About
Maverick Venture Fund is the first university-level venture fund established in Nebraska, operating as an educational initiative housed within the University of Nebraska Omaha's College of Business Administration. Created to address the scarcity of early-stage venture capital activity in Nebraska, the fund invests seed capital into startups with a particular focus on companies founded by UNO students and alumni. The fund operates on a cohort-based model where student investors research, conduct due diligence, and make recommendations on potential investments of up to $25,000 per deal under the supervision of experienced local venture capitalists. This dual mission—simultaneously providing capital to Nebraska startups and educating the next generation of venture investors—distinguishes MVF as both a functional investment vehicle and a learning laboratory. Students gain practical exposure to the full venture capital lifecycle, including company evaluation, deal structuring, and portfolio monitoring. The fund has demonstrated traction in supporting early-stage technology and innovation ventures across Nebraska, with verified portfolio activity in companies like Retail Aware, which develops micro-sensing solutions for retail execution and inventory tracking. Beyond capital deployment, MVF facilitates meaningful connections between student investors, entrepreneurs, portfolio company founders, and the broader Omaha business community through monthly networking events and ongoing engagement. The fund's investment thesis emphasizes community economic development and retention of entrepreneurial talent within Nebraska by providing the seed-stage capital and investor networks that are critical to startup survival and growth in underserved markets.