Organized by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), this event connects current and prospective business owners directly with local lenders in a dynamic environment. The event will take place May 13 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Reynolds Business Center.

Lender Quick-Connect will bring together 14 banks, credit unions, and alternative lenders. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in one-on-one conversations with lending professionals, gaining valuable insights into funding options, application requirements and what lenders look for in loan applications.

“Lender Quick-Connect is an excellent opportunity to pitch a project to several potential local funding partners in a short period of time and explore financing options available through banks, credit unions, microlenders, and Community Development Financial Institutions,”said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine.

The event aims to empower entrepreneurs to confidently pursue the capital they need to launch or expand their ventures. Whether you’re a startup seeking seed money or an established business looking to grow, Lender Quick-Connect offers a unique platform to learn about financial resources and make meaningful connections.

There is no cost to attend. Pre-registration is required. , or contact ASBTDC’s Laterika Tooks-Staton at 501-804-4530 or lstooks@ualr.edu. For more information, visit the .

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The University of Arkansas at Little Rock will host an exciting showcase of AI innovation this week, as the (AWS) AI Pitch Competition comes to the Reynolds Business Building on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

The Little Rock event is part of a broader national initiative. and — both AWS Premier Tier Services Partners — have partnered with universities, small business development centers, and community organizations across the country to bring AI pitch competitions to local innovators. Past competitions have been held in Iowa, Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, Texas, Florida and beyond, with winners receiving transformative support to accelerate their AI solutions on AWS.

The competition is straightforward: innovators pitch their AI solutions live on stage to a panel of judges. The winner walks away with up to $50,000 in technical services funded by AWS. That prize brings real support, guidance and resources.

“At the , we work with businesses every day that are looking for ways to grow and stay competitive. AI is becoming part of that conversation, and this competition highlights how Arkansas entrepreneurs are putting it to work in real, meaningful ways,” said Laura Fine, state director of the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center.

The two partners behind the prize bring serious credentials. PREDICTif, founded in 2007, holds nine validated AWS Competency designations, including Generative AI and Conversational AI, with deep expertise in data and analytics, AI/ML and cloud migrations. nClouds, a 2024 AWS Partner of the Year Award Finalist, rounds out the partnership with extensive cloud engineering, DevOps, security and managed services capabilities.

The evening kicks off with check-in and networking at 5:30 p.m., followed by welcome remarks and partner introductions. The main event, live AI pitches, runs from 6:10 to 7:40 p.m., giving each competitor the chance to present their solution and answer questions from judges. After a brief deliberation period, winners will be announced at 7:50 p.m., followed by a closing networking session.

Even if you’re not pitching, it’s worth showing up. The networking windows at the start and end of the evening are excellent opportunities, and watching a few live AI pitches with Q&A is a great way to get a read on where practical AI development is headed right now.

The competition is free and open to the public. Students, faculty, staff and community members are all encouraged to attend and support the innovators taking the stage. Whether you’re an entrepreneur with an AI idea, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about where artificial intelligence is headed, this event offers a rare opportunity to witness the next wave of AI innovation up close — right here in Little Rock.

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The prize is $50,000 in services from PREDICTif Solutions, funded by Amazon Web Services.

Hosted by the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, along with ����Vlog��ý Little Rock’s School of Business, Tech Launch and Workforce Development Center, this contest is for Arkansas entrepreneurs with innovative ideas for transforming business operations and accelerating growth with AI.

The competition is open to Arkansans who are in business or have a business idea, across all industries. The business does not need to be an AI company or technology startup.

“We are seeking current and future Arkansas entrepreneurs who envision practical, creative, high-impact ways to put AI to work in a business setting,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine.

An idea might solve an operational challenge, increase revenue, expand market reach or create scalable efficiencies.

Entrepreneurs must apply for a spot in the competition. Selected participants will pitch their AI concept in front of judges and have the opportunity to win up to $50,000 worth of professional services from PREDICTif to support development of the winning idea.

