Rogelio Garcia Contreras is the Director of Social Innovation at the Sam Walton College of Business, and he’s planting the seeds of social entrepreneurship in NWA. Through bringing the Social Innovation Challenge to the University of Arkansas, Rogelio has created a collaborative environment for anyone who’s interested in solving pressing community problems with, you guessed it, innovation. By encouraging entrepreneurial social innovation, Rogelio provides a compelling argument for companies to establish viable and sustainable operational processes with the fate of the community and future generations in mind.
Check out the Social Innovation Initiative of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation here!
To learn more about the Social Innovation Challenge, shoot Rogelio an email at rogeliog@uark.edu.
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Being an entrepreneur comes with its fair share of hang-ups and frustrations, but it’s not often that you’re ejected from the driver’s seat of your own business venture. Omar Kasim, previous founder and owner of Con Quesos, experienced just that. From an operational upswing, to having a partner leverage financials to remove him from the company, Omar is on the come up with his latest venture, Juice Palm. The first USDA certified organic restaurant in the state, Juice Palm is booming, and its cold pressed juices are pressing the competition.
Check out Juice Palm on the corner of Steele & Joyce Blvd. in Fayetteville. Be on the lookout for their Bentonville location, which will include a production kitchen & café, coming up later this year in the 8th Street Market!
Learn more about Juice Palm’s menu and values at JuicePalm.com.
Follow them on Facebook @Juicepalm, and Instagram @juicepalm_.
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
From bubbles, to market crashes, to wise investment decisions – join us for a special episode where we bring back someone near and dear to our hearts, Jon Cadieux, the original co-host of the Startup Junkies Podcast! Jon is the CEO and founder of 455 Media Group, a company committed to helping small businesses get the most for their marketing budget.
Check out 455 Media Group at 455mediagroup.com.
Follow them on Facebook @455mediagroup.
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Did you know that there are 54 countries on the African continent? That’s 54 opportunities to trade and foster communications with nations that are up-and-coming in the sphere of innovation! Toyin Umesiri, CEO and founder of Nazaru, talks with us about commercial interests in Africa, the Trade with Africa Business Summit, and how one person can have a major impact on such a global scale. She also talks about how her company, Nazaru, fosters B2B dialogue and showcases Africa’s many different exporters and brands.
To learn more about Nazaru, visit Nazaru.com.
To learn more about the Trade with Africa Business Summit click here.
Get to know more about Toyin through her website, ToyinUmesiri.com.
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Company executives don’t just grow on trees – your C-suite could come to you as a result of services that specialize in executive search and executive coaching. Join us as we learn from the best in the business (of business). Executive recruiter and Razorback football alum, Cary, explains the importance of culture and talent to a company, while career coach, Tanya, explains authenticity and succession planning to scale up a business.
Looking to boost your business with talent? Check out Cary’s services at stringersearch.com, reach out to him directly at cary@stringersearch.com.
Ready to look into leadership development? Reach out to Tanya at thayesbluvista@outlook.com or (312)-718-2790.
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
From its humble beginnings as a food truck, Yeyo’s Mexican Grill is setting up shop in downtown Bentonville. With a seasonal food truck and a brick-and-mortar business to run downtown, you might wonder how founder Rafael Rios had time to sit with us for this podcast episode. We join him in his restaurant, just days before its public opening, to talk about the roots and foundation of Yeyo’s, as well as the story behind the Rios Family Farm.
Fun fact: If you eat in a restaurant in Bentonville, chances are, you’re eating food sourced from the Rios Family Farm. Learn about the dream, as well as the mentality, behind Yeyo’s, El Alma de Mexico.
Stop in for a grilled burrito or the MST (Mexican street tacos) at 801 SE 8th Street, Bentonville, AR 72712.
Need an event catered? Check out yeyosmexicangrill.com
Like and follow them on Facebook @yeyosmexicangrill and Instagram @yeyosmexicangrill
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Ever wonder why entrepreneurs flock to coffee shops? Recently published author, Ancil Lea, explains the mindset of an entrepreneur, as well as our ingrained aversion to traditional office spaces.
In his book, Common Grounds: An Entrepreneurial Guide to the Coffee Shop, Ancil explains the importance of community support through your local coffee shop. Listen as Ancil spills the beans on the coffee shop dynamic, the entrepreneurial grind, and the potential for personalized healthcare through ever-changing technology.
Get the scoop on Ancil’s medical software technology and services at http://www.ancillea.com/.
Check out his book, Common Grounds, on Amazon.
Follow Ancil Lea Consulting on Facebook and catch the latest buzz on Twitter @ancilleaceo.
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
If you’re looking for a made-from-scratch breakfast, look no further than The Buttered Biscuit. With fresh-made breakfast foods sourced from clean ingredients, Anna and Sam Russell deliver a homemade spin on the most important meal of the day.
