Omaha-Based Appsky LLC Owners Recognized as SBA Nebraska Small Business Persons of the Year 2022
After Taylor Korensky graduated from the Information Technology Innovation program at the University of Nebraska Omaha in 2016, it didn’t take him long to realize that the Omaha tech market needed more custom software design and development solutions for local businesses. This led to his creation of Appsky, LLC in November of 2016 – a “custom software development agency based in Omaha, Nebraska that specializes in the design and development of mobile and web applications, using the latest scalable cloud technologies, for organizations and SaaS-based companies.” Fellow UNO graduates Spencer Robinson and Jade Jensen joined the company soon afterwards as the Chief Technology Officer (Robinson) and Appsky’s first employee and now Chief Operations Officer (Jensen). Jensen and Robinson are also co-owners.
Appsky has experienced enormous growth, both in sales and number of employees. Between 2019 and 2021, total sales increased by almost $1M, and Appsky is currently at nine full-time employees and has a network of contractors. This growth, coupled with the owners’ dedication to helping their local community, led them to be nominated for and selected as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Nebraska Small Business Persons of the Year for 2022. The Small Business Person of the Year Award is given as part of National Small Business Week, and recognizes businesses that have experienced high growth in both revenue and employees, have overcome adversity, and that contribute substantially to their communities.
Appsky’s sales growth didn’t come easily, and in 2018 Korensky and Jensen turned to SBA’s resource partner, the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) for assistance seeking working capital to keep his business afloat in its early days. They met with an NBDC consultant for help developing a business plan and financial projections that enabled them to get a loan through an SBA Microlending partner, the Nebraska Enterprise Fund. The pandemic also presented a unique challenge to the young company, but they were able to pivot to remote work and actually experienced phenomenal sales growth throughout the pandemic.
Part of Appsky’s success and staying power is the dedication of the owners to community development. Korensky is a member of the Nebraska Tech Collaborative, a business-led workforce initiative that brings together leaders from the government, education and non-profit communities to develop, attract and retain tech-talent in Nebraska. Korensky is also a core organizer for Tech Omaha, which provides networking opportunities for those in the tech field, and a member of the Omaha Executives Association.
Appsky’s motto “why wait to be great” is apt – they are a shining example of how hard work, perseverance and dedication to the community can skyrocket a business to success – even during a pandemic!