This prize is not cash and not AWS credits. Instead, it is AWS Partner-funded support delivered through technical resources, architecture guidance, and solution development services. All competitors will receive expert feedback on how to bring their concepts to life.

The Amazon Web Services AI Pitch Competition will take place Thursday, April 16, from 5:30 to 8 p.m., at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business and Economic Development on the ����Vlog��ý Little Rock campus. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

“The community is invited to join us for a fun and inspiring time. Come enjoy the pitches, support Arkansas innovators and expand your AI knowledge,” said Fine.

Visit to get more details, sign up to pitch or register to attend.

In the first four months of 2026, AWS and PREDICTif will hold 34 pitch competitions with Small Business Development Center partners nationwide, with more expected. “We are thrilled to bring this opportunity to Arkansas through our SBDC connection,” Fine said.

For questions about the event, contact ASBTDC’s Laterika Tooks-Staton at 501-804-4530 or lstooks@ualr.edu.

ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. Learn more at .

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The State Star award recognizes outstanding individual achievement and is presented annually to one person from every Small Business Development Center network in the country.

“Our State Stars represent the best of America’s SBDC Network. They are dedicated professionals who go above and beyond to help small businesses succeed,” said Charles “Tee” Rowe, America’s SBDC president and CEO.

�ճ���� were honored at a private reception at the Walt Disney World Swan Reserve in Orlando in conjunction with the America’s SBDC 46th Annual Training Event Sept. 2-5.

Based at the lead office at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Graham is ASBTDC finance manager. She joined the program in 2019 and was promoted to her current role in 2022. Her skillful management of complex financial and grant processes keeps services to Arkansas small businesses and entrepreneurs running smoothly.

“Karissa is the kind of colleague every team hopes for — positive, steady, and supportive,” State Director Laura Fine said. “She quietly ensures our staff and partners have what they need to succeed, offering trusted financial leadership in federal awards and daily operations with professionalism and a smile. We’re proud to see her honored as Arkansas’s State Star.”

Graham is a 2013 graduate of ����Vlog��ý Little Rock and previously worked in the university’s Financial Services department. She and her husband Brandon live in Little Rock and have two children.

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The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center is hosting the new no-cost event on May 7, from 1 to 4 p.m., at the Reynolds Business Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

In just one afternoon, attendees can connect with multiple Arkansas lenders and pitch their business financing needs in a fast-paced, one-on-one meeting format.

Each participant will be matched with up to seven lenders, based on key business details including their industry, credit score, business stage and project scope.

Attendees can also:

• Meet with credit counseling services to discuss financial readiness
• Engage with ASBTDC business consultants and Small Business Administration representatives
• Get expert tips on crafting a compelling funding pitch

Participating lending institutions include Arkansas Capital Corporation, Arkansas Federal Credit Union, Arvest Bank, Bank OZK, Communities Unlimited, FORGE Community Loan Fund, Hope Credit Union, First Community Bank, First Security Bank, First Service Bank, Regions Bank, Simmons Bank, Southern Bancorp Bank, Southern Bancorp Community Partners and U.S. Bank.

The event is designed to help entrepreneurs navigate the funding landscape and build relationships with funders who have a proven track record of small business lending.

“We hope this format will be more efficient and less intimidating than approaching individual lenders,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “With banks, credit unions, microlenders and Community Development Financial Institutions all taking part, Lender Quick-Connect will showcase a wide range of options for funding a new business, business purchase or expansion.”

Pre-registration is required. To reserve your spot, visit  or contact ASBTDC’s Nick Stevens at 501-804-4530 or njstevens@ualr.edu.

Through its offices around the state, the ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call 800-862-2040 or visit .

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Offered by the , the multi-week accelerator prepares companies to tap into federal seed funding through SBIR, the highly competitive Small Business Innovation Research program.

Also known as America’s Seed Fund, SBIR and its sister, Small Business Technology Transfer, award over $4 billion in non-dilutive grants and contracts each year to small companies to pursue the commercial potential of innovative technologies.

The accelerator cohort will focus on SBIR/STTR grant opportunities available from the National Institutes of Health.

