Meet the incredibly talented, Canon Reeves! CEO and co-founder of MORE Technologies, Canon is currently a sophomore at the University of Arkansas working toward providing every child in Arkansas access to robotics. From winning a competition with RFID smart cabinets to pitching at and winning the most recent Startup Weekend, Canon has been busy developing prototypes and add-ons for his robots. In the hopes of improving STEM education and access in the state, Canon plans on using MORE Technologies’ robotics kits to keep kids hooked on STEM for the long haul.
Check out Canon’s time-lapse of an all-night build session here.
Learn more about MORE at moretech.co, and check out summer classes for the kids at nerdies.me
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
The Enactus team at the University of Arkansas is on the rise, and is headed to the Enactus National Competition to present three major projects in Kansas City for the first time in eight years. Director of Enactus at the University, Rachel Sullivant, explains the students’ projects. From a hybrid coffee & retail space that employs adults with developmental disabilities to a workshop allowing those experiencing homelessness to create and sell home décor, Enactus is on a mission to engage students and the community to tackle complex social issues through entrepreneurship.
Get to know Rachel, and how you can get involved with social entrepreneurship by reaching out to her at rsullivant@walton.uark.edu.
Learn more about Enactus here, and check out the idea behind the McMillon Innovation Studio here!
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
We flip the script on Matt Waller, Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business, and place him in the hot seat. A purveyor of entrepreneurship, Dean Waller is known for his interviews with entrepreneurs, and we couldn’t be more excited to get the latest on business, entrepreneurship and the future of experiential learning at the University. The future of the Walton College of Business will integrate other colleges on campus to provide a hands-on and innovative learning experience that will create the next generation of entrepreneurs, small business owners and corporate moguls.
Check out all the Walton College of Business has been up to here!
Have a question for Dean Waller? Reach out to him at mwaller@uark.edu.
Check out his entrepreneurial spotlights on his Linkedin.
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
Meet Chad Williamson, a man who’s worn many hats (or should we say bowties). From an early age, his perception on social constructs was shifted by his military brat upbringing. From his first business, to his current educational non-profit, it’s amazing to see how relationships and character development inspired Chad’s journey. Current co-founder of Noble Impact, an educational non-profit providing students with purpose-driven education, Chad has been a forerunner on the entrepreneurial scene focused on purpose and experience. His advice for the budding entrepreneur is translated best by song – catch it at the end of the podcast!
Learn more about Noble Impact here!
Follow Noble Impact on Facebook, and Instagram @nobleimpact.
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
Meet Steve Perry, president of Denovo Brands. Dedicated to innovative outdoor retail products, Steve, along with several other Denovo owners, stems from a career in mass market retail at Walmart. Denovo Brands includes Equip, which focuses on hammocks, and Kijaro, which produces premium sporting & outdoor chairs. Join us as we sit down with Steve and learn about the challenges of building a retail product company in NWA, as well as the ins and outs of product development.
Learn more about Denovo Brands here, and check out Kijaro and Equip!
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
Introducing our very own, Ellen Brune! Holding a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, Ellen is our Senior Entrepreneur in Residence. Ellen serves as a liaison between Startup Junkie and the University of Arkansas. Her focus is helping scientists at the University commercialize their research. Ellen’s experience with her own company, Boston Mountain Biotech, is invaluable and tailored to science-based startups. Much of the value of science-based startups is tied up in intellectual property, making it challenging to gain fundraising. With Ellen’s extensive experience, and her wealth of skills (including mountain biking and home brewing kombucha), she’s a strong advocate for the science-based entrepreneur in NWA.
Reach out to Ellen at ellen@startupjunkie.org & follow her on Instagram @ebrune3.
Want to learn more about Boston Mountain Biotech? Check it out here!
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
Ashton McCombs and Jeff are both Naval Academy graduates who took a successful plunge into entrepreneurship. In this episode, Ashton shares stories about the path that led he and two colleagues to leave corporate careers and start Phigenics, a smart water management company in 2004. It has been over a decade, and Ashton shares stories, lessons learned and advice to future entrepreneurs.
In addition to presiding over Phigenics, Ashton is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of Spectrum Living Solutions (SLS). SLS was created in response to the needs of several individuals with family members who have developmental disabilities. Since its inception in Arkansas in 2015, the SLS team has grown to encompass a wide variety of individuals, including proven business and community leaders.
Learn more about Phigenics here!
Follow them on Facebook and Twitter @Phigenics.
Learn more about SLS on their website & follow them on Facebook.
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
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