The couple, hailing from Michigan, explains their brand-built restaurant that facilitates great memories and a consistent brand culture. Driven by a love of breakfast foods and the experience of previous startup hang-ups, Anna & Sam have created a purpose-driven business that fills a niche in the Bentonville community.
Stop in for breakfast at 1403 SE Moberly Lane, Bentonville, AR 72712
View their menu here: https://www.thebutteredbiscuit.co/
Like their foodie posts on Instagram @thebutteredbiscuit and follow them on Facebook @TheButteredBiscuit
Get your weekly dose of entrepreneurial wisdom by subscribing to us on the Podcasts app!
Follow us on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook!
Hear the stories of other great startup businesses by listening to our previous podcasts here!
Hosts: Jeff Amerine & Michael Iseman
Our guest, Leo Orpin, has opened the first cidery in the state of Arkansas, located in the heart of Springdale. Leo was kind enough to bring some "prowlers" (the cidery's version of a growler) to share his delicious product, and he walks us through the cider making process, as well everything they leveraged to build a destination hang-out spot in Springdale.
In this weeks episode, we say goodbye to co-host Jon Cadieux, who is moving on to bigger and better things. Thank you for all of your efforts in launching the podcast, it's been a fun ride, and we hope to see you for many beers to come.
Find Leo and the Black Apple Crossing here:
321 E Emma Ave, Springdale, AR 72764
Menguin is an online shop for tuxedo and suit rentals. Justin and Nathan built Menguin with the mission of making the tux rental process easier on the customer. And that is exactly what they strive to do day-in and day-out. Listen in as they tell us a story of how far they go to provide their customers with the best customer service.
Jessica Boyd with the Community Ventures Foundation joins us for a conversation on their mission to educate, engage, support, and build the entrepreneurial community by increasing the breadth, depth, and quality of free entrepreneurship initiatives.
The Community Venture Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in July of 2015. Our organization was formed to address the need for more free entrepreneurship initiatives in our community. We are committed to building the entrepreneurial community in Arkansas and our surrounding regions. All of our activities fall within one or more of three focus areas: Entrepreneurship Education, Engaging Entrepreneurs, and Supporting Existing Efforts.
We have provided support for and led efforts such as the Small Business Association's (SBA) Regional Innovation Cluster Initiative, the SBA's InnovateHER contest, the Winrock International and the state of Arkansas’s Innovate Arkansas program, the 100 Girls of Code program, MentorCamp, Give Camp NWA, and many more entrepreneurship-focused initiatives.
Our mission is to educate, engage, support, and build the entrepreneurial community by increasing the breadth, depth, and quality of free entrepreneurship initiatives. Our goal is to improve the quality of life in the regions where we operate, by increasing the number of entrepreneurial opportunities and success stories.
www.communityventurefoundation.org
Our contact information:
Jeff Amerine / Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com
Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com / www.bentonvilleworkplace.com
In this episode we talk with businesses that were chosen to be a part of the Two Seven Zero Accelerator, a Startup Junkie Consulting initiative. Recorded in the basement of the the Old Post Office in Fayetteville and hosted by Hayseed Ventures.
Business descriptions taken from their company websites.
4:40 Ben Mills, Owner and Founder of Fossil Cove Brewing Co, 1946 N Birch Ave, Fayetteville, AR.
www.fossilcovebrewing.com
ben@fossilcovebrewing.com
8:20 Shannon Bedore, Managing Director of Sightline Retial.
Sightline is uniquely positioned to offer non public companies the ability to leverage a centralized retail administration team to help develop relationships and achieve growth across multiple retailers.
Sightline has expertise in buying, replenishment, analytics, project management and marketing. their team is designed to be an extension of yours and they are fully aligned with key retailers’ organizational structure. This, along with the management and aggregation of data and strategy from each retailer partner, allows for efficient and effective solutions.
www.sightlineretail.com/
12:50 Danny Duong, Founder of Bespoke Knots. Bespoke Knots is an Arkansas based menswear company focused on the pursuit of creating your perfect bow tie. Each of their ties are designed and fabricated around an individuals specific set of needs, so they don't sell off-the-shelf, mass produced neckwear.
www.bespokeknots.com/
17:10 Loria Oliver, Host Retail Her and Founder, The Tot Tote. The Tot Tote is a two in one system that goes from a stylish toy organizer to an amazing tote bag for your child. It is designed to help the busy parent with their growing child’s needs.
The Tot Tote can help organize your child’s toys, books, crayons, snacks and more in the car, on the plane and beyond.
www.thetottote.com
21:00 Josh Rackley, Founder of Mosh Marketing. Mosh Marketing is a marketing company serving small businesses, with an emphasis on digital marketing.
