- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

��Vlog��ý Little Rock business students selected to participate in Rice Business Plan Competition

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 13:07:13 +0000

A team of business students from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock has been selected as one of 42 teams from some of the world’s top universities who will compete for more than $1.5 million in prizes at the April 4-6.�� The competition has been dubbed as the world’s richest and largest student startup competition with a top prize of a $300,000 investment from the GOOSE Society. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was the only team from Arkansas selected to compete. The “�ղ��ܲ��Ծ��” team is comprised of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students Noah Asher, senior finance and economics major; Abigail Resendiz, senior international business and management major; and Zach Cochran, senior economics major. Martial Trigeaud, a ��Vlog��ý Little Rock adjunct professor and business consultant at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, is mentoring the team. “We are very excited to be competing in this prestigious new venture competition and to be recognized as one of the top startup teams in the world,” Asher said. The group collaborated with and Baptist Health Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit Nurse Anna Helm to commercialize a medical device invented by Chrisman. The device, the “Speed-Torque,” is a medical torque device used by surgeons in minimally invasive heart surgery, also known as interventional cardiology procedures. The teams for this year’s competition were chosen from more than 300 applicants to compete in four categories: life sciences/medical devices/digital health; digital/information technology/mobile; energy/clean technology/sustainability; and other innovations/investment opportunity. More than 210 former competitors have successfully launched their ventures and are still in business today, including 25 startups that have been acquired. Past competitors have raised more than $2.2 billion in capital and created more than 3,000 new jobs. “The true measure of success for the Rice Business Plan Competition is the number of teams that launch, raise funding, and go on to succeed in their business,” said Brad Burke, managing director of the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship at Rice University, host of the event. “The competition has served as the launch pad for a great number of successful entrepreneurial ventures, and the success rate far exceeds the national average.” Community members can show their support for the team by casting their vote in the People’s Choice Competition via Facebook. ��Vlog��ý Little Rock’s team has already seen success promoting the speed-torque. They won second place and a $3,000 prize during the Ivey Business Plan Competition in January and will also enter the upcoming Arkansas Governor’s Cup competition. Asher was part of a team of ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students who won the undergraduate division of the Arkansas Governor’s Cup and a $25,000 prize last year for their business plan for Spiritum Solutions, a mouth guard designed so that patients undergoing surgery or bronchoscope procedures do not damage their mouths by biting down on the tubes. Additionally, Asher received a $2,000 cash prize for winning the undergraduate elevator pitch competition. He believes that his previous experience, combined with the team’s compelling business strategy, gives them a unique advantage in both competitions and in the marketplace. “While we do have an exciting technology that will greatly benefit both surgeons and patients, we are not trying to change the way minimally invasive heart surgery is done or disrupt the marketplace,” Asher said. “We are instead focused on providing incremental, yet innovative changes that fit within existing surgical techniques, but also drastically improve surgical precision and safety. We believe that this strategy will help to drive our clinical adoption rate and to achieve long-term, sustainable growth that will generate substantial returns for investors. Our acceptance into Rice is a strong validation that investors see value in this strategy and that we are poised for success.” In the upper right photo,��a team of business students (Zach Cochran, bottom left,��Noah��Asher, center, and Abigail Resendiz, bottom right) from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock have been accepted into the Rice Business Plan Competition. The students collaborated with Arkansas Cardiology Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Dwight Christman, back left, Baptist Health Cardiovascular Nurse Anna Helm, center left, and Martial Tregeaud, back right, to commercialize a medical device invented by Chrisman to help cardiologists perform heart surgery with greater safety and efficiency. Photo by Ben Krain.

