Right to Start Hosts Summit on Entrepreneurship in Bentonville

Breanne Davis

National entrepreneurship nonprofit Right to Start is holding a summit in Bentonville next week to highlight local entrepreneurs and share new data about startups in the region.

The “Celebration of Entrepreneurship” event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday at The Momentary in Bentonville.

The free event will include a panel discussion on public policy that will include state Sen. Breanne Davis, state representatives Denise Garner, Aaron Pilkington and Jay Richardson, and Bentonville Mayor Stephanie Orman.

People who wish to attend can register here. More information is available at righttostart.org/nwa-summit.

The nonprofit said other representatives from a host of organizations are scheduled to participate. Those include the Arkansas Coalition of the Marshallese, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Bentonville Chamber of Commerce, Black-Owned Northwest Arkansas, Conexión de Negocios Latinos, Curate, Downtown Springdale Alliance, E for All (NWA), Forge, Kiva US NorthwestArkansas, Nexxt, Rejoicy, Rogers-Lowell Chamber of Commerce, University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, and Woman Run (an initiative by Wright Lindsey & Jennings of Little Rock).

Right to Start says its goal is to “transform America so that all communities prioritize entrepreneurship, clearing away obstacles to ensure that every American has an equal right to start and a level playing field on which to embark.”

The organization said it has six part-time advocates in northwest Arkansas who “bring the voice of underrepresented entrepreneurs to civic leaders and work with policymakers to reduce barriers so that everyone can pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.”