Applications are open for the Techstars Founder Catalyst Global Spring 2026 Program, and Nebraska founders have until February 13 to get their submissions in. The 10-week pre-accelerator brings together early-stage founders from around the world for education, mentorship, and the kind of connections that can actually move the needle on funding and growth.
The program runs from March 17 through May 22 and covers the fundamentals—pitching, marketing, operations—through expert-led classes and workshops. It’s designed for founders who are past the idea stage but still figuring out how to scale.
Techstars, the global startup accelerator and network that runs the program, chose Greater Omaha (the region covering both Omaha and Lincoln) as an inaugural member of its Techstars Startup Community Partnerships. That selection is what’s making this opportunity available to Nebraska founders in the first place.
Who Can Apply and What They’re Looking For
The eligibility criteria are pretty specific. Techstars wants to see a committed team working on something with a scalable market. You need to show some measure of traction, but you can’t have generated more than $400,000 in revenue. If you’re already post-revenue, your monthly recurring revenue needs to be $5,000 or less.
“We’re hoping to accept at least five exceptional founders into the spring program,” said Jocelyn Stange, who was recently hired as Open Range’s Program and Events Manager. Open Range is the Nebraska-based nonprofit that’s been pushing to build out the state’s startup ecosystem and played a key role in bringing Techstars to the region.
The organization already ran the first-ever Techstars Founder Catalyst Fall 2025 Program cohort, and based on how that went, they’re making some adjustments for the spring session.
What the First Cohort Showed
Nine companies completed the inaugural fall cohort, and according to Laurel Oetken, Open Range’s VP of Operations, they came ready to work. “The nine companies who completed the inaugural cohort showed up ready to challenge assumptions, build connections and make meaningful progress on refining their business models, approach to customer discovery and pitches,” she said.
One thing those founders asked for? More in-person connectivity. That feedback is shaping how the spring program will run.
“Many from the first cohort expressed this desire, and we’re excited to help facilitate these relationships,” Stange said. She’ll be managing more of the Nebraska-focused Techstars programming going forward and serving as the main local contact for founders in the upcoming cohort.
That emphasis on in-person connection makes sense. Pre-accelerators can sometimes feel remote or disconnected when everything’s virtual. If you’re trying to build a startup in Nebraska, being able to meet other founders, advisors, and potential investors face-to-face in your region has real value.
See What the First Cohort Built
If you want to get a sense of what Nebraska founders accomplished in the fall program, there’s a showcase coming up on January 21 at Millwork Commons in Omaha. It’s a chance to see the progress firsthand and probably ask questions if you’re considering applying for the spring session.
The event should give you a clearer picture of whether the program’s a good fit for where your startup is right now. Pre-accelerators aren’t for everyone—some founders are too early, others have already moved past what these programs offer. But if you’re in that sweet spot where you’ve got something real but need help refining your approach and building the right connections, it’s worth looking into.
You can find more details on eligibility and how to apply through Open Range’s channels. Just don’t sleep on that February 13 deadline if you’re interested.