Law school degree a must have for David’s Burgers president Alan Bubbus

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 14:28:52 +0000

A law degree has been a lifesaver for entrepreneur David “Alan” Bubbus Jr., who continues to make his mark on the central Arkansas restaurant scene as president of , an expanding burger franchise with 10 locations.�� The idea that he would one day own a restaurant franchise would have been comical to Bubbus, a 2015 graduate of the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law, 15 years ago. As the son of David Bubbus Sr., an Arkansas businessman who opened dozens of restaurants, Bubbus swore that he would not have a career in the restaurant business. After working several years in the banking industry, Bubbus came across an old Fazoli’s restaurant building for sale that caught his eye. He knew he had found the perfect opportunity to open his first restaurant and enter the real estate business. Bubbus was excited for the opportunity to create the right kind of workplace culture that his employees and guests would love. And the workplace culture that Bubbus wanted to build is evident in the warm, friendly greetings from employees, the lovely free samples of delicious ice cream and treats, and the distinct lack of trash cans that ensure a full-service experience for David’s Burgers “guests.” Bubbus’ family is still just as involved as they were at the beginning. “One of the most fun things is working with my dad. He loves walking around and talking with our guests, and he likes making food that is really good and has a wow factor. Working with your family can be the most challenging and the most rewarding experiences, but it’s been great to get to know my father better,” Bubbus said. “It’s fun to see your dad really respect you, and that’s something that I will cherish. I see it in his eyes that he respects me.” Alan Bubbus and his wife, Jessica, are now the proud parents of six boys. Their oldest son, Joshua, a 19-year-old sophomore who is studying accounting at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, worked at David’s Burgers before the couple “spiritually” adopted him as their child after he came to live with them as a teenager. They also adopted Evan, 12, and Ethan, 11, who are biological brothers, after working with The Call, a nonprofit organization that works with foster and adoptive parents in Arkansas. They also have David, 8, Moses, 3, and baby Abraham, 9 months. The restaurant business is still largely a family affair. “You might recognize Moses as the cute kid with curls on David’s Burgers commercials,” Bubbus said. “Even my wife, who is an accountant, would rather dress burgers than work in the office.” Bubbus, who serves on the board of The Call, hopes people will participate in the on May 4, which raises money for three organizations (The Call, Immerse, and Project Zero) with the goal of helping foster children in Arkansas. “Foster parents can provide a critical need in a child’s life when there is so much uncertainty and fear,” Bubbus said. “Fostering children has been such an important part of my life, and I hope people will get out and support this amazing cause.” Finishing law school, while being an entrepreneur, a family man, and real estate company owner, wasn’t always easy. Still, Bubbus found pursuing a law degree well worth the time, commitment, and effort. Bubbus is also grateful for the part-time program, which allowed him to fit law school into his busy life and complete the degree at his own pace.

Bowen Law School graduate David Alan Bubbus created the successful hamburger restaurant chain David’s Burgers. Photo by Benjamin Krain.

“I think there are times in your life when you tell yourself you are going to buckle down. You set your mind to it and just do it. For me, it was those five years I was in law school,” Bubbus said. “I enjoyed being in the classroom and the analysis. I found it extremely interesting, and I always learned a lot. You don’t open 10 restaurants and have six children in eight years and have time for everything. I think you set reasonable goals depending on how much you have going on in your life.” His education from Bowen has given Bubbus a great advantage as an entrepreneur and business owner, but being an entrepreneur is not as easy it looks on television. “It’s not as easy as ‘Shark Tank’ makes it seem,” Bubbus said. “Being an entrepreneur means knowing people and knowing your business. There are a lot of traps you can fall into if you are not educated. Law school provides a broad-based set of information that helps entrepreneurs get started in business. What if someone slips and falls in your restaurant and gets hurt? Law school helped me understand the risks that come with owning a business and all the rules and regulations of human resources. I could go on and on about every facet of my business and how much having a legal background helps you understand the risks you are taking and knowing what to avoid. Having a legal education gives you a great advantage in knowing how to protect yourself.” The most important skill Bubbus learned from Bowen is how to think like a lawyer, which prepares him to face the most unexpected challenges. “The most important thing I learned from Bowen is not the knowledge of the facts, but how law school help molds you and trains your mind to think like a lawyer,” Bubbus said. “The analysis and tools that you gain help you become a better entrepreneur. You don’t need a lawyer if everything goes right. You need a lawyer for the one in a 1,000 times when something goes wrong. That is when a legal education does a lot for you. Bowen can help entrepreneurs grow in their analysis of problems and how to solve them, in the ability of the entrepreneur to speak publicly, and, most importantly, give the entrepreneur greater confidence to invest in themselves.��Bowen can help entrepreneurs grow in their analysis of problems and how to solve them, in the ability of the entrepreneur to speak publicly, and, most importantly, give the entrepreneur greater confidence to invest in themselves.”

