U of A Startup Village Relocates to Fayetteville Square

Startups affiliated with the U of A now have a new space in downtown Fayetteville to help launch their ventures, as Startup Village South has relocated to One East Center. 

Overseen by the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Startup Village South provides 24/7 access to dedicated desk space, free WiFi, a conference room, lounge and small kitchenette. Founders will also be adjacent to the Arkansas Small Business Technology and Development Center, which relocated as well. 

Zoe Buonaiuto, OEI's director of business incubation, said the relocation is part of a larger mission to cultivate a central location in downtown Fayetteville where founders can commune with other entrepreneurs, meet clients, and get support from organizations committed to help them grow. 

"This is the primary benefit of the move: we're building a nexus of entrepreneurship and small business support in downtown Fayetteville," Buonaiuto said. 

"ASBTDC, Startup Junkie, and Startup Village will be in the same building, providing a central location for U of A students and affiliates to get help in launching their ventures in one building." 

Current Startup Village South tenants include Venku, Nyarai Skincare, Renewed Robotics, and TrailPilot. Former Startup Village included 3D Pi Prints, AutoWillow, Rejoicy, CelluDot, Lapovations, and AMBOTS.  

Due to space constraints, only U of A students, faculty, staff and alumni are able to apply for membership to Startup Village South, Buonaiuto said. However, all "affiliates" are welcome to apply to Startup Village North in Bentonville. 

Affiliates include community members who are active participants, or past participants, in any business incubation programming sponsored by OEI and/or ventures counseled and serviced by ASBTDC. 

Applications for membership are open to early-stage companies, defined as scalable, pre-revenue ventures developing a product or service that have limited operational history and minimal market presence — or are in their first year of revenue and are continuing to refine their business model. University undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff and affiliates are welcome to apply.  

Accepted members are granted an initial six-month term, which can be extended for a second six-month term if they demonstrate progress, growth, and establish a meaningful presence in the Startup Village facilities. The first year of membership is free. Members wanting a second and final year of access in Startup Village will be charged a nominal membership fee (between $25 - $50 per person per month depending on the location) which will fund program supplies and events.

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.