In the heart of downtown Fayetteville lies a nonprofit dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs of all kinds in their business endeavors: Startup Junkie. The nonprofit, which established its mission in 2008, is dedicated to providing no-cost consulting sessions and other helpful resources for aspiring and existing entrepreneurs and business owners. Additionally, the nonprofit offers free coworking spaces and reservable conference rooms.
“Our mission is to empower innovators and entrepreneurs by educating, inspiring and supporting them through no-cost consulting, events, workshops, and programs, and access to capital and talent,” said Harrison Kitson, Director of Marketing and Outreach for the Startup Junkie Foundation. “We’re a hub of resources and referrals.”
Although the nonprofit offers its resources nationwide, Startup Junkie felt a calling to plant its headquarters in Fayetteville. Kitson said that the growth of the business ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas has led to a need for support for local businesses. This need from the community lined up perfectly with Startup Junkie’s mission. “Everyone deserves a piece of the pie,” said Kitson.
Since the start of its mission, Startup Junkie has grown tremendously, adding additional programs and events to its initial line of services. A landmark event thrown by the nonprofit is its Startup Crawl, an annual block party in downtown Fayetteville designed for local startups to connect with its community.
Another generous resource available through the nonprofit is Kiva NWA which is dedicated to helping aspiring entrepreneurs receive microloans to fund their business. Kitson said that the no-cost, no-interest loans are typically provided to entrepreneurs who are financially excluded and are granted based on social capital rather than collateral. Loans are between $1,000-$15,000 and are crowdfunded through the aid of Kiva NWA. These loans are then matched by the Walton Family Foundation.
Several Fayetteville small businesses have benefited from working with Startup Junkie’s programs. Pink Fern, a local business specializing in houseplants and home decor, was able to open its doors because of the services provided by Kiva NWA. Lindsay Neely, founder of Pink Fern, said that, thanks to an interest-free loan from Kiva NWA, she was able to accomplish necessary achievements prior to opening Pink Fern’s store front, including building and maintaining her website, establishing her inventory, and attending private classes and workshops. “Kiva NWA has been a wonderful source for my small business,” said Neely.
Before receiving funding from Kiva NWA, Neely ensured that it was the right step for her business. “My advice for budding small businesses would be to have some experience and a clear vision in place to ensure that additional funding would aid in scalability for your business and financial growth…I truly believe that taking small intentional steps over the past few years has helped each hurdle seem more manageable and led Pink Fern to where it is today,” said Neely.
Pink Fern is not the only local business that has reaped the rewards of receiving aid from Startup Junkie. Joseph Rouse, the teenage founder of SLAPCHALKS, a popular local business that manufactures apparel designed for chalk-using athletes, saw his business take a turn in a positive direction after connecting with the nonprofit.
Rouse, who was only 14-year-old when SLAPCHALKS was patented, initially was building his business solely with the help of his parents. Rouse went through several trial-and-error attempts to perfect his business model, including failed partnerships, technical errors and connecting with an unhelpful patent lawyer. After connecting with Startup Junkie, Rouse was referred to the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program, a business incubator program through the University of Arkansas that granted him $15,000 to grow his business. He was also the first high schooler admitted into the program. “I strongly recommend any startup business in Northwest Arkansas to seek help from Startup Junkie,” said Rouse.
Since receiving aid from Startup Junkie, Rouse has stayed connected with the nonprofit. He has won several pitch competitions hosted by Startup Junkie and is vocal about the nonprofit’s importance to the entrepreneurial community in Fayetteville. “Local investment is a game changer for small businesses, giving them the cash and connections to grow and succeed. Additionally, startups have the opportunity to expand within a supportive community and engage with their investors who understand the region’s unique market dynamics,” said Rouse.
There’s an entrepreneur in everyone, and the business idea brewing in your mind could be the next beloved small business in Northwest Arkansas. If you have an interest in discussing the best path for your next business venture, schedule a meeting with Startup Junkie. Take it from Kitson:
“If you think that you’re someone that isn’t made to start a small business, that’s probably not true. You should come have a conversation with us and see where you potentially fit into the ecosystem – there is a fit for more people than you realize.”
“Local investment is a game changer for small businesses, giving them the cash and connections to grow and succeed. Additionally, startups have the opportunity to expand within a supportive community and engage with their investors who understand the region’s unique market dynamics.” – Joseph Rouse.