AI Startup Founder to Be Keynote Speaker at Heartland Challenge

March 24, 2025
Rajat Paharia launched his startup, Ask Steve, to put artificial intelligence into the hands of employees instead of big companies.
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Rajat Paharia launched his startup, Ask Steve, to put artificial intelligence into the hands of employees instead of big companies.

The founder of an artificial intelligence startup who relocated from California to Northwest Arkansas will be the keynote speaker for the sixth annual Heartland Challenge, a global student startup competition hosted by the U of A. 

Designed to simulate the process of raising venture capital for a high-growth enterprise, the Heartland Challenge is a global, graduate student startup competition overseen by the U of A Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The competition has awarded nearly $588,500 in prize money since it was first held virtually in spring 2020.  

Rajat Paharia, who launched Ask Steve after nearly a decade at Google, said he saw an opportunity to put AI into the hands of employees instead of big companies. 

"That's kind of the whole premise of Ask Steve: anybody can build these really powerful AI tools and implement them, and then share with their colleagues," Paharia said. 

"AI is amazing, but that doesn't matter if people don't use it because it's too complicated, too much work or doesn't solve their day-to-day problems," Paharia said. 

Paharia and his family moved to Northwest Arkansas just over two years ago but had been visiting the area since the late 1990s, when his in-laws moved here. His family grew to love the area and its access to the outdoors, so they decided to give living here full-time a shot. 

While Paharia knew about the region's outdoor amenities and remarkable growth, he was unaware of its thriving startup environment. But he soon got connected with the entrepreneurial ecosystem, linking up with key figures like Toby Teeter, director at The Collaborative; Kat Carlisle, director of networks for Fieldbook Studio; Serafina Lalany, executive director of Startup NWA Hub; and of course, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the U of A. 

For the second straight year, medical and biotechnology startups dominate the field for the Heartland Challenge, which will welcome 12 teams from across North America to Bentonville next month as they compete for a prize pool of nearly $100,000.  

A record 133 teams submitted applications for this year's event, which will be held April 3-5 in downtown Bentonville at the Ledger. The final round will be live-streamed and open to the public.  

The competition is hosted again this year by the Sam M. Walton College of Business with generous primary support from the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. The competition's presenting sponsor is Arkansas Capital Corporation.  

The overall winner will collect $40,000. The second-place team will receive $20,000; third place, $10,000; fourth place, $5,000; and fifth place, $1,000. First and second place winners in the elevator pitch competition — decided by an audience vote — win $3,000 and $2,000, respectively.  

There will also be three Investor Roundtable Awards worth $3,000 each.  

Past Heartland Challenge winners include startups focused on better facilitating physical therapy, storing digital data and a recycling-based building materials company.  

The Startup Expo, returning for its fourth year, will feature a public showcase of the competitors. The free event will be held at the Ledger and includes appetizers and drinks, concluding with an audience vote for their favorite startup, with the winner receiving $5,000. Those interested in attending the Startup Expo can RSVP here. 

Brent Williams, dean of the Walton College, emphasized the importance of competitions like the Heartland Challenge in strengthening the region's innovation landscape and inspiring future entrepreneurs.  

"The Heartland Challenge is a testament to the Walton College's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation," Williams said. "By bringing together top student-led startups, this competition not only accelerates venture development but also connects founders with the mentors, investors and resources they need to succeed. Just as importantly, it gives our current students the opportunity to see what is possible—to witness firsthand how innovative ideas can turn into high-growth ventures. We are proud to support emerging entrepreneurs and showcase Northwest Arkansas as a thriving hub for new ideas and business growth." 

Finalist Judges 

  • Mitch Brooks, co-founder and managing partner, High Street Equity  

  • Gregoire Lehmann, principal, New Road Capital Partners 

  • M.K. Marsden, founder, Touchpoint Strategies 

  • Tracy Poole, founder and managing partner, 46 Venture Capital 

  • Jeff Stinson, founder, HealthTech Arkansas 

Semifinalist Judges 

  • Andrew Gibbs Dabney, founder and CEO, LIVSN 

  • Andrew Miles, director of partnerships, Ridy 

  • Anoop Prasana, head of Global Responsibility Tech, Walmart Global Technology 

  • April Seggebruch, managing partner, Good Gravy Group 

  • Canem Arkan, managing director, Endeavor Heartland and 412 Angels 

  • Chris Thompson, founder and CEO, Sober Sidekick 

  • David Matthews, managing director, RevTech Ventures 

  • Douglas Hutchings, CEO, Delta Solar 

  • Drew McKinnon, regional president, Midlands, Main Street Health 

  • Jeff Amerine, founder and managing director, Startup Junkie Consulting and Cadron Capital 

  • Joshua Stanley, managing partner, Fieldbook Venture Studio 

  • Lisa Stafford, research director, Community Clinic 

  • Neal Rickner, CEO, Airloom Energy 

  • Nhiem Cao, president, C12XL 

  •  Ramsay Ball, principal, Focus Commercial Real Estate 

  • Robyn Goforth, VP technology assessment, VIC Technology Venture Development 

  • Serafina Lalany, executive director, Startup NWA, Northwest Arkansas Council 

  • Spencer Jones, founder, XO Medtech 

  • Stan Zylowski, co-founder and chairman, Movista 

  • Tracy Black, partner, NewRoad Capital Partners 

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.   

Contacts

Brandon Howard, communications manager
Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation
479-418-4803, bjhoward@uark.edu

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