StartupNWA is focused on supporting innovation and building a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas.
The region’s innovation economy is underpinned by three Fortune 500 companies — Walmart, Tyson Foods and J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. — along with over a thousand globally known suppliers. In addition, the University of Arkansas plays an integral role in supporting local startups by connecting companies with the next generation of tech talent.
Throughout the region, key entrepreneurial support organizations help companies from ideation to scalability. These include Endeavor Heartland, Fuel Accelerator, Plug and Play Tech Center, Startup Junkie, University of Arkansas Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program and University of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, just to name a few. Abundant business services, including consulting, programming, events, coworking, training, mentorship and investor relations, are available for entrepreneurs innovating in the areas of data analytics, global supply chain, omnichannel retail, ecommerce, food, consumer technologies, healthtech, life sciences and beyond.
The Heartland Summit, NWA Tech Summit and NWA TechFest are just a sampling of Northwest Arkansas’ signature events that rally communities around innovation, technology, startups, entertainment, food and talent development. In addition, StartupNWA maintains a calendar of events to help get plugged into the NWA ecosystem and connect with founders and aspiring entrepreneurs
Despite the influx of new startups and entrepreneurs in the Heartland, areas outside of “traditional” coastal economic centers still struggle to access venture capital funding. This reality limits resources to support entrepreneurship and hinders economic growth.
To help bridge that gap, StartupNWA and its partners created Onward FX, a statewide venture capital platform connecting high-growth startups with leading investors from across the country. Formerly known as Venture Capital Immersions, Onward FX brings venture capital firms directly into Arkansas through curated one-on-one meetings, founder programming and ecosystem events designed to foster meaningful connections between investors, founders, corporate leaders and emerging startups.
Alongside efforts like the 412 Angels network, which helps educate and activate new angel investors across the corridor connecting Tulsa and Northwest Arkansas, the state continues building a stronger and more connected capital ecosystem.
Arkansas is home to a growing network of accelerators, support organizations and entrepreneurial resources. The number of these organizations has expanded significantly over the past decade, reflecting an ecosystem increasingly positioned for startup growth and venture investment.