“We’re seeking innovators with novel health tech solutions to take part,” said ASBTDC Innovation Specialist Karen Bergh. “Innovations may be for pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or diagnostics – any healthcare product or solution that could go forward and eventually help patients.”

Lab2Launch offers step-by-step guidance on preparing and submitting a strong proposal aligned with NIH priorities.

Participants can expect to receive all the resources necessary to prepare a competitive application, while learning from one another as well as from ASBTDC consultants and subject matter experts.

The accelerator is made possible with Federal and State Technology Partnership Program funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Lab2Launch’s NIH cohort is presented with support from Arkansas APEX Accelerator, Arkansas Research Alliance, ARise, and BioVentures.

“Our partners for Lab2Launch reflect a shared commitment to empowering Arkansas health tech innovators to take their ideas to the next level,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “Together, we’re opening doors for emerging companies to access critical funding for proof-of-concept work, accelerating the path to commercialization and impact in the healthcare space.”

The timing of the accelerator aligns with the agency’s spring submission window. Lab2Launch companies will receive one-on-one help to finalize their proposals by NIH’s April 5 deadline.

The first session is Jan. 22. Sessions are virtual, allowing companies based anywhere in the state to easily take part.

How to Apply

To apply, visit l by Dec. 2. There is no application fee or cost to participate.

Spots are limited. Researchers and companies seeking a first SBIR/STTR grant or contract will receive first preference.

To learn more, contact Bergh at 501-831-2584 or kbergh@ualr.edu.

Through its offices around the state, the ASBTDC offers no-cost services and resources for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small businesses. For more information, call 800-862-2040 or visit .

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ASBTDC was among 49 organizations that received a total of $9 million in funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to support startups through specialized training, mentoring, and technical assistance under the Federal and State Technology (FAST) Partnership Program.

“At a time when we are seeing historic highs in our entrepreneurial activity with a small business boom, investing in America’s innovative startups is a top priority,” said Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the Small Business Administration. ”America’s Seed Fund, powered by the SBA and fueled by 11 federal agencies’ SBIR and STTR programs, is the largest source of early-stage funding in the world. With FAST, we have now expanded our entrepreneurial ecosystem to nearly every state so that entrepreneurs with great ideas can invent it, commercialize it, and build it with America’s Seed Fund in every corner of America.”

The objective of the FAST program is to improve outcomes for underserved communities by increasing participation from woman-owned, rural-based, or socially or economically disadvantaged small businesses through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, which are known as America’s Seed Fund.

“We are honored to again receive the SBA’s FAST grant, which allows us to extend our support for Arkansas small businesses and innovators,” said Laura Fine, ASBTDC state director. “This funding enables us to reach more entrepreneurs across the state and empower them to pursue federal research funding opportunities through the SBIR/STTR programs.”

ASBTDC will use the FAST grant funding to guide research-based companies as they seek to commercialize new technologies. The center helps Arkansas companies prepare competitive America’s Seed Fund proposals for different federal agencies and apply for state-level technology commercialization funding. An important part of the application process is the deep market research ASBTDC provides about the state of the art and target industries.

In the next year, ASBTDC plans to mentor 60 entrepreneurs through one-on-one consulting and the Accelerator, a program for Arkansas innovators seeking their first SBIR/STTR win.

Each accelerator cohort focuses on one federal agency. In 2025, ASBTDC is planning Lab2Launch Accelerator cohorts to assist companies with targeting funding available through the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, respectively.

The virtual format of the multi-week Lab2Launch Accelerator and educational programs, such as introductory webinars, agency-specific training, and annual accelHERate forums for women, provides access to innovators located anywhere in the state.

“ASBTDC looks forward to building on the success we’ve had through FAST, helping companies such as and access America’s Seed Fund,” Fine said. “This year, we are adding our regional office at the University of Arkansas to the FAST project to continue driving innovation and economic growth in Arkansas.”

