The flagship business incubator at the U of A, the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP), will open applications for its seventh cohort of companies on Friday, Oct. 18.  

Led by the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, GORP supports startups in the outdoor recreation sector, and its Cohort Incubator offers a 12-week curriculum including workshops, a dedicated mentor team, product/service development assistance, up to $15,000 per company of non-dilutive funding and an intern from OEI's Venture Intern Program. 

The competitive program, located in Bentonville, is offered twice a year to selected applicants. The deadline to apply is Friday, Nov. 15. Accepted companies will be notified on Wednesday, Nov. 27.

"We're seeking founders at the idea-to-launch stage," said Zoe Buonaiuto, director of business incubation and the key lead of the program.

"These are founders that have identified a problem in the industry, have validated an early solution, but who've not yet fully entered the market. They're committed to launching the business and have the bandwidth and dedication to be fully engaged with the program over the course of 12 weeks." 

The cohort will span Jan. 28 to April 8, 2025. There will be a Demo Night on April 15 to showcase the companies' progress. Companies accepted into the cohort will be expected to commit an average of 15 hours per week to the program and their businesses.  

Prospective applicants are encouraged to schedule a one-to-one consultation with members of the GORP team to learn more about how to best position their application for success. Email gorp@uark.edu to get started.

GORP launched with four startups in spring 2022, and in the last three years, more than three dozen startups have expanded their businesses through GORP's semiannual cohort program. Founders in previous cohorts have praised GORP for its leadership, access to mentors and the program's ability to provide accountability and opportunities for growth in the Northwest Arkansas community.  

GORP has also supported more than 400 entrepreneurs through its General Entrepreneurial Support services, which include workshops, networking events, one-on-one consulting and access to co-working space.  

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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.