What is Entrepreneurship?


While this state’s agricultural industry is vital to the state, other industries are also important, and some of them may be ideal for entrepreneurial opportunities. These include finance and insurance, where the state netted a revenue of around $12.56 billion in a recent year. Business majors may have ideas that will allow them to break into the industry and earn some of that money for themselves.

Wholesale trade made $7.6 billion and retail trade earned $6.7 billion, and these also may be good industries in which an entrepreneurial thinker could develop a business. Other top state industries include real estate, rental, and leasing ($12.3 billion); professional and business services ($11.5 billion); and educational services, healthcare, and social assistance ($10.6 billion).

Food processing is also a major part of the state economy. The Food Processing Center is a consultancy for those who need information or services that relate to the food industry, and any entrepreneurs starting a food business may want to make use of this center to carry out testing on food products and different formulations to ensure the products are what they want to produce. The center also offers a National Food Entrepreneur Program through its food processing center.

The definition from Merriam-Webster says that an entrepreneur is a “person who organizes and operates a business or businesses”. While this is a dry definition, it is true. However, these individuals also assume the majority of the financial risks as they work to begin and operate their businesses. Additionally, many entrepreneurs do not begin businesses and then settle down to run them the rest of their lives. They tend to be problem solvers and, once they’ve solved their first problem by creating a business to fill gaps in the market, they may pass the management of the business off to someone else or sell the business altogether and start working on their next idea.

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Online Entrepreneurship Education in Nebraska


Other ways to describe these professionals include leaders and partners; they may also invest in the organization, making them investors. An entrepreneur may also be called a visionary because they are able to see possibilities where other people think none exist. They are dreamers, daring to think of the different solutions and possibilities that others in their world may not feel ready to support. No matter what you call them, they often wear many hats when they start a business or venture, both in-house dealing with customer support or shipping and logistics and out-of-house trying to garner attention from customers or investors. That’s part of why gaining an education in entrepreneurship can be very helpful if you wish to be an entrepreneur, despite the fact that there are no educational requirements to have visionary ideas and shake up a marketplace.

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Online Associate (AS)

Prospective business students who may plan to become an entrepreneur in Nebraska need to learn the business skills that will help them start and run their businesses. This means that they need skills in accounting, economics, finance, human resources, marketing, management, and more.

Graduates from associate business degree programs should be able to begin their own start-up business or gain some experience in an industry first by working with an existing company or organization.

In these programs, students may be able to choose an area of interest or focus, such as accounting or business administration. As they progress through their program, they’ll complete general education courses, elective courses in logistics, marketing, quality control, information technology, business technology, hospitality management, media arts, culinary arts, nursing home administration, or business technology, and general business courses.

Online Bachelors (BS)

Undergraduate students planning to earn a bachelor’s degree in business administration may choose an entrepreneurship concentration to go with their general business courses. Some colleges and universities purposefully offer degrees and concentrations aimed at students who are thinking of starting their own businesses.

A concentration in entrepreneurship can also serve students who want to work in banking, consulting, accounting, or marketing. The courses that comprise a concentration tend to provide students with a more practical emphasis, which can be especially helpful for students who want to develop essential career skills to run a small business.

These types of practical courses can teach students how to move through the different phases of starting their business such as writing a business plan, what daily work activities should include, and vital knowledge for a business’s growth and development.

Online Masters (MS)

Students considering business graduate programs may want to consider an Entrepreneurship Master’s Degree program. Entrepreneurial studies is ranked as the 101st most-popular degree program in the US. By the time they graduate, students will be ready to start and run their own businesses and to help facilitate the development of new business ventures in their communities. During these degree programs, students should also have the opportunity to explore their own businesses and community enhancement projects. Some business schools provide incubation programs that are meant to help students prepare to launch their new business while they complete their degrees.

An in-person or online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Entrepreneurship can also help students gain the skills (quantitative and qualitative) they need to succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s business world, whether or not they choose to go into business for themselves. However, some programs to offer concentrations in entrepreneurship that can provide a deeper understanding of business and ways in which those looking to start a business can raise capital. Skills emphasized by these degree programs may include case analysis, managerial skills, leadership, team building, and ethics.

Online Doctorate (PhD)

Some Nebraskan universities may offer a PhD in Business, though you may have to look outside the state for a concentration or specialization in management or entrepreneurship. These programs focus on independent inquiry and competent research methodology. By the time students complete one of these programs, they will be able to offer knowledge which is vital for practice and research. They will also be considered experts in the field of business and likely in whatever industry they chose to focus on throughout their career.

