Jason Kohrig, Justin Urso and Jay Castro of ARK Challenge alumni startup Skosay.
Fayetteville entrepreneur Justin Urso will be the next director of the McMillon Innovation Studio, the University of Arkansas announced Wednesday.
The studio, founded in 2014 with a $1 million grant from Walmart Inc. CEO Doug McMillon and his wife, Shelley, works with industry partners on challenges and opportunities that require innovative approaches. The center is part of the Sam M. Walton College of Business.
“The McMillon Innovation Studio reaches a diverse, interdisciplinary population of students who are driven to use their time at the University of Arkansas to not just learn but to create meaningful change in the world,” said Sarah Goforth, executive director of the UA Office of Entrepreneurship, which oversees the studio.
“Justin is the perfect person to design the experiences and connect the mentor communities that help students create new products and services that address important problems and needs.”
The UA said Urso has worked with startups and helped companies expand by harnessing data. His experience also includes mentoring and coaching student teams on product strategy, software and app development and business model design.
“I’m excited to not only be part of the amazing University of Arkansas staff but to be part of the Walton College and OEI, all of which have had a profound impact on shaping my life in a positive way,” Urso said. “When the opportunity came about, it didn’t take me long to realize how great a fit it would be.”
Since 2017, Urso has served as strategy consultant at Concord Adams, a company he co-founded that provides custom website design and development services. In 2014, he co-founded Skosay, a retail technology company whose clients include Tyson Foods Inc. of Springdale and Kellogg Co. of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Urso also co-founded Big Box Karaoke in Fayetteville, which was named Small Business of the Year by the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce in 2019. He’s has been a mentor to the UA Office of Entrepreneurship and Delta I-Fund since and a member of the Walton College DREAM Advisory Board.
Urso, a UA graduate, started in a part-time capacity on March 15 and plans to transition to full-time later this year.
Rachel Sullivant, who has been interim director of the studio since December, will continue in her previous role as assistant director. Sullivant will continue to oversee the studio’s design teams, which allow students to harness human-centered design principles to solve problems in an array of industries.
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