The Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, is pleased to name Shannon Frazeur as project specialist. Frazeur will work on all details related to the planning, execution, and follow-up of the organization’s annual business plans competitions, including the Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase for grades 5-8, Youth Entrepreneurship Showcase 2.0 for grades 9-12, and the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup collegiate business plan competition. “Shannon will be increasing awareness of the entrepreneurial opportunities available in Arkansas,” said Marie Bruno, executive director, AEAF. “Her main focus will be on educational programs provided by AEAF to introduce students to entrepreneurship from the elementary to the postsecondary levels.” [Read more…]

Top 26 to compete and sell their products January 17, 2014 at Park Plaza Mall

UA startup Picasolar added some more “hardware” to its growing trophy collection last week with a win at the Cleantech Regional in Austin, Texas. Next up is the NREL Industry Growth Forum in Denver, where Picasolar will be one of 30 national startups to present. Its sister firm, IA client Silicon Solar Solutions, just last week was named to the prestigious DOE SunShot incubator program. [Read more…]

You’ve got 60 seconds to pitch your business idea to a few hundred audience members. If they like yours more than others, you’ll get a cash prize. You’ll get a surge of validation that might encourage you to pursue your idea. Most importantly, you might be introduced to people who can help make your dream a reality. That’s the concept behind “Gone in 60 Seconds,” which is one of numerous entrepreneur-friendly efforts in the state that didn’t exist a few years ago. Born in August 2011 and held about 10 times across the state so far, “Gone in 60 Seconds” gives 20 participants a chance to pitch their ideas before a voting audience. The winner typically wins up to $1,000. As the event’s creator, Jeff Amerine, describes it as “a mating, if you will, of ‘Shark Tank’ and ‘American Idol.’” According to David Moody, an entrepreneur who volunteers with the event, the real goal is to get a lot of ideas into the big end of an economic funnel so that startups – new, scalable companies – flow out the other side. “Gone in 60 Seconds” is one of numerous efforts that are part of what he calls an “entrepreneurial ecosystem.” [Read more…]

The Arkansas Capital Corporation Group (ACCG) is pleased to name Marie Bruno as executive director of the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of ACCG. Bruno’s role as executive director will focus on improving and expanding the education-based initiatives for students in grades 5-12, as well as collegiate students. “Marie’s excellent communication skills, along with her experience in leading non-profits, uniquely positions her to continue building and nurturing partnerships with the business and education communities that will result in the group’s ability to reach more students throughout the state,” said C. Sam Walls, chief executive officer of Arkansas Capital Corporation. “Her expertise will allow us to further expand and improve on our student-based entrepreneurial endeavors.” Marie Bruno joined Connect Arkansas, an affiliate of ACCG, in August 2010 as a vice president, where she was responsible for coordinating and facilitating high-speed Internet deployment, access, and adoption activities in Arkansas and related initiatives at the regional, state and federal levels. [Read more…]

Arkadelphia’s TrustedWills.com went live this month. Trusted Wills, you may remember, is the Ouachita Baptist startup that won the elevator pitch competition in the undergraduate level at the 2013 Arkansas Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup. [Read more…]

Fayetteville drug development startup BiologicsMD announced on Tuesday a partnership with an Oklahoma firm that will make the company’s osteoporosis treatment. BioMD, which has developed what it considers a breakthrough treatment for the disease called PTH-CBD, has contracted with Cytovance Biologics of Oklahoma City to develop a manufacturing platform for the drug. In addition, the firm has welcomed its newest board member, Ensysce Biosciences CEO Lynn Kirkpatrick, to help guide it through the Food and Drug Administration approval process. [Read more…]