Advancing technology for better rural health.
NETECH is a competitive, non-dilutive, milestone-based grant program supporting health technology solutions that can improve care in Nebraska's rural and frontier communities. NETECH is part of Nebraska's Rural Health Transformation Program.
Initial target awards range from $250,000 to $1,000,000. NETECH takes no equity or ownership.
Technology designed around the realities of rural care.
Thirty-seven percent of Nebraskans live in rural or frontier communities, and 88 of the state's 93 counties are rural. These communities face significant health challenges: 72.5% of rural Nebraskans are overweight or obese, more than half of Nebraska counties are maternity care deserts, and every rural county faces a shortage of mental health providers. Nearly 22% of rural Nebraskans also lack the high-speed internet access that video visits depend on.
NETECH, Nebraska's Rural Health Technology Catalyst Fund, supports early-stage companies building solutions to help rural and frontier communities get healthy and stay healthy. We are looking for innovations that bring care closer to home, help people prevent and manage chronic conditions, and better serve Medicaid, low-income, and underserved Nebraskans who too often go without care. Powered by Nebraska's Rural Health Transformation Program and matched with private investment, NETECH helps turn promising ideas into measurable results for Nebraska communities.
Award type
Competitive, non-dilutive, contingent milestone-based grant. No equity or ownership is taken.
Initial target award size
$250,000 to $1,000,000.
Eligible product stage
Proof of concept through minimum viable product. A functional prototype must exist, feasibility must be demonstrated, and the technology must be at Technology Readiness Level 4 or higher. Fully commercialized products are not eligible.
Payment structure
A kickoff payment of 20 percent of the total award is made when the award is executed. The remaining funding is earned through a standardized schedule of at least three sequential milestones, including at least one outcome-based milestone. Cohort 1 payments are 20 percent at kickoff, 20 percent after completion of Milestone 1, 25 percent after completion of Milestone 2, and 35 percent after completion of Milestone 3.
Milestones must be tied to observable technical events or measurable outcomes, not simply the passage of time or submission of routine reports.
Where the work happens
Funded technology must be piloted or deployed at rural health systems, hospitals, clinics, or community sites in Nebraska. Executed agreements with implementation sites are required before the deployment milestone payment is released.
Performance deadline
All Cohort 1 funds must be expended and all milestone payments completed by September 30, 2027. Projects extending beyond that date will not be considered. Unspent funds must be returned.
Confirm the essential requirements before applying.
The opportunity is open to eligible companies, nonprofits, academic institutions, and government entities. Every applicant and proposed solution must meet the requirements below.
Applicant requirements
- 01The applicant is based in the United States and owned in the United States.
- 02The applicant was founded or established less than 10 years ago.
- 03The applicant has raised less than $50 million in total prior funding since founding.
- 04The proposed work will be performed in the United States with U.S. employees and, when applicable, U.S.-based contractors.
Solution requirements
- 01A functional prototype exists.
- 02Feasibility has been demonstrated.
- 03The technology is at Technology Readiness Level 4 or higher.
- 04The product is not yet fully commercialized.
- 05The solution meets all five rural health program-fit criteria listed below.
- 06The solution will be piloted or deployed at rural implementation sites in Nebraska.
Applicants do not need to serve rural communities exclusively. The proposed work must, however, provide a clear and measurable benefit to rural communities and rural consumers, and the funded pilot or deployment must take place in Nebraska.
The program is looking for meaningful innovation.
A strong proposal is novel in the way the CMS Rural Tech Catalyst Fund Resource Guide describes it: a new capability, a new delivery model built for rural realities, a market-defying response to a critical unmet need the private market has not addressed, and a credible bridge to commercial viability.
An incremental improvement, a surface-level interface redesign, a market-following tool that assumes high-speed internet or high digital literacy, or a purely academic project without a path to real-world use will not be competitive.
What we will evaluate.
Eligible applications will be evaluated on how strongly the proposed solution meets the program's rural health criteria and broader competitive considerations.
Milestones
Competitiveness, clarity, and feasibility of the proposed project milestones, including whether milestones represent meaningful and measurable progress toward the project’s intended outcomes. Evaluation will consider the applicant’s demonstrated ability to execute the proposed scope within the requested budget and timeline, the reasonableness of the sequencing and timing of milestones, alignment between milestones and the Budget and Milestone Workbook, and the realistic ability to complete all proposed activities and achieve required outcomes by September 30, 2027.
