Student Business Incubator

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

OEI is proud to announce its inaugural Student Business Incubator, a 10-week immersive program offered in Summer 2025 for promising and committed undergraduate entrepreneurs at the University of Arkansas. Benefits include weekly workshops on business fundamentals, dedicated mentors, co-working space, legal and marketing support, and the opportunity to pitch for additional funding.  Accepted students will be employed full-time during the program and paid to focus on launching their ventures.

ELIGIBILITY

Applications are open to current University of Arkansas undergraduate students. This includes seniors who are graduating in May 2025. All majors are welcome.  Each accepted business in the program can have up to two (2) participating students.

EXPECTATIONS

Accepted cohort members will be expected to: 

  • Be onsite at The Greenhouse in Bentonville during work hours.
  • Foster regular interaction with program mentors (at least once weekly).
  • By program’s end, submit a formal business plan and final pitch deck.
  • Pitch their business at the program’s Demo Night on August 5.

PAYMENT

  • Students will be hired and onboarded with the Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • Pay will be $20/hour with an expectation of 40 hours/week from June 2 through August 5, 2025

APPLICATION

Students can apply using this link. Top applicants will be invited to interview. Cohort selections will be made by early December 2024. 

PROGRAM TIMELINE

Applications Open – October 14, 2024 

Applications Due – November 18, 2024 by 11:59pm CT 

Interviews - rolling during the application period 

Notifications – December 2, 2024 

Program Dates – June 2 – August 5, 2025 

Demo Night – August 5, 2025

INFO SESSIONS

Join us for two info sessions about the program:

 

If you have any additional questions, you can reach Zoe Buonaiuto at zbuo@uark.edu.