Startup Junkie’s 2.7.0 Accelerator Launches with 11 Firms

Promoting startups owned by women, minorities and military veterans is the aim of the 2.7.0 accelerator from Fayetteville‘s Startup Junkie that began its 14-week run on Tuesday.

The program includes 11 Arkansas startups focused on the regional industry clusters of retail, supply chain/logistics and food industries. Startup Junkie was one of 80 organizations from across the U.S. selected to launch programs as part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2015 Growth Accelerator Fund. 

The 2.7.0 name represents two months, seven participants and zero boundaries, but Startup Junkie received so many good applicants, it decided to take 11 startups, according to Startup Junkie founder Jeff Amerine.

Startups chosen to participate in the 2.7.0 accelerator are: 

• Olive Loom (https://oliveloom.com/)
• American Native (https://americannativegoods.com/)
• Con Quesos (https://conquesos.com/) 
• Sightline (https://www.sightlineretail.com/)
• Redkite Experiences (https://redkiteexperiences.com/)
• Endangered Gentlemen (https://www.endangeredgentleman.com/)
• The Tot Tote (https://thetottote.com/wp/)
• Little Bird Systems (https://www.littlebirdsystems.com/)
• Bespoke Knots (https://www.bespokeknots.com/)
• Proideo  (https://www.proideo.co/)
• Mosh Marketing (https://moshmkt.com/)

Endangered Gentleman and Bespoke Knots are from Little Rock; the remaining startups are northwest Arkansas ventures. 

“We were thrilled to receive an overwhelming number of highly qualified applicants,” said Haley Cleous, Associate Consultant at Startup Junkie Consulting. “With the surplus of promising companies in the Ozarks, the evaluating panel decided to expand the size of the accelerator and accept 11 companies instead of seven.” 

All the firms are owned by women, minorities and military veterans.

As part of the program, participants will receive mentoring, counseling, training, support and assistance as well as access to mentors and capital.

The program will culminate in a Demo Day showcasing the startups and their products.