The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation has launched the Excellence Fund to raise significant funding to enhance OEI programming and better serve students while cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial culture across campus.  

The Excellence Fund, which was kickstarted by a generous $500,000 seed donation from U of A alum Clete Brewer and his family, will give the office the flexibility to pursue new opportunities, test innovative programming ideas and quickly adapt to drive student and program success.  

Brewer, who graduated in 1987, co-founded Brewer Personnel with his parents, Jerry and Kay Brewer. The company later evolved into StaffMark. 

INVESTING IN ARKANSAS' ENTREPRENEURIAL FUTURE  

Supporting the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation means “investing in the future” and strengthening Arkansas’ entrepreneurial ecosystem, according to Phil Shellhammer, OEI’s executive director.  

“Entrepreneurship has the power to transform lives, communities and economies. Since 2016, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation has been building a culture of innovation in Arkansas — one that empowers students, fuels new ventures and strengthens our state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Shellhammer said.  

“By supporting the OEI Excellence Fund, supporters are investing in the future — creating opportunities, breaking barriers and equipping the next generation of innovators with the resources they need to thrive. Together, we can continue this momentum and shape the future of entrepreneurship in Arkansas.”  

In 2017, Clete and his wife, Tammy, together with his parents, donated $600,000 to establish what would become the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub.  

Today, the Hub serves as home to OEI's administrative offices and hosts most of its programming, including the Side Hustle initiative, various workshops and free co-working space. 

“Entrepreneurship is about adaptability and bold thinking,” Brewer said. “The Walton College’s recent ranking as top 25 for the graduate entrepreneurship program nationally shows that others outside our great state are recognizing the impact that OEI is making.”  

OEI’S LASTING IMPACT 

OEI’s impact encompasses the U of A campus and has spread across Arkansas, helping many students launch startups while supporting hundreds of founders with workshops, mentoring and free co-working space.  

OEI has expanded its physical footprint as well, opening Startup Village North in Bentonville while expanding the Startup Village South in Fayetteville. Also overseen by OEI, the McMillon Innovation Studio, U of A’s innovation hub and the starting point for many student leaders, doubled its space after a year of record participation.  

Meanwhile, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program — an outdoor startup incubator — has aided nearly 50 startups in expanding their businesses. Launched in spring 2022, GORP also provides a la carte services to founders and has assisted more than 400 entrepreneurs through consulting and networking events.  

For those who wish to contribute to the fund, please contact Mark Power, assistant dean for philanthropy for the Sam M. Walton College of Business, at mepower@uark.edu. 

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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, the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation provides free workshops and programs — including social and corporate innovation design teams, venture internships, competitions and startup coaching. The Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation also offers on-demand support for students who will be innovators within existing organizations and entrepreneurs who start something new.   

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 $3 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.