Beta in Bentonville: Service Center for Startups Opens at the Collaborative

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A new prototyping lab in Arkansas will help early-stage startups move from concept to reality.

Beta in Bentonville, an initiative led by the U of A at the Collaborative, will offer technical assistance to founders seeking CAD design and functional prototyping of their physical products. Having a prototype in hand will allow startups to receive customer feedback and secure funding for larger-scale production. Beta expects to serve the bicycle industry, advanced air mobility and medical device makers.

“Beta in Bentonville serves as a vital resource for startups seeking to bring their product ideas to fruition,” said Toby Teeter, director of the Collaborative. “Besides our metal fabrication capabilities here in Bentonville, our staff has networked with other fabrication facilities throughout the region to provide a much-needed ‘front door’ for founders and entrepreneurs to fabrication resources across Northwest Arkansas.” 

Beta is anchored by a full-time machinist and shop manager, but will soon add a part-time engineer-in-residence and U of A College of Engineering students. These resident experts will not only offer technical support, but also will act as mentors, aiding non-technical founders in translating their vision into actionable plans.

“Northwest Arkansas is rich with resources that help early-stage entrepreneurs test their ideas, build companies and engage with potential customers and investors,” said Sarah Goforth, executive director of the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. “But until now, we have relied on a patchwork of mostly out-of-state experts and facilities, at a cost, to help them build prototypes and manufacture them in small batches for product testing. Beta in Bentonville will meet a major need for startups at their most vulnerable early stage.”

To learn more and to connect with Beta in Bentonville through their intake form, visit their website.  

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.