Our contact information:
Jeff Amerine / Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com / www.startupjunkieconsulting.com
Jon Cadieux / jon@455mediagroup.com / www.455mediagroup.com / www.bentonvilleworkplace.com
In this episode we set up a booth at the 2015 NWA Technology Summit in Rogers Arkansas. The NWA Tech Summit is put together each year by the NWA Tech Council & the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce. This episode is a break from our normal format in that we interview several people including high school students, entrepreneurs and a New York Times best selling author.
Note that Jon mistakenly refers to the President and CEO of AT&T Mobile & Business Services Ralph Del Rio, in fact his name is Ralph de la Vega. Our apologies to Mr. de la Vega.
Our guest in order of appearance:
1:50 Joyce Grippi, Founder of Grippi Business Solutions
8:15 Mary Lewis, Executive Director, Accelerate Arkansas
20:55 Bentonville School District Ignite PSC Program Students Aikman Ewalt, Castle Kerr, Ernesto Santos
29:50 Louis Patler, PH.D. New York Times best-selling author, speaker and consultant, President of The B.I.T. Group
Thank you to the Bentonville/Bella Vista Chamber of Commerce, the NWA Tech Council and all of the folks who made the summit a success.
Our contact info:
Jeff Amerine
Startup Junkie Consulting
Jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
Jon Cadieux
455 Media Group, LLC
jon@455mediagroup.com
Kelly Miller shares his story of not only running a successful software development company but how he helped build one of the top startups in Northwest Arkansas.
We talk with Hayseed Ventures COO Scott Andrews. Hayseed Ventures is a VC Production Studio located in Northwest Arkansas. They are actively working to change the face of startups in Northwest Arkansas and to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurship in beautiful downtown Fayetteville.
Q : What do you do?
Scott: We are a startup that starts startups. We are a venture studio, with a team of 7, we partner with early stage companies and help them raise funds. Our goal is to work with 6 to 8 companies a year.
Q : Who is John James?
Scott: He is a physician by profession who likes to build businesses. He figured out how to arbitrage keywords back in the 90s with google adword traffic and became a huge portion of it, he built Grill Stuff and started Acumen brands (monetizing facebook).
Q: What is your competitive advantage?
Scott: Customer Acquisition. We understand the process of getting the data, analyzing it and creating the economic machine that drives it.
Q: What are some of your current portfolios.
Scott: We actually have 5. One is the Q-Ball, it's a quiz ball reloaded. We built the content behind the machine and then built a SaaS business around it and built an online platform for it
Q: What kind of companies you work for?
Scott: A company that is early but has some tractions, some customers and some revenues.
Example: Menguin (Online Tuxedo Rental)
Q: Your model, how it is different from venture fund or from incubator or accelerator?
Scott: Its kind a mixed of everything. Our revenue is like a venture fund. We are co-founder.
Q : How did you come to work for Hayseed Ventures?
Scott: My interest is to work with a lot of different engineers and to continuously learn and learn about new things.
Q: What advice could you give to entrepreneurs who might want to talk to Hayseed?
Scott: Any entrepreneur needs to understand the problem they are solving, If you have specific interest or understanding, turn into competitive advantage.
Q: What do you look for entrepreneurs or businesses to work with?
Scott: We have a checklist and the top 3 are: Can we test this quickly? Can we reiterate it quickly and can we do it cheaply? And aside from these, we also identify if the business is a 10 million dollar business, if not then it is not something that we mess with. Does it have a clear customer acquisition strategy?
Q: Why should entrepreneurs come to Hayseed?
Scott: With a team having different brains, you get a lot of experience thinking about you all the time and you get a lot of contacts. An accelerator would introduce you to a lot of people and say go figure it out; a venture capital groups would say here’s the check, go figure it out. We’ll say come work with us, we will help you figure it out. We are hands-on and we’re teacher, not doers. We will teach you how to run your social strategy, how to manage your website and how to raise capital.
Q: What needs to happen next to make this whole Northwest Arkansas rock and roll?
Scott: I think we need to continue the path that we’re going, we’re starting to create density. Find ways to retain talents.
Q: What is your message to big companies, why do they need to care about this startup things?
Scott: I think that when we do better, they’ll do better as well. They’re going to be able to attract more talents and provide more service to them.
Q: Why should they come to this region?
Scott: This region is the Silicon Valley for retail. You’ve got Fortune One and everything that supports it. There are vendors and world-class educational institution here.
Our contact info:
Jeff Amerine
jeff@startupjunkieconsulting.com
www.startupjunkieconsulting.com
Jon Cadieux
jon@455mediagroup.com
www.455mediagroup.com
www.bentonvilleworkplace.com