��Vlog��ý Little Rock student selected for minority women business owner accelerator program

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 14:01:12 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student has been selected for a competitive new entrepreneur accelerator program for early-stage, minority, and women-owned businesses in Arkansas.�� Nora Bouzihay, a doctoral student in education from Jonesboro, is one of 10 participants in the Arkansas Women’s Business Center and Remix Ideas’ unique program designed to support a segment of entrepreneurs that is often overlooked. A part of Winrock International, the Arkansas Women’s Business Center helps women-owned small businesses start, grow, and compete in global markets by providing quality training, counseling, and access to capital. Momentum, the five-week accelerator program, is unique in that it targets early-stage startups with little to no revenue, some of which have not yet been organized or incorporated. “What we found is that central Arkansas has really developed a pretty robust system of entrepreneur support organizations,” said Chauncey Pettis, director of the Arkansas Women’s Business Center. “However, there is still a disconnect between women in the minority communities and these support organizations. These women have less access to mentorships, training opportunities, and access to capital. Historically, women entrepreneurs are 50 percent less likely to receive capital than their male counterparts.” Bouzihay launched her hijab and scarf company in March 2018 in honor of her grandmother, a strong woman who encouraged her granddaughter to blossom in life. “My company is called Nowara Co,” Bouzihay said. “Nowara was a nickname my grandmother had given me growing up. It means flower in Arabic. My grandmother inspired me to blossom and to grow into a strong woman who could help other women and girls be strong.” Bouzihay’s grandmother passed way in 2017, and she began to plan the start of her company to encompass her grandmother’s legacy. “When my grandmother passed way, I thought, ‘What better way to inspire and empower young women and girls than through scarves?” she said. Nowara Co’s scarves have been sold across the world, including Canada, Germany, and Abu Dhabi. For every three scarves Bouzihay’s company sells, one will go to a refugee overseas. Although refugees receive food, clothes, health supplies, and water, they do not receive scarves, Bouzihay said. As a part of Momentum, Bouzihay and the other participants meet once a week with Pettis for workshops, guest speakers, and mentorship. “They give us hands-on teaching on how to be a business owner,” Bouzihay said. “We are learning how to manage our finances, how to write business plans, how to use marketing tools, and how to pitch your business to investors. Being a part of Momentum is an honor that was not expected. I am very humble and thankful to be a part of it. It’s been a great experience.” Pettis said Bouzihay was chosen for the program because of her excellent application, unique business model, and passion for entrepreneurship. “Nora is a very passionate participant who is coachable. We believe in what she is doing and believe with a little bit of assistance she can be very successful,” Pettis said. “She’s been invaluable to the class and has been a full participant that has soaked up our knowledge and grown as an entrepreneur. At AWBC, we look forward to staying in touch with Nora as she grows past Momentum. We hope to keep Nora as a client and keep her involved in our programming and help her continue to grow.” Bouzihay is also thankful for the opportunity to become a part of a strong network of business owners who understand what the unique challenges of being a woman business owner as well as member of a minority group. “It’s very, very empowering to be around a group of women who are genuine and push each other to be successful,” Bouzihay said. “It’s very powerful to be around people who really want you to be successful and understand the struggle of being a female minority business owner in Arkansas.” With the one-year anniversary of her business coming up, Bouzihay is planning to celebrate by raising money for a cause she is passionate about. She will hold a gala event at the Great Hall in the Clinton Library on March 2 to raise money for Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar living on the border of Bangladesh. An estimated nearly 700,000 refugees, more than half of them children, are living in Bangladesh,. “I am very interested in a variety of humanitarian issues,” she said. “This one in particular hasn’t had as much media attention, and I thought what better way to bring its attention through a huge fundraiser for them here in Arkansas. This is a first for the Natural State,” she said. The gala will feature a “Muslims of the World” book tour stop. “Muslims of the World” tells the diverse stories of Muslims living in the U.S. and around the world. Illustrated throughout with moving photographs, each chapter focuses on different aspects of the Islamic faith and the many varying cultures it encompasses, offering tales of love, family, and faith while empowering Muslim women, refugees, and people of color. The event will also feature local youth performing songs and spoken word poetry, a live band, and cultural performances. Tickets for the gala can be At the conclusion of the five-week program, Bouzihay and the other participants will receive $500 in technical assistance that can be used toward the development of their businesses. Additionally, the Arkansas Women’s Business Center has found five generous vendors that have offered services, such as web development, legal counsel, graphic design, and brand consulting, to the participants at a discounted rate. Remix Ideas will also host a pitch challenge for some of the Momentum participants on Feb. 22 at the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.

