Applications Open for Second GORP Cohort

Raleigh Woods

BENTONVILLE, Ark. – From product launch to rapid scaling, the four inaugural companies in the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program have accelerated their entrepreneurial journeys, thanks to GORP's in-depth training, team mentoring and community support. 

"Our first cohort was an excellent example of the kind of backing the Northwest Arkansas community offers to its startups," said Phil Shellhammer, GORP's director. 

"These four companies came in and hit the ground running, thanks to the incredible support of our mentors, workshop leaders and network connections GORP provided them." 

Pedro Somarriba, a local procurement manager and U.S. Army veteran, entered the program with his company Lacaida Ropes, which seeks to improve rock climbing safety with an innovative rope design. He said GORP helped him go from ideation to launch. 

"We would be at least three months behind where we are now had we not been a part of this," Somarriba said. 

Applications for their second cohort open today and will remain open until July 10. The 12-week program will begin at the end of August. 

A business incubator at the U of A focused on outdoor recreation startups, GORP provides a multi-level engagement platform to grow early-stage companies from idea to launch, offering workshops, mentorship, consulting, co-working space, network connections and product/service design. 

The program also provides up to $15,000 in "non-dilutive seed funding" per company, funding that doesn't require the owner to give up equity in the company.  

The Greenhouse is located at the U of A Collaborative, the university's education and research hub in Bentonville. GORP is the first of three planned business incubation programs launched by the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the Greenhouse; the Northwest Arkansas BioDesign Sprints program is slated to launch this summer, and a soon-to-be-announced digital incubation program is planned for early 2023.  

About the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation creates and curates innovation and entrepreneurship experiences for students across all disciplines. Through the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, McMillon Innovation Studio, Startup Village, and Greenhouse at the Bentonville Collaborative, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. A unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and Division of Economic Development, OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.