Omaha-based Grapple has raised $1 million in a pre-seed round led by Invest Nebraska and Nelnet, with participation from MOVE Venture Capital and Nebraska Angels. The startup develops an AI-powered platform that makes data analytics accessible to nontechnical users without requiring data engineering expertise. Founded in 2025 by Jack Sellwood, Grapple's software pulls information from various sources including databases, spreadsheets and apps like Salesforce and Quickbooks. The platform enables sales, marketing and finance teams to compile reports independently, saving businesses time and money. Grapple was recently accepted into California's LAUNCH Accelerator and has secured early customers including Nebraska startups Guardify and Workshop. The company will use the funding to expand its team, marketing efforts and go-to-market strategy whilst remaining based in Omaha.

Cup of Coa, a Kearney-based gourmet cocoa brand, raised a $750k seed round led by Invest Nebraska, with participation from Nebraska Angels, Nelnet, and private investors. The funding will expand the team, operations, and reach, preparing for large-scale growth. CEO Jasmin McGinnis highlighted the company's innovative "add-water-only" cocoa formula and its presence in 34 states and five countries. The investment will also support new product offerings and marketing efforts.