Northwest Arkansas has long been a place where bold ideas take root and thrive. In 1950, Sam Walton opened Walton’s Five & Dime on the Bentonville town square, a venture that set the stage for one of America’s greatest business success stories. That vision grew into Walmart, with the first official store opening in Rogers in 1962. At the same time, other entrepreneurs were building companies that would transform their industries. J.B. Hunt started with a single truck and grew into one of the nation’s largest transportation and logistics companies. Tyson Foods began as a small family poultry business and became a global leader in protein. Simmons Foods, Harps, America’s Car-Mart and PAM Transport also grew from regional roots into respected national brands. Today, thousands of global suppliers have operations in the region, creating a strong foundation for the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Our Work
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
StartupNWA supports entrepreneurs by expanding access to capital, mentorship and networks
The Northwest Arkansas Council continues that legacy through StartupNWA, which connects founders with capital, community and resources to grow. Key programs include Onward HQ, a downtown Bentonville hub offering workspace, mentorship and peer networks, and Onward FX, the state’s premier founder-funder exchange that brings leading venture capital firms to meet one-on-one with startups. In partnership with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Onward FX has expanded statewide, giving founders across Arkansas direct access to national investors.
Northwest Arkansas also benefits from strong partnerships with organizations such as Endeavor Heartland and Plug and Play, which have made meaningful investments in the region’s startup economy. Homegrown entrepreneurial support networks like Startup Junkie, ARISE (Advancing Arkansas’ Startups and Entrepreneurs), Fuel Accelerator and the Highstep Accelerator, together with the University of Arkansas’ Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Technology Ventures, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I2R), work alongside chambers of commerce and city governments to provide critical support for founders at every stage.
This work is made possible with the support of the Walton Family Foundation, which helps expand the resources and education available to early-stage companies. With this ecosystem in place, along with the region’s quality of life and lifestyle amenities, Northwest Arkansas stands out as the ideal place for entrepreneurs to launch and scale businesses in industries ranging from supply chain and food to consumer retail and beyond.
Some key initiatives include:
Expanding access to capital and resources for early-stage startups
Strengthening connections between founders, investors and industry leaders
Leveraging university expertise and research to fuel entrepreneurial growth
Building an ecosystem that helps startups scale and succeed in the region and beyond