- 01
Serves rural communities
The solution serves rural communities, with a focus on or special consideration for their particular needs and challenges.
- 02
Benefits priority rural consumers
The solution benefits Medicaid, low-income, and/or vulnerable rural consumers.
- 03
Addresses chronic disease
The solution focuses on the prevention and management of chronic diseases.
- 04
Meets an unmet need
The solution is significantly different from, or fulfills an unmet need compared with, the existing landscape of products and solutions.
- 05
Improves care
The solution increases quality, affordability, and access to care.
- 06
Demonstrates a Nebraska connection
Preference will be given to Nebraska-based companies. Because every funded project must be piloted or deployed at rural sites in Nebraska, applicants based outside Nebraska should be prepared to identify Nebraska implementation partners and describe the status of those relationships.
Applications will be scored based on competitiveness of the items above, in addition to the following items addressed in the application:
- (1) Market size and competitive landscape
- (2) Technology differentiation and intellectual property
- (3) Management team capabilities
- (4) Product-market fit and commercial traction
- (5) Regulatory considerations
- (6) Financial projections and capital requirements
- (7) Adherence to state and local requirements
- (8) Project / technology sustainability in rural settings after award
Applications are reviewed through a competitive and transparent evaluation process. Submission of an application does not guarantee an award.
One application for Cohort 1.
Apply
Complete the Cohort 1 application online. The form saves as you go so you can return to finish it before the published deadline.
Questions are welcome throughout the process. The NETECH team can help applicants navigate application requirements.
Eligibility and competitive review
Applications will be reviewed for eligibility, rural health program fit, technical and commercial readiness, and completeness.
Due diligence
Applicants advancing in the process may be invited to meetings and asked to provide additional information or supporting documents.
Final review and award
Award recommendations are subject to all required program approvals.
Selected applicants will receive a written award agreement defining the approved scope, budget, milestones, reporting requirements, and payment schedule.
Is this an equity investment?
No. NETECH awards are non-dilutive grants. No equity or ownership is taken in exchange for an award.
Do applicants have to be based in Nebraska?
No. The application is open to eligible U.S.-based and U.S.-owned entities, and preference will be given to Nebraska-based companies.
Every funded project must be piloted or deployed at rural sites in Nebraska. Applicants based outside Nebraska should be prepared to identify Nebraska implementation partners and describe the status of those relationships.
Does the solution have to serve rural communities exclusively?
No. The solution must meaningfully serve rural communities and benefit Medicaid, low-income, and/or vulnerable rural consumers, but it does not need to serve rural communities exclusively.
What stage must the product have reached?
The eligible range is proof of concept through minimum viable product. Applicants must have a functional prototype, demonstrated feasibility, and a Technology Readiness Level of 4 or higher.
Idea-stage concepts and fully commercialized products are not eligible.
Is co-investment required?
No. Applicants should disclose secured or anticipated co-investment or matching sources, but co-investment is not required to apply.
Can an applicant also pursue another Rural Health Transformation Program opportunity?
Yes. Applicants must disclose any other Rural Health Transformation Program funding they have applied for, received, or expect to receive in Nebraska or another state.
Disclosure does not affect eligibility. It is used to verify that program funding is not duplicated and that no conflict of interest or resource constraint exists.
How is funding paid?
Funding is earned through a standardized Cohort 1 milestone structure.
A kickoff payment of 20 percent is made when the award is executed. The remaining balance is earned through at least three sequential milestones, including at least one outcome-based milestone: 20 percent after completion of Milestone 1, 25 percent after completion of Milestone 2, and 35 percent after completion of Milestone 3.
The application organizes proposed milestones around three illustrative stages: technical validation, rural pilot deployment, and outcome validation. Applicants propose specific milestones and measurable benchmarks within that structure. Final milestone definitions, dates, and tranche amounts are set in the award agreement.
Milestones must be tied to observable technical events or measurable results, not simply the passage of time or submission of routine reports.
Do I need Nebraska implementation partners before I apply?
You will need to identify the Nebraska health systems, hospitals, clinics, or community sites where the technology will be piloted or deployed and describe the status of each relationship.
Executed agreements are required before the deployment milestone payment, not before you apply.
How do I submit the application?
The full application is completed and submitted online. You can save your progress and return before the deadline.
A printable copy of the application is available on the apply page if you want to prepare answers offline first.
Ready to apply?
Review the eligibility requirements, gather the required materials, and submit the complete application online by November 9, 2026.