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Delta Entrepreneurship Network Headed to Little Rock

2 min read

The Delta Entrepreneurship Network, which launched the Delta Challenge pitch contest earlier this year, has scheduled a second round of six competitions including a contest in Little Rock scheduled for November.

The network is a project of the Delta Regional Authority, a federal-state project that promotes economic development in the 252 Delta region counties and parishes it serves. 

“As we enter the second year of the Delta Entrepreneurship Network, the DRA is excited to identify 36 new entrepreneurs and support organizations that will join the vibrant entrepreneurial network and ecosystem built by the drive, talent, and innovation we have in the Delta region,” Chairman Masingill said in a Monday statement launching the newest round of the competition. “We have seen exciting growth and opportunities for our inaugural class of Delta Entrepreneurs this year, and we look forward to connecting the next class of fellows to this national platform.”

The Delta Challenge will visit the Venture Center in downtown Little Rock on Nov. 5. It begins with a full-day kickoff event at StartCo in Memphis on Sept. 18. Earlier this year, it made a stop in Jonesboro.

Other stops on its second leg include:

  • Sept. 22: Delta State University, Cleveland, Mississippi;
  • Oct. 6: Murray, Kentucky, Murray State University;
  • Oct. 8: Selma, Alabama, Arsenal Place Accelerator;
  • Nov. 14: Lafayette, Louisiana, Innov8 Acadiana. 

The six competitions will identify up to 20 entrepreneurs and 16 entrepreneurship support organizations which will receive a fellowship for technical assistance and training to enhance entrepreneurship capacity and opportunities in the Delta region, according to the DRA.

The selected entrepreneurs also will participate in a special segment of New Orleans Entrepreneur Week scheduled for March 11-18, 2016. NOEW is produced by The Idea Village and considered the premier entrepreneurship festival in the South.

“Research indicates that 75 percent of all venture capital is being invested in just three states, California, New York, and Massachusetts,” said Tim Williamson, co-founder and CEO of The Idea Village. “By partnering with the DRA, we are leveraging our collective efforts to showcase the South as a hub for innovation, entrepreneurship and new thinking.”

The regional pitch competitions will identify entrepreneurs in the “idea” or pre-revenue phase and those with highly scalable, investable ventures. Entrepreneurs interested in competing can register for each competition at DRA.gov/entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurship-support organizations that serve communities and entrepreneurs in the 252 counties and parishes within the DRA’s footprint must submit an application online at DRA.gov/entrepreneur outlining the current services they provide and their expectations for utilizing DEN technical assistance and programming. Applications will close October 23rd at midnight.

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