Law degree gives Bowen grad a marketing edge for accounting business

Janea Snyder — Wed, 14 Nov 2018 13:03:17 +0000

An accounting degree gave Richard Bell the know-how he needed to be an accountant, but it was his legal education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s William H. Bowen School of Law that helped him be a successful entrepreneur. Like many law students, Bell never intended to be a practicing lawyer. Instead, he has run a successful accounting and consulting firm, P.A., for more than 35 years. “I was better as an accountant than as a lawyer,” he said. “They are different disciplines. What my law education gave me was a marketing edge to build my business. It’s all about marketing and technical skills. I think differently with my law degree. I think analytically. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m thankful for that. It’s been a life changer.” Bell’s firm represents small businesses, individuals, and professionals, including some lawyers. He has also found a niche in the trucking industry, which has led to providing support litigation as an expert witness in various transportation-related court cases. �� Matthew Kerns, assistant dean of admissions at Bowen, says many students in the part-time JD program are pursuing a legal education as a way to advance in other career fields, whether it be a small business owner who can benefit from an understanding of contracts law, or a human resources manager who needs to better understand employment law, or someone working in government who needs a better understanding of labor laws. Bowen offers the only part-time law program in the state. Students in the part-time program can complete a Juris Doctor in four years while full-time students finish in three years. About 115 students are currently enrolled in the part-time program. Bell was the first in his family to attend college. When he was a student at Oak Grove High School, college was the furthest thing from his mind. He planned to get a full-time job at the sheet metal foundry, where he had worked during summers and where his father worked. When he was 17, a lawn mower accident abruptly changed the course of his life. Surgery saved his foot, but Bell would need ongoing therapy. “We were trying to figure out what I was going to do after high school, and the doctor asked my parents, ‘Have you ever thought about sending him to college?’” Bell recalled. “That doctor took an interest in me because he knew I couldn’t do the manual work often required from only high school graduates.’ Bell’s father knew his son was good at math. As the shop superintendent who signed employees’ paychecks at ��Phelps Machinery Company, he also knew how much the company paid its CPA. “I didn’t even know what a CPA was, but my father thought I would be good at it,” Bell recalled. In 1976, Bell graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a Bachelor of Science in accounting. He knew he wanted to get a legal education – not to be a practicing attorney, but for a reason that harked back to an injustice he experienced as a boy and never forgot. “I was a smart kid, but I was small, and I was a bullied a lot,” Bell said. “I had a beagle named Jack that I hunted with. One summer, they shot my dog. I was so mad, and I never forgot it.” Bell graduated from Bowen School of Law in 1981. He took law classes at night and worked a day job at a grocery store, earning $6.30 an hour. There, he met Lee Wagner, who he soon married. Lee insisted that Bell put his college degree to work and encouraged him to get an accounting job. Ironically, the entry-level accounting job paid less than the grocery store. Soon though, Bell found a better job at a Little Rock accounting firm, where he worked three years before he and Lee started their own accounting business in 1981 out of their home in Beebe. Bell & Company now has two locations – North Little Rock and Conway – and employs 40 people. Bell’s daughter, Jennifer, manages the Conway office. Like her father, she earned an accounting degree and a law degree, also from Bowen. Bell keeps in close contact with Bowen. Bell’s company has established foundation scholarships, work-study programs, and mentoring groups for college students. They have also created the at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. He serves on the Dean’s Council, and last year was honored as Bowen’s Outstanding Alumnus. Bell also teaches Business Law for Entrepreneurs at the University of Central Arkansas, and he provides internships for students at his firm’s Conway office. “It’s our way of trying to give back,” he said, “by helping other students who are entrepreneurs.”

