Entrepreneur Launches Product After Going Through U of A Business Incubator
Pedro Somarriba, a local entrepreneur who was part of the pilot outdoor recreation incubator at the U of A, has a simple message to share: "You would be missing a huge opportunity not to apply."
Somarriba is the founder of Lacaida Ropes, and his vision is to make rock climbing safer by creating innovative, dynamic ropes with custom designs and meter markings.
In February, Somarriba joined the initial cohort of the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP). Less than six months later, he's on the heels of a product launch with plans to expand his inventory.
"I anticipated GORP helping me understand how to be an entrepreneur, what steps I needed to take to bring a company to fruition," Somarriba said.
"(GORP) delivered on all that and then some. There were resources that I was connected with that I would never have known to ask about."
Lacaida launched its rope line in June, and Somarriba said he's working to add tarps to the company's product line. He points to three of GORP's pillars that assisted him on his journey: mentorship, funding and access to a vast network of business leaders across Northwest Arkansas.
"We're three months ahead of where we would be had we not had GORP," Somarriba said. "GORP was everything to getting us to where we're at. GORP helped me hone in on how to do that and held me accountable to go do it."
Led by the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, GORP supports startups with workshop training, team mentoring and dedicated product/service development to help them scale globally. The 12-week 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.
Somarriba's overall experience is emblematic of GORP's mission, according to Phil Shellhammer, program director.
"Lacaida is a excellent example of why GORP exists," Shellhammer said. "If you truly understand the biggest problems of your customers, and solve those problems for them, your chances of success increase significantly. And that's exactly what we're trying to teach through the GORP incubator."
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 and Startup Village, OEI provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. OEI also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.
Contacts
Brandon Howard, communications and social media specialist
Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
479-418-4803,
bjhoward@uark.edu