We support the ecosystems that solve real problems, powered by technology and innovation.
Every community is trying to navigate challenges with housing, childcare, food access, aging with dignity, and a growing set of everyday problems. To truly build strong communities, we need to work together to do things differently and use every tool in our collective toolbox to pull at these problems from the root. This means innovation at scale, working cohesively in ecosystems:
START BY SOLVING THE RIGHT PROBLEM
Hundreds of organizations exist in ecosystems to help solve problems like housing. Problems that complex are broken down into smaller problems tackled by smaller networks of organizations.
INNOVATE NEW SOLUTIONS AS TECHNOLOGY & THE WORLD CHANGES
Hundreds more organizations are inventing, leveraging and supporting technology that solves problems better. Paired with other levers that drive positive change, like policy or workflow changes.
SUPPORT ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO SOLVE OLD PROBLEMS IN NEW WAYS
When a new solution reaches enough people, hundreds more organizations support the creation of a new organization to build, scale and grow that solution to better solve the problem overall.
HELP PEOPLE ADOPT NEW SOLUTIONS THAT WILL MAKE LIFE BETTER
As new solutions emerge, resource navigators help communities at large identify, evaluate, and use the best solutions available. New solutions thrive when they’re used well and people know they exist.
INNOVATION CYCLE
This never-ending cycle of solving problems, constant innovation, and adoption of new innovation is at the core of an Innovation Ecoystem: A complex network of ecosystems working in tandem to drive positive change at scale.
WE SUPPORT THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
We help networks of ecosystems work better together to innovate new solutions to old problems, and ensure communities get the most out of new and existing solutions. This usually means working across these ecosystems:
Problem-Solving Ecosystems
This network of ecosystems works together to solve complex problems like affordable housing.
Tech & Innovation Ecosystems
Tech ecosystems help Problem-Solving Ecosystems leverage technology to solve old problems in new ways.
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems cultivate new organizations to fill gaps or positively disrupt less effective current solutions.
Ecosystem Builders
Builders work to cultivate and improve networks within their chosen ecosystem, and improve collaboration across ecosystems.
Ecosystem Navigators
Navigators connect communities with support resources and help people choose, learn, and use tech to solve problems.
Click on each Ecosystem tab above to learn our approach to Innovation Ecosystems, customized to the needs of each different type of Ecosystem. You will discover:
OUR ECOSYSTEM BUILDING PROCESS
Some of these ecosystems already exist in some capacity while others are just a twinkle in an Ecosystem Builder’s eye. The fun part is that all communities need all types of ecosystems working in tandem to help build a better future for everyone. As you dig deeper into how each different type of ecosystem works, along with the challenges and innovation goals, you will see how far we are from the ideal vs. the current reality.
That said, we’re forming an Innovation Ecosystem Advisory Committee and syncing up with Ecosystem Builders across Nebraska to begin identifying, cultivating, or refining ecosystems to help the engine run more smoothly by offering effective support resources. We expect this ecosystem movement to start small and grow exponentially over time.
Together, we will progress through these stages to bring a comprehensive statewide Innovation Ecosystem to life:
STEP 1:
IDENTIFY ECOSYSTEMS & NETWORKS
Identify which ecosystems and networks are necessary across the full Innovation Ecosystem. This list will start with a subset and iterate with feedback.
STEP 2:
ASSESS EXISTING ECOSYSTEMS
Assess which ecosystems and networks already exist, their current stage and current level of engagement by stakeholders and funders.
STEP 3:
BUILD ECOSYSTEM PILOT PLATFORM
Select pilot ecosystems and networks to shape out an Innovation Ecosystem Toolkit and Platform to help bring siloed ecosystems together.
STEP 4:
IDENTIFY ECOSYSTEM BUILDERS
Choose or cultivate ecosystem builders in Round 2 of ecosystem and network areas to pressure test the Ecosystem Toolkit and grow Platform engagement.
STEP 5:
ASSESS CHALLENGES & SUCCESSES
Gather feedback to determine the greatest challenges and success points across ecosystems. Build ecosystem health scorecards and reports.
STEP 6:
ITERATE & SUSTAIN LONG-TERM
Incorporate continual feedback loops to iterate and improve ecosystems to sustain success long-term. Provide support services for ecosystems.
Ecosystems take time to build, and building this many working in tandem will be especially difficult. So we expect Innovation Ecosystem development to be incremental with clear goals to progress to the next stage in the ecosystem journey. Incremental progress is still better progress than where the Innovation Ecosystem exists currently.
MISSION, GOALS & DELIVERABLES
Our mission is to ensure all communities have access to a comprehensive Innovation Ecosystem to help solve community problems by shaping rather than reacting to a changing world.
We do this by helping networks of ecosystems work better together to innovate new solutions to old problems, and ensure communities get the most out of new and existing solutions. In pursuit of this mission there will be natural benefits for the economy, workforce development, the tech sector, education, community impact, and nearly every industry.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Ecosystems are complex, so the methods by which these goals are accomplished vary by use case. Most methods build upon one another, and require multiple ecosystems working together. Here are some examples for inspiration:
Innovation Mapping sets the stage for Targeted Innovation Workshops, paired with conversations to get people on the same page
Innovation Workshops bring stakeholders together to frame problems for open innovation in Jumpstart Challenges
INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM 101
Many are still new to the art and science of ecosystems, so we’ve found it helpful to share a bit about which types of ecosystems are necessary to drive problem-solving innovation, and explain the challenges standing in the way of these ecosystems working together like a well-oiled innovation machine.
From there, you can decide from a menu of options how we can help.
HOW ECOSYSTEMS WORK
These networks work better when they can see what’s going on across the full ecosystem, share resources, collaborate, and track trends.
A change in one network can affect the others in unexpected ways.
If you want to get fancy, those networks often break down into smaller sub-networks that further specialize in different areas.
At this level, it’s even less likely that a Home Buyer Education program is going to be paying a lot of attention to techniques to reduce construction costs. Though some do.
Each sub-network is understandably focused on their slice of the pie. If one slice fails, the whole pie can can crumble.
The Tech & Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems have a similar network of networks. Innovation happens when the right Tech & Innovation networks mix and match with the right Problem-Solving networks.
THE CHALLENGE
People are trying to flow through Problem-Solving Ecosystems, looking for support without knowing which organizations or services exist to help, or who to ask. When they magically find the right support service, solutions are not always well-designed or implemented. Some services are completely missing in different geographic areas, or only cover specific demographics.
Innovation happens when the right Problem-Solving networks mix and match with the right networks from the Tech & Innovation or Entrepreneurial Ecosystems. Sometimes both. Right now, we rely a lot on serendipity. That was a very romantic movie, but not the ideal strategy if communities want to see relief in this lifetime.
SCATTERED, INCOMPLETE INFORMATION
Regardless of the type of ecosystem, organizations tend to spring into existence without fully knowing which other organizations and services already existed across the state or fully researching what was most needed, often relying on a scattershot of webinars, articles, conferences, and committees for information.
DUPLICATE RESOURCES
Now we have duplicate resources in some areas and not enough in others. Pilot programs to test out ideas and innovations spring up when a similar idea has already been tested halfway across the state and only needs to be customized and scaled.
At present, most ecosystems don’t formally exist. Again, the concept is new. So most current ecosystems exist in a patchwork, covering scattered aspects of the full system, but not the big picture.
Visibility within individual ecosystems is low, and cross-visibility and collaboration across ecosystems is even lower. How can you solve a problem if you don’t know it exists?