ASBTDC plans week of activities to encourage entrepreneurship

��Vlog��ý Little Rock — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 13:03:02 +0000

Anyone at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock interested in exploring entrepreneurship can turn to the on-campus experts at the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. Part of the College of Business, ASBTDC offers no-cost consulting and market research to budding entrepreneurs, along with a variety of educational events. During Global Entrepreneurship Week��Nov. 12-18, the center will host a slate of free entrepreneurship-focused activities, including Small Talk, an event for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students. is set for 5-7 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Reynolds Business Center atrium. Students are invited to network and have a bite to eat ,then hear from three young entrepreneurs: Mario Settles of Trukplease, Liz Sniegocki of Haven Massage Therapy, and Matthew Young of ListingVillage. The trio will share their startup stories through TED-style talks. The event is a joint effort of ASBTDC and the College of Business. Additional GEW events include:

– Nov. 13, The Centre in University Park. “Startup in a Day” combines three of the center’s most popular seminars, “Starting a Business in Arkansas,” “Writing a Business Plan,” and “Financing Options.”
– Nov. 14, Little Rock Technology Park. The Business Innovations Clinic at the ��Vlog��ý Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law will share ways to safeguard inventions, written material, apps, symbols, names, images and other types of intellectual property.
(webinar) – Nov. 14

ASBTDC will kick off its new “Boost Business in Your Community” online series for mayors, county judges, and other local elected officials. The webinar will discuss what communities can do to assist new and potential business owners. All the events are free of charge. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center assists entrepreneurs at every stage of business development and growth. Learn more at . Global Entrepreneurship Week is the world’s largest celebration of the innovators and job creators who launch startups. Through local, national and global activities, GEW inspires people everywhere to take the next step in their entrepreneurial journey. Last year, events took place in 167 countries.

Get Started with the Arkansas Governor’s Cup

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 16:36:36 +0000

The Collegiate Business Plan Competition brings an opportunity for teams of college students to win a grand prize of $25,000 while exploring their flare for entrepreneurship.�� The, based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, will host a free “Get Started with Governor’s Cup” workshop from 10-11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 20, in Ottenheimer Library Room 535 for ��Vlog��ý Little Rock students interested in joining the Governor’s Cup competition. Who better to give advice on how to prepare for the 2019 Governor’s Cup than this year’s winners of the undergraduate division who brought home $25,000? Noah Asher, a senior finance and economics major, was a member of Spiritum Solutions, along with team members Nicholas Lester, Kiauna Rome, and Ingrid Helgestad. Stuart McLendon, ��Vlog��ý Little Rock adjunct professor, served as team sponsor of Spiritum Solutions. In addition to the team’s grand prize, McLendon received $2,000 as team sponsor, and Asher received a $2,000 cash prize for winning the undergraduate elevator pitch competition. At the workshop, Asher, McLendon, and ASBTDC will share advice on how to form a strong Governor’s Cup team, how to write a robust business plan, and how to pitch successfully in front of judges. For more information, contact Martial Trigeaud at mxtrigeaud@ualr.edu.

��Vlog��ýLR to host lectures to inspire entrepreneurship in Little Rock

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 18:11:56 +0000

In celebration of Global Entrepreneurship Week, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host workshops Nov. 15-16 to encourage entrepreneurship.�� The lectures will be held in conjunction with . During Nov. 14-18, partner organizations will be holding a series on entrepreneurial events and workshops throughout the metro area. “The classrooms, labs, halls, and offices of this university have many potential entrepreneurs in them, so we are excited to join the Clinton School, the Innovation Hub, and the Venture Center in hosting Global Entrepreneurship Week activities,” said Shannon Roberts, training manager for ASBTDC. ��Vlog��ýLR faculty, staff, and students can participate in the on-campus events for free. They include:

��Boost Your Sales: 10 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15: Grow your sales and revenues with proven techniques. Develop a sales strategy, learn how to recognize buyers’ needs, strengthen your sales team’s communication with customers, and get tips for hiring, training and evaluating salespeople.
��How to Write a Business Plan: 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15: All businesses, especially new ventures, need a business plan. Crafting a plan helps you define your concept, evaluate your competition, determine risks, and estimate costs. Using ASBTDC’s “To the Point” outline, learn how to put together a plan that will guide the growth of your business and that you can share with lenders and investors.
��My Student Startup Story: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16: Join in the discussion of what entrepreneurship looks like for today’s college student. Hear first-hand experiences in today’s start-up landscape and how to balance work and life. Presented by Blake Norman, ASBTDC business consultant and former co-owner of Beyond Boundaries Outdoor & Adventure.