The first two years of a PhD program may be devoted to obtaining the foundational knowledge needed to perform research in management, business, entrepreneurship. Once students have completed their first two years, they will be able to customize their courses and training so that they are able to focus their personal interests with faculty expertise. Students are usually required to complete around 90 credit hours of coursework toward their PhD.

Candidates for PhD programs need both strong quantitative and writing skills. During their degree program, they will work on independent research and joint projects and obtain valuable experience.

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Become an Entrepreneur in Nebraska


Unlike those who work as nurses, doctors, or counselors, those working in business need not obtain certifications or licensures of any kind. Other than letting the state know that you are opening your own business and registering for taxes and other legal issues, anyone can start their own business. That’s not to say that certifications cannot help you in your search for start-up capital or that no one in your business will need certification, especially if you begin a business where it is necessary, like a salon or other personal service.

Entrepreneurs who want to gain more skills to help them run their businesses well may be able to find online entrepreneurship certificates to help them boost their various skills. These are sometimes offered by colleges of business at different universities. Here are just some options within the state.

  • UCLA Extension: Online Series in Entrepreneurship
    This program offers five courses and six electives, all focused on entrepreneurial growth. The entire course is self-paced and flexibility has been built in so that busy entrepreneurs are able to take care of work and complete their courses.
  • Master Certification in Entrepreneurship
    Those who take entrepreneurship courses through the Certiport Entrepreneurship and Small Business and the Intuit Certification program can earn a Master Certification in Entrepreneurship. They will learn and demonstrate concepts in business design, entrepreneurship, and small business.
  • Entrepreneurship for Adults—Daymond John Certificate
    Offered by one of the entrepreneurs from Shark Tank, this certificate contains five modules, each of which run for four weeks. Business owners learn about pitching, entrepreneurial sustainability, growth strategies, marketing and social media, funding opportunities, branding, and staff development.
  • Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate
    This eight-course certification is aimed at more advanced and experienced entrepreneurs. They will go through topics such as innovation skills, current market research, and people insights. Business owners also work alongside a career coach from Stanford as a part of this program. The entire course is offered online, with four hours of lectures and another four hours of assignments. The entire course remains available to business owners for 90 days.
  • Tarkenton Certificate in Entrepreneurship
  • John F. Kennedy University Advanced Certificate in Entrepreneurship

Potential Careers for Graduates


  • Business Owner
    A business owner works to make their business grow. They maximize revenue and cash flow while keeping expenditures low. They also help their business increase its income and net worth over the long term. To do this, they must produce better results and performance consistently. They should also develop a strategic competitive advantage to fight increasing competition.
  • Public Administrator Manager

    Public relations managers are responsible for the creation and maintenance of an organization’s favorable public image. They communicate with the public about upcoming programs and the organization’s accomplishments and may offer the organization’s points of view on issues.

    They may also handle questions from and pitch stories to the media, as well as preparing media kits and press conferences. After an event that harms the organization’s reputation, they release information to counteract bad publicity and deal with crisis and emergency communications.

  • Web Developer

    Web developers come in one of three categories: back-end, front-end, and full-stack developers. A back-end web developer is responsible for the structure of the website. They write code and make sure it works as intended. They may also handle access points for those who need to manage the content of the site.

    Front-end developers are responsible for the look of a website. This includes the pages that users see. They are responsible for creating the physical layout of each page, integrating the graphics, and using HTML and JavaScript to enhance the website.

    Full-stack developers handle both sets of responsibilities.

  • Systems Analyst
    The systems analyst focuses on supporting IT and information systems so that the needs of the organization are met; they also ensure that the information system scales up as the organization gets bigger.
  • Investment and Acquisitions
    Mergers and acquisitions analysts evaluate the financial reports of organizations to be bought. They decide how one company may fit inside another organization, or even as part of a bigger portfolio. This analyst carries out most of the initial work before any deals are reached. They look at the organization’s growth, their competitors, and their market share potential.
  • Business Consultant
    This professional offers advice and insight to clients. They make recommendations to clients so that they can reach established goals and resolve problems. Consultants also organize and execute business projects for clients according to their requirements, meet with clients as needed to make an initial assessment of a situation, gather information about the client’s organization using various methods: shadowing, reading reports, conducting interview, or surveys.
  • Marketing & Business Analyst
    Marketing analysts study market conditions to understand the potential sales of their organization’s products or services. They should be able to analyze competition, data, strategies, and trends so that their organization can be competitive. They help organizations figure out which products are most in demand, who may purchase the items, and how much they may be willing to pay.
  • Research Analyst
    A research analyst carries out research and analyzes the information they find. They use the data to solve problems and help managers make better decisions and improve the efficiency of their organization. They also study the data they find and report their recommendations to those in leadership.

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