WeWork and independent local operators. Coverage expanded to include legal and policy developments affecting startups referenced against cases and legislation involving entities such as Small Business Administration, Economic Development Administration, and state incentive programs.

Coverage and Content

Editorial focus spans startup founding stories, funding announcements, product launches, M&A involving regional players, and profiles of accelerator alumni. Regular beats include reporting on angel investors associated with groups like Angel Capital Association, venture capital firms such as Drive Capital and Elevation Capital, university spinouts from Purdue University and Iowa State University Research Park, and technology sectors exemplified by companies using Amazon Web Services, building with Microsoft Azure, or leveraging tools from Stripe and Square. The site covers events produced by organizations including TechStars, Startup Grind, 417 Magazine-sponsored meetups, and regional pitch competitions tied to entities like Rice Business Plan Competition. Contributors have highlighted collaborations with municipal innovation offices modeled after Civic Innovation Lab initiatives and partnerships involving nonprofit accelerators such as StartUp Foundation and Local Initiatives Support Corporation chapters.

Community Impact and Events

The outlet organizes and partners on meetups, demo days, and regional showcases that bring together founders, investors, and academic researchers from institutions like University of Nebraska Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic-affiliated projects, and corporate innovation teams from firms such as Union Pacific Railroad, Berkshire Hathaway, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Google. It has amplified events hosted by chambers of commerce including Greater Omaha Chamber and Des Moines Area Chamber of Commerce, and helped promote statewide competitions funded by entities like Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and CHI Health. Media partnerships have included collaborations with local broadcasters such as KETV, WHO-TV, KCTV5, and public media like Omaha Public Radio.

Business Model and Ownership

Operating as an independent regional publisher, the outlet has traditionally combined advertising, sponsored content, event revenue, and membership or subscription programs. Revenue streams have involved sponsorships from law firms, accounting firms, and service providers including names like Holland & Knight, KPMG, PwC, and regional banks such as First National Bank of Omaha. Ownership has remained privately held since its founding, with occasional operational partnerships with regional accelerators, economic development agencies, and media collaborators, echoing commercial structures seen at niche outlets like TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and Inc. while maintaining a local editorial mission.

Reception and Influence

Entrepreneurial communities across the Midwest cite the outlet as a source for discovery of startups, investor activity, and event listings alongside publications such as Forbes, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and regional business journals like Crain's Chicago Business and Business Journal Network. Coverage has been referenced by universities' tech transfer offices including Purdue Research Foundation and by state economic development reports, impacting visibility for alumni from programs affiliated with TechStars, 500 Startups, and Y Combinator. The outlet's reporting has been noted in discussions at conferences such as SXSW, CES, and Collision, and used by investor groups including Angel Capital Association and National Venture Capital Association for tracking regional deal flow.

Category:American online publications Category:Technology news websites Category:Publications established in 2007