U of A's Incubator to Boost Student Startups

Students are invited to apply to U of A's inaugural Student Business Incubator, a new 10-week immersion program that will pay students full-time and also provide support via expert workshops, mentorship and co-working space. 

Overseen by the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the incubator will launch in summer 2025 and run from June to August. 

The program was conceived to help undergrads with fledgling business ideas and provide a dedicated program to help them develop their business models, according to Zoe Buonaiuto, the office's director of business incubation. 

"This pilot student incubator provides students with an opportunity to get paid full time to validate their ideas and receive expert guidance, with the goal of successfully launching and growing by program's end." she said. 

Applications are open to current undergraduate students, including seniors who are graduating in May 2025. Applications are open and close at 11:59 p.m. on Nov. 18. Accepted companies will be notified on Dec. 2. 

Students accepted into the cohort will be expected to foster regular interaction with program mentors, and by the end of the program, submit a formal business plan and final pitch deck. Students will also be required to pitch their business at the program's Demo Night in August. 

The program will be housed at the Greenhouse at the U of A Collaborative, U of A's innovation space in Bentonville.  

Students will be hired by OEI and paid $20 per hour — bi-weekly — with an expectation of 40 hours a week from June 2 through August 5. Each accepted business can have up to two participating students. 

Buonaiuto said she plans on accepting five "exceptionally strong companies" for the cohort after interviewing 15 of the top applicants. 

"It is an all-inclusive experience for student founders willing to dedicate 10 intense, full-time weeks to the program," Buonaiuto added. "We're thrilled to support Razorback entrepreneurs." 

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.