Startups seek to address common problems in Omaha, elsewhere | Local Business News
A treadmill that adapts to your pace.
A job placement service that allows people to continue their careers without having to sacrifice time with their families.
Mobile apps developed by local entrepreneurs that help businesses and families connect with one another.
Those ideas were just some of the pitches made by 30 seed stage startups at The Living Room, a renovated event space in a former furniture factory in north downtown Omaha. Each startup that came to Wednesday’s Get Started Omaha event sought to provide a solution to problems faced by individuals and families.
“A lot of the startups we talked to are solving pain points that they have felt themselves,” said Kellee Mikuls, CEO and co-founder of Swishboom.
Swishboom is a startup that seeks to expand parents’ network of trustworthy babysitters via an app. Mikuls and co-founder Richard Tom, who also is her brother-in-law, won a $25,000 grand prize at Wednesday’s competition.
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Some startup executives acknowledge their surprise when they say that few, if any, other companies and individuals already have addressed the problems they’re looking to solve. Those executives include Air Traffic Awareness co-founders Cameron Knight and Tonderai Kambarami, who gave a presentation on an affordable modern visual system to help private pilots avoid aircraft collisions.
“It’s really bonkers,” Knight said.
For other startups, the COVID-19 pandemic has provided opportunities to put their visions into practice. Co-founded by Jina Hwang and Jessica Charlsen, Job Share Connect seeks to connect employees with employers that are willing to provide flexibility by allowing multiple people to fill one full-time position.
By providing that flexibility, the co-founders said, employers could address labor shortages.
Charlsen said Job Share Connect has placed about a dozen people with primarily small businesses and is looking to partner with businesses nationally.
HerHeadquarters, a startup founded by Carina Glover, has been able to help small businesses grow through partnerships that complement each other’s strengths.
For example, Glover said women in Houston and San Francisco who connected through HerHeadquarters grew their respective businesses by collaborating on creating a successful beauty product.
“They discovered opportunities that weren’t previously on their radar because their focus was local,” she said.
Technology advances have helped a startup like Impower Health market a treadmill that CEO and President Doug Miller said automatically adjusts to a person’s pace. That technology, Miller said, is helpful to people with physical ailments.
The efforts that local and regional startups are making to solve problems are a reflection of the area’s startup culture, Proven Ventures co-founder Erica Wassinger said.
“I think, by and large, Nebraska and Midwest founders are really good at trying to solve a problem,” she said.
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of March 2022

Kamirah Cox, 8, and Ty’Nell Qualls, 11, play as the sunshines outside Qualls’ home on North 47th Avenue in Omaha on Monday.

Fremont’s Taylor McCabe and Millard North’s Jasen Green, captains of the Omaha World-Herald 2022 All-Nebraska girls and boys basketball teams.

Two people on Capitol Avenue walk east toward 14th Street on the north side of what was once Union Pacific’s headquarters Saturday.

UNO’s Maggie O’Brien celebrates a strikeout by Wichita State’s Neleigh Herring to end the first inning on Wednesday.

UNO’s Sydney Ross, (in batting helmet) and Olivia Aden, right, react to a series of walks by Wichita State in the 7th inning on Wednesday.

Eugenia, a female calf born in early January, was the first elephant to be born at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium.

Bellevue West’s Josiah Dotzler (22) gets caught between Omaha Creighton Prep’s Casey OMalley (10) and Joshua Townley-Thomas (21) in the Bellevue West vs. Omaha Creighton Prep boys basketball NSAA state semifinal game in Lincoln on Thursday.

Gretna heard coach Brad Feeken talks to his team between quarters in the Millard North vs. Gretna boys basketball NSAA state semifinal game in Lincoln on Thursday. Millard North won the game 58-43.

Nebraska’s Casey Thompson gives an interview in the concourse at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday.

Omaha Central’s Ital Lopuyo (22) blocks a shots by Lincoln Southwest’s Alexa Gobel (21) in the Omaha Central vs. Lincoln Southwest girls basketball NSAA state quarterfinal game in Lincoln on Monday.

Britt Prince, a sophomore and the state girls basketball scoring leader, in her home gym at Elkhorn North High School in Omaha on Thursday, March 03, 2022.

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner dunks during their game against UConn at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday.

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner (left) battles UConn’s Adama Sanogo for a rebound during their game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday.

Bellevue East players celebrate their A-7 district final win against Millard North at Bellevue East High School in Bellevue on Tuesday.

Bellevue East’s Mya Skoff (right) holds her face as Jayla Wilson shoots a free throw late in the 4th quarter of their A-7 district final against Millard North at Bellevue East High School in Bellevue on Tuesday.

Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner celebrates after scoring in the second half of their game against UConn at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Wednesday.

Omaha firefighters battle a brush fire on the grass south of eastbound Interstate 80 on Wednesday. Traffic was restricted during that time.

Omaha firefighters battle a brush fire on the grass south of eastbound I80 on Wednesday. Traffic was restricted during that time.

Sophie Wilson and her daughter Coco walk past “David with the Head of Goliath” on Wednesday.

Sebastian Moore, 11, rides his bike around the pond, still partially covered in ice, at Benson Park in Omaha on Tuesday. Highs were in the mid-70s Tuesday afternoon.
Fremont’s McKenna Murphy cuts down her portion of the net after defeating Lincoln Southwest during a Class A state basketball tournament final at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.

Iowa’s Max Murin celebrates a win over Northwestern’s Yahya Thomas during the 149-pound match.

Rachel Andrew sews in her workspace at her home in Lincoln on Thursday.

Seton Hall’s Jamir Harris (left) and Creighton’s Rati Andronikashvili battle for a loose ball during their game at CHI Health Center in Omaha on Saturday.

UNO’s Eduardo Rosario hits a foul into his face during their game against Valparaiso at Tal Anderson Field in Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP PHOTO/OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, Eileen T. Meslar)

Lincoln Southwest’s Aniya Seymore (center) celebrates after getting fouled during their semifinal game against Millard South at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday.

Lincoln High’s Dyvine Harris (left center) and Ariana Hoagland celebrate after a Fremont foul during their semifinal game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday.

Lincoln Southwest players celebrate after defeating Millard South in their semifinal game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday.

Fremont’s Sarah Shepard (left) battles Lincoln High’s Dyvine Harris for a loose ball during their semifinal game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Wednesday.

Omaha Skutt’s Julia Connealy (left) battles Adams Central’s Rachel Goodon for a loose ball during their semifinal game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Thursday.

Omaha Roncalli Catholic players celebrate after defeating Omaha Skutt Catholic in their championship game at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.

Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family Head’s Jacob Sjuts reacts after getting a foul with seconds left in a tied championship game against Grand Island Central Catholic at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.

Grand Island Central Catholic cheerleader Gracie Joseph cheers during the championship game against Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.

Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family Head Coach Joe Hesse reacts during overtime of their championship game against Grand Island Central Catholic at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.

Humphrey/Lindsay Holy Family’s Ethan Keller (right) hugs Cooper Beller after winning their championship game against Grand Island Central Catholic at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Friday.

Elkhorn North players celebrate after winning their championship game against Omaha Skutt Catholic at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln on Saturday.