Networking event aimed at helping UNMC innovators and entrepreneurs connect and collaborate with colleagues and experts from the local venture capital and startup community.

The event is free and open to all, and complimentary coffee and doughnuts will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition to networking, Morning Edition will feature a short, 10- to 15-minute presentation from a community partner involved in the innovation ecosystem and a UNMC innovator with experience developing a new invention and building a startup company.

This month will feature Ben Kuspa, the Business Innovation Manager at th eNebraska Department of Economic Impact. Aidan Larsen, a consultant within the Department of Economic Development will also be on hand. They are expected to discuss the various initiatives and grant opportunities the Business Innovation Act has made available to university and faculty entrepreneurs and innovators.

Morning Edition will continue on the last Thursday of every month, featuring a new speaker each time. Each Morning Edition will also feature "Office Hours," with UNeMed staff and Nebraska Startup Academy and MOVE Venture Capital founder Charlie Cuddy. Office Hours creates the opportunity for faculty, students and staff to have one-on-one time with MOVE or UNeMed professionals to discuss new technologies or startup potential.

MOVE is a pre-seed and seed venture capital firm focused on investing in Nebraska technology startup companies. The Nebraska Startup Academy is a mentoring program for startup founders, investors and the local entrepreneurial community with the aim of building Nebraska into "an innovation hub in the Midwest."

The next Morning Edition will be held on Thursday, August 29.

Additional planned speakers include, in no particular order:

• Ben Walker, Innosphere: How you can benefit from a life sciences incubator program
• Ben Williamson, Invest Nebraska: What are VCs looking for?
• Stephen Hug & Lamonte Russell, UNeTech: What is the Maverick Technology Venture Alliance?
• Scott Henderson, NMotion: When should you apply to the NMotion accelerator?