To register for the events, visit the For more information, contact Pamela Reed at 501.683.7700 or pmreed@ualr.edu.

Aug. 18 deadline to register for Entrepreneurial Training Course

Ajani Oyindamola — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 20:30:57 +0000

The deadline to register for the City of Little Rock Entrepreneurial Training Course is Thursday, Aug. 18. The 10-week training program, beginning Monday, Aug. 29, is meant for anyone who is thinking about starting a business. Topics covered include business concept and feasibility, market analysis, pricing, and cash flow. The course is offered by the city’s Small Business Development Office in partnership with the at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Classes are held from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays at the Willie Hinton Neighborhood Resource Center, 3805 W. 12th Street in Little Rock. The $100 tuition covers the course, a textbook, and business plan assistance. To register, go to . For more information, contact Chauncey Holloman, the city’s small business development coordinator, at 501.379.1505 or cholloman@littlerock.org.

��Vlog��ýLR-based small business center receives $200,000 to assist innovative entrepreneurs

Ajani Oyindamola — Thu, 21 Jul 2016 18:31:47 +0000

The (ASBTDC) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock is one of five small business and technology development centers in the nation selected to receive a $200,000 grant to support programs for innovative, technology-driven small businesses. The U.S. Small Business Administration awarded the competitive funding as part of the, which also gave 16 state and local economic development agencies, business development centers, colleges and universities grants of up to $125,000. The grant will allow the center to provide consulting services to more entrepreneurs seeking funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, said Laura Fine, interim state director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center. Those services include market research, business planning advice, business modeling coaching, proposal writing assistance, and the identification of funding sources. In addition to consulting services, the center will create new training and educational programs that will focus on the commercialization of life sciences technology, the patenting of new technology, and the Food and Drug Administration approval process. “The special funding we have received through FAST every year since 2010 enables ASBTDC to offer unique programming and events for Arkansas researchers and tech entrepreneurs,” Fine said. “Our FAST track record, coupled with our relationship with the Small Business Administration, helped us bring the national to ��Vlog��ýLR earlier this year, and we’re excited about the new opportunities we can offer tech-based small businesses.” The new award doubles the federal funding the center received previously from the Federal and State Technology Partnership Program, Fine said. The program is designed to stimulate economic development with outreach and technical assistance to science and technology-driven small businesses, with a particular emphasis on socially and economically disadvantaged firms. “The main goal of FAST is to provide more boots on the ground in local communities through our partner organizations to increase awareness about SBIR/STTR’s early-stage funding and level the playing field for entrepreneurs, especially those in underrepresented communities,” said John Williams, Small Business Administration director of innovation. From 2011 to 2016, the center assisted innovation clients in obtaining 56 financial awards from federal and state sources totaling more than $10 million to further commercialization. Of these, 17 were Small Business Innovation Research awards totaling $5.6 million with 31 percent of awards going to women, 22 percent of awards to minorities, and 100 percent to small firms. The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration through a partnership with the ��Vlog��ýLR College of Business and other institutions of higher education. The center assists startups, existing businesses, expanding businesses, and innovation-based businesses statewide.

Emerging Analytics Center to host lecture on innovation and entrepreneurship

Ajani Oyindamola — Tue, 26 Apr 2016 14:29:43 +0000

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Emerging Analytics Center will host a lecture on the pathway from innovation to entrepreneurship Friday, May 6. Rudolph Darken will give his lecture, at noon, May 6, in the Engineering and Information Technology Building Auditorium. Darken, a professor of computer science at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, will discuss the key elements of taking an idea from its conception to a commercialized product, with a particular focus on how this happens within universities. The discussion will conclude with advice on what universities can do to encourage technical innovation and successful commercial ventures. Darken is a former director of the Modeling, Virtual Environments, and Simulation (MOVES) Institute. He has served on advisory boards for the NASA Ames Research Center, the National Science Foundation, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and several technology companies. He was also an associate editor of Presence Journal. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer science engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his master’s degree and doctorate in computer science from George Washington University. He is pursuing a law degree from Monterey College of Law and is expected to graduate in December 2016.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

����Vlog��ý Little Rock business students selected to participate in Rice Business Plan Competition