--- title: Big Idea Buffalo County Names Winners, Connects Entrepreneurs with Support description: Big Idea Buffalo County 2026 event summary and winners image: https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/hubfs/BIBC-37.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/big-idea-buffalo-county-names-winners-connects-entrepreneurs-with-support#main-content) [![Development Council for Buffalo County logo](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/hubfs/Development%20Council%20Logo_1-23-23_V1.png)](https://growbuffalocounty.com) - About Buffalo County - [Communities](https://growbuffalocounty.com/communities) - [Livability](https://growbuffalocounty.com/live) - [Labor](https://growbuffalocounty.com/work) - Site Selectors - [Sites & Buildings](https://growbuffalocounty.com/sites-buildings) - [Target Industries](https://growbuffalocounty.com/target-industries) - [Regional Data](https://growbuffalocounty.com/regional-data) - [Location Advantages](https://growbuffalocounty.com/location-advantages) - Strategic Initiatives - [Build Buffalo County](https://growbuffalocounty.com/build-buffalo-county) - Business Support - [Incentives](https://growbuffalocounty.com/incentives) - [Resources](https://growbuffalocounty.com/resources) - [Entrepreneurs](https://growbuffalocounty.com/big-idea-buffalo-county) - About DCBC - [Services](https://growbuffalocounty.com/services-1) - [Staff](https://growbuffalocounty.com/staff) - [Board](https://growbuffalocounty.com/board) - [Investors](https://growbuffalocounty.com/membership) - [News](https://growbuffalocounty.com/news) - [Contact Us](https://growbuffalocounty.com/contact-us) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ![Big Idea Buffalo County 2026](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/hubfs/BIBC-37.jpg) # Big Idea Buffalo County Names Winners, Connects Entrepreneurs with Support [![Amanda Polacek](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Amanda%20Polacek.png?width=52&height=52&name=Amanda%20Polacek.png)](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/author/amanda-polacek) [Amanda Polacek](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/author/amanda-polacek) Published Nov 04, 2026 Reading Time 2 min read Ten local entrepreneurs shared their visions for new businesses, services, and community solutions at the Big Idea Buffalo County finals Thursday, October 29, at The World Theatre. Three winning ideas earned a combined $8,500, while all 10 finalists will receive continued business coaching and connections to resources to help make their ideas a reality in Buffalo County. ![Big Idea 2026](https://242034849.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hub/242034849/hubfs/BIBC-34-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=BIBC-34-1.jpg) Big Idea 2026, Kearney, NE ![Big Idea 2026 Finalists](https://242034849.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hub/242034849/hubfs/BIBC-37.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=BIBC-37.jpg) Big Idea 2026 Finalists ![Big Idea 2026 1st Place](https://242034849.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hub/242034849/hubfs/BIBC-35.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=BIBC-35.jpg)  1st Place: Berumen Mobile Grooming  ![Big Idea 2026 2nd Place](https://242034849.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hub/242034849/hubfs/BIBC-32.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=BIBC-32.jpg)  2nd Place: My Helix Lab  ![Big Idea 2026 3rd Place](https://242034849.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na2.net/hub/242034849/hubfs/BIBC-34.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=BIBC-34.jpg) 3rd Place: Kearney Surface Solutions  This year’s competition attracted a record 28 submissions. The top 10 finalists participated in coaching and pitch preparation before presenting to three judges and a live audience. Audience members served as the evening’s “fourth judge,” helping determine the winners. **First Place: Berumen Mobile Grooming — $5,000** Berumen Mobile Grooming proposes bringing professional hair and beauty services directly to clients in Kearney and surrounding rural communities. The mobile salon would serve seniors, rural residents, and individuals facing transportation or mobility barriers, with services offered at clients’ homes, senior living communities, and other approved locations. The concept also includes exploring wheelchair accessibility and accommodations for individuals on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivities. By bringing personalized grooming services to clients, the business aims to improve access while reducing transportation demands on families and caregivers. **Second Place: My Helix Lab — $2,500** My Helix Lab is a direct-access lab in Kearney owned and operated by two family nurse practitioners. Clients can select tests online, see prices before booking, and receive results with plain-language explanations without a separate clinic visit or referral. The business is also developing a service to organize clients’ past lab results into one easy-to-read timeline, helping people track changes and bring a clearer health history to conversations with their healthcare providers. **Third Place: Kearney Surface Solutions — $1,000** Kearney Surface Solutions proposes a locally owned business specializing in epoxy flooring, concrete polishing, and concrete sealing. Serving homeowners and businesses, the venture would improve the appearance, durability, and maintenance of concrete floors through resurfacing and protective treatments. The other seven finalists were **FrostGuard, Kearney O2asis, Prairie and Prose Books, Midway City Performing Arts, The Center Stage Project, Pretzel’s Pantry, and These Ears, They are a Ringing.** Their ideas showcased the range of entrepreneurial talent and opportunities emerging across Buffalo County. While the pitch competition has concluded, support for the participants continues. All 10 finalists will receive ongoing business coaching and connections to community resources as they refine their concepts and work toward launching or growing their ventures. The goal is to help each entrepreneur turn the momentum of pitch night into practical next steps toward making their idea a reality in Buffalo County. Big Idea Buffalo County is organized by the Central Community College Entrepreneurship Center, Development Council for Buffalo County, Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce, and Nest. Through funding, coaching, and community connections, the initiative helps entrepreneurs develop their ideas and build businesses that contribute to Buffalo County’s economy and quality of life. Organizers thank the participants, judges, sponsors, partners, and audience members whose involvement made this year’s competition possible. [![Amanda Polacek](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Amanda%20Polacek.png?width=64&height=64&name=Amanda%20Polacek.png) Amanda Polacek](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/author/amanda-polacek) Share [Big Idea Buffalo County](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/tag/big-idea-buffalo-county) #### Let's Connect We’d love to hear from you—reach out anytime and let’s start the conversation. ## Related Posts [Big Idea Competition Returning to Kearney Do you have Big Idea? Is it the next big business, product, or service? Or does your idea solve a pr...](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/news-center/p/item/55421/big-idea-competition-returning-to-kearney) [Local entrepreneurs pitch for $5,000 cash at Big Idea Buffalo County Big ideas and community spirit came together inside the Historic World Theatre for the annual Big Id...](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/local-entrepreneurs-pitch-for-5000-cash-at-big-idea-buffalo-county) [Digital Expressions Media Camp sparks a passion for communication careers The Digital Expressions Media Camp has become a summer tradition for Linley Fegley. A soon-to-be sen...](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/development-council-for-buffalo-county-blog/news-center/p/item/58150/digital-expressions-media-camp-sparks-a-passion-for-communication-careers) ![edcc-logo-1](https://blog.growbuffalocounty.com/hubfs/edcc-logo-1.svg) **Development Council for Buffalo County** 220 11th Avenue Kearney, NE 68845 [(308) 237-9346](tel:+1308-237-9346)[mailto:info@growbuffalocounty.com](mailto:info@growbuffalocounty.com) [info@growbuffalocounty.com](mailto:info@growbuffalocounty.com) - [Buffalo County](https://buffalocounty.ne.gov/) - [City of Kearney](https://cityofkearney.org/) - [Kearney Area Chamber](https://www.kearneycoc.org/) - [Kearney Visitors Bureau](https://visitkearney.org/) - [Contact](https://growbuffalocounty.com/contact-us) - [Site Map](https://242034849.hs-sites-na2.com/sitemap.xml) © 2025 Development Council for Buffalo County. All rights reserved. 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