The Venture Center of Little Rock is organizing its first startup weekend competition in central Arkansas since 2017, the entrepreneurial support organization announced Thursday.
The Techstars Startup Weekend is slated for April 14 - 16 at the Little Rock Technology Park. Entrepreneurs are invited to pitch new business ideas to a panel of investors and faculty from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and UA Pulaski Technical College.
Mentors will assist participants with developing business plans for technology solutions in health, agriculture, education and community affairs, a news release from The Venture Center said. The mentors will help the entrepreneurs to learn more about pitching ideas, business model creation, prototyping, designing and market validation.
Previous participants include Zapier, a workflow automation company in Columbia, Missouri, and Equipment Share, a construction equipment rental agency in Little Rock. Teams will compete for $2,500 prizes in different categories. Entrepreneurs with all levels of experience are encouraged to take part.
“An event like this is critical to fueling innovative thinkers who are determined to succeed, but are still in search of resources and support to move their business ideas forward,” Arthur Orduña, executive director of The Venture Center, said in the news release. “Entrepreneurs who are now leading billion-dollar companies have participated in events identical to this, and we’re excited to uncover and uplift the potential here in Central Arkansas.”
