About Entrepreneurship
Led by Dr. Carol Reeves, fondly nicknamed "The Coach" by Fortune magazine, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation has achieved worldwide acclaim for its student achievements, including recognition in The New York Times, CNN Money, NPR, Inventor's Digest, and the NASDAQ.
A History of Start-Up Success
Our students count more wins at state and national business plan competitions than any other university – 22 national wins, 54 awards at the Arkansas Governor's Cup, and 3 wins at the Donald W. Reynolds Tri-State. Since 2002, students have won more than $2.8 million in prize money and raised $60 million to build their businesses. The greatest success stories, however, are the 40 startup companies and organizations founded by the program's alumni.
The fundamentals taught in the classroom include identifying and analyzing opportunities, developing viable business models, and funding the start-up process. Whether it's the graduate certificate in entrepreneurship or the MBA entrepreneurship concentration, the goal is the same: to equip students with the tools and opportunities to develop ideas and get noticed.
As of September 2017, University of Arkansas students, faculty, and alumni with an interest in entrepreneurship have a new resource in the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub on the Fayetteville square. The Hub provides free meeting and co-working space for students and alumni, hosts events and workshops, and serves the Northwest Arkansas entrepreneurial community. Email oei@uark.edu to sign up for news and updates, or follow along on Twitter @UofA_ent.
The program helped me become a more well-rounded scientist. It helped me to understand the value of being able to communicate a scientific idea to a diverse audience with the intention of fostering collaboration and growing a business venture.
- Dr. Ellen Brune, 2012
CSO, Boston Mountain Biotech
The entrepreneurship program opened the door to opportunities that otherwise would not have materialized. It literally changed my life.
- Nhiem Cao, 2011
CEO, cycleWood Solutions
Featured Stories
Banner Year for Startup Teams in Regional, National Competitions
Medical device company Lapovations wins first place and best elevator pitch at the University of Oregon New Venture Championship competition, making it the most successful startup competition team in U of A history.
EPIC Spotlight: Heather Nelson
Heather Nelson is drawn to stories. Everybody has one. Even her customers.
Lapovations Wins Second Place Overall at Startup Competition
Medical device company Lapovations took home the Best Life Science Startup Prize, the Women’s Health and Wellness Award, and second place overall at the elite Rice University Business Plan Competition.
Hindsight Team Wins McMillon Innovation Studio Design Contest
A University of Arkansas team will be able to start up its own software solution company after winning $16,000 in the McMillon Innovation Studio’s design contest.
Medical Device Startup Team Wins Louisville Competition
Lapovations LLC, a University of Arkansas entrepreneurship team developing a platform of innovative products that improve minimally invasive surgery, won first place at the Brown-Forman Cardinal Challenge business plan competition in Louisville, Kentucky.
EPIC Spotlight: Michael Cummings
First, he was managing a hamburger restaurant. Then there was a brief stint practicing law in southern California. When he realized the legal profession wasn’t his calling, Michael Cummings taught business law in the city known for its casinos and glitzy entertainment.
Two Teams Share Win at Social Innovation Challenge
Often things are too close to call, and such was the case when student teams pitched their social and environmental design solutions to a panel of faculty and expert judges at the second Social Innovation Challenge.
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