Entrepreneurship

The modern workforce is evolving at a quick clip and creating a cohesive whole at work among disparate individuals no less is more challenging than ever before.

Keen on reducing pricey auto loan payments in these inflationary times? Enter Gaya – designed to put consumers in the driver’s seat when it comes to their finances.

As a young adult, I thought it would be a good idea to look at home expenses.

Before COVID-19, I was focused on measuring my firm’s objectives and KPIs.

You never know what might come from a conversation with a stranger.

If you’re over 45 and you don’t have an under 30-year-old mentor — not mentee, but mentor —you’re going to miss fundamental shifts in thinking.

Anyone who is plugged into the Little Rock startup scene knows that it’s a great place to be for entrepreneurs.

Startup Grind is a monthly fireside chat presented by the Conductor, in partnership with Google for Entrepreneurs, each month in Conway. The Conductor is a public-private partnership driving innovation that serves entrepreneurs and small businesses with one-on-one consulting, networking opportunities and exposure to angel investors.

It seems that nearly everyone is pursuing a side hustle these days. It’s almost impossible to get on social media without seeing a friend pushing a product or service.

Check out these TED Talks:

We’ve only seen the beginnings of the radical change that crowdfunding will have on product commercialization, especially with any consumer-facing hardware product. Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow entrepreneurs to pre-sell their products.

School may be out but students can stay STEM sharp this summer while having fun, boosting their self-confidence and exploring new concepts through educational activities. A wide variety of summer enrichment programs and camps for children in third grade through high school are available through Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) studies.

Made by Few was conceived six years ago to inspire web designers, developers, creatives and entrepreneurs in the startup space. Today, MxF 6 continues to carry that torch and has expanded by adding additional activities while highlighting the amazing food, people, culture and talent across the region.

Building something that nobody wants is the number one reason businesses fail, so start with a problem worth solving.

A new initiative to support innovative startup companies in the health care sector recently launched.

Startup Junkie will host a Techstars Startup Weekend from March 9–11 to spark business development for aspiring entrepreneurs.

NWA3D strives to make 3D printing accessible for students in order to introduce them to digital design and manufacturing.

The Little Rock Technology Park has completed the first phase of its six-phase project. According to Brent Birch, executive director of the Tech Park, this first phase of development came in $2.5 million under budget.

Work-life balance is hard. Jamie Deason’s goal is to make it easier; this was the motivation behind The Errand Mom.

Jeston George, Founder and CEO of Apptegy says, “People create the best ideas by solving their own problems.” When his nephew first started kindergarten, he found it impossible to keep up with his events because schools lacked a way to communicate effectively. In 2014, George founded Apptegy to solve this problem. Apptegy offers schools a unique platform, Thrillshare, which allows educators to update all communication channels from one place.

There may be no woman in Arkansas who loves chocolate more than Carmen Portillo. Portillo became interested in artisan chocolates while living in London where she tasted handmade, gourmet truffles.

A new fitness facility is coming to SOMA in Little Rock! SparkFit, opening this summer, will offer group classes along with experienced personal trainers to help members reach their wellness goals.

The Start Here Initiative, in partnership with Delta Regional Authority and the Women’s Foundation of Arkansas, will host a screening of “She Started It” and Q&A with Sheena Allen, an entrepreneur featured in the film.

Ten companies nationwide were recently announced for the Venture Center FinTech Accelerator program: Alpharank, Alto IRA, Bond.ai, Hedge Hog, HTC Mobile Apps, Omnetrium, Quotanda, eGiftify, WalletFi and Xplanr. Last year, PFITR and LumoXchange relocated to Little Rock upon completing the program.

Guy and Liz Choate are working to bring literacy, community and talent to the North Little Rock area. The Argenta Reading Series began in January and has seen major growth, with an average of 65 people attending events.

Fur and Collar is on its way to becoming a staple in the dog-lover community. After launching its e-commerce platform in 2015, Fur and Collar thrived by focusing on targeting its audience with breed-specific products.

As the Little Rock startup scene continues to grow with spaces such as Little Rock Tech Park, Arkansas Innovation Hub and more, The Hive plays a unique role. The startup hub is managed by Bespoke Media with a vision to create a collaborative, coworking space for independent creatives and media professionals – an alternative to coffee shop hopping, according to Ryan Guinee, brand manager with Bespoke.

For medical professionals seeking the requisite attire, there’s Scrub Shopper. The Fayetteville-based company started in 2005 and has since become a major supplier of men’s and women’s scrubs nationwide.

Meal prep delivery services such as Blue Apron and Hello Fresh are gaining popularity. Now you can choose a local, healthy and organic option with The Clean Eatery, based in Little Rock.

Fayetteville-based company Menguin has become the primary online suit rental company in under three years. The business recently announced a partnership with Target. CEO Justin Delaney believes its success stems from need.