WeWork Labs opened its northwest Arkansas office Thursday in the Massey Building in downtown Bentonville.
WeWork Labs is a subsidiary of the office-sharing company WeWork of New York City. WeWork Labs Northwest Arkansas offers a platform to help early-stage startups and entrepreneurs.
“The partnership with WeWork Labs NWA will open the doors for many grassroots and start-up businesses,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “This venture will give new business owners the necessary tools to succeed and flourish for years to come. This is an exciting and unique opportunity for Arkansans to learn world-class skills from leaders across the globe. I look forward to seeing the innovative techniques that WeWork Labs NWA will provide to its members.”
WeWorks Labs will work in partnership with the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Walton Family Foundation to offer resources and networking opportunities to 50 entrepreneurs through its incubator program. WeWork Labs also affords entrepreneurs a collaborative workspace and mentorship.
“WeWork Labs’ approach offers professional development opportunities to assist early-stage startups encountering a variety of challenges,” said Jeannette Balleza Collins, the entrepreneurial development director at the Northwest Arkansas Council. “This partnership will provide valuable entrepreneurial support along with access to mentorship and resource networks across the globe. We’re excited to see how WeWork Labs Northwest Arkansas complements our growing ecosystem.”
WeWorks Labs Northwest Arkansas will be led by Manager Carlos Estrada, who has experience with startup incubators and ran WeWork Labs’ program in Texas. Chandler Abbott, formerly with Startup Junkie in Fayetteville, is another member of its leadership team.
“We are dedicated to delivering programs that are as founder-focused as possible and customized to company types, and the WeWork Labs platform is designed to provide the laser-focused help, support and resources companies need to launch and scale,” Estrada said.