The FAST program is a federal and state partnership initiative, with 67% of the project’s $300,000 total cost funded federally ($200,000) and the remaining 33% ($100,000) supported by local sources.

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ASBTDC is pleased to announce that the U.S. Treasury’s has awarded $2 million to the center to assist small businesses applying for the SSBCI Capital Program and other small business funding.

Through the SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program, Treasury allocated $200 million for states, territories, the District of Columbia, and Tribal governments. The funds are being dispersed based on a formula. Arkansas received notice of its TA award in December.

Reauthorized and expanded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, SSBCI is a nearly $10 billion program to support small businesses and entrepreneurship in communities across the United States by providing capital and technical assistance to promote small business stability, growth, and success.

Advising and Education

The initiative directs states to designate a technical assistance provider to help “very small businesses” and “underserved” small businesses apply for the SSBCI Capital Program and other small business funding programs.

Upon the recommendation of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, the U.S. Treasury designated ASBTDC as the state’s SSBCI technical assistance provider. ADFA is responsible for implementing the SSBCI Capital Program in Arkansas.

“The ASBTDC is the perfect organization to lead the technical assistance piece of the SSBCI program in Arkansas,” said ADFA President Mark Conine. “The ASBTDC’s commitment and track record of supporting businesses across Arkansas in various sectors and stages of development is outstanding.”

Very small businesses, or VSBs, are defined as businesses with fewer than 10 employees. Independent contractors and sole proprietors are considered VSBs.

Underserved businesses include those in historically underserved communities, plus socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs who may have lacked the support needed to pursue their business goals.

“ASBTDC has 44 years of experience providing comprehensive support to small businesses,” said ASBTDC State Director Laura Fine. “SSBCI technical assistance funding allows us to continue giving personalized guidance and free training to empower underserved and very small businesses, ensuring they have the tools and access to capital needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.”

Consultants based at the ASBTDC Lead Center at ����Vlog��ý Little Rock will work one-on-one with businesses who want to apply for SSBCI funding, loans or other financing. The center will hold in-person and online training events. Consulting services and training are both offered free of charge.

Fine said ASBTDC expects to train 750 small businesses over five years and provide individual consulting to 875 business owners, resulting in at least 230 applications to the state’s SSBCI capital programs.

Training will cover legal, accounting and financial topics such as business bookkeeping, legal structures and the capital acquisition process. These events will help the ASBTDC identify borrowers who need one-on-one guidance before submitting their application to a lender.

The first training event is set for 12 p.m. March 28 when ASBTDC Business Consultant Wendy Orvis leads the live webinar, “Funding Your Business: Loans, Grants and Other Options.” Businesses may register at .

To request consulting, businesses can go to , email leadcenter@asbtdc.org or call 800-862-2040.

The ASBTDC, a partnership of the U.S. Small Business Administration, ����Vlog��ý Little Rock and other institutions of higher education in Arkansas, assists aspiring and established business owners. Unique among Arkansas economic development organizations, ASBTDC serves businesses from any county in Arkansas, in any industry sector and at any stage of business development. Visit asbtdc.org to learn more.

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Also known as the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, America’s Seed Fund focuses on next-generation research and development through 11 participating federal agencies.

Agency representatives will travel together to Little Rock to conduct one-on-one meetings with small businesses and startups, take part in panel discussions, present on SBIR/STTR technology areas, and share insights into how agencies make funding decisions.

The Road Tour is organized by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The host for the Little Rock stop is the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, a local Federal and State Technology (FAST) partner.

“This is a rare opportunity for Arkansas entrepreneurs to engage face-to-face with the SBIR and STTR program leaders. We are excited for our state’s small companies and startups with innovative technologies to come explore how America’s Seed Fund supports groundbreaking ideas and, in the one-on-one meetings, receive immediate feedback on how to get started,” said Laura Fine, ASBTDC state director.

Americaʼs Seed Fund provides over $4 billion in early-stage funding to small businesses each year in a wide variety of technology areas such as unmanned systems, advanced materials, health, cybersecurity, and defense.

The program executes over 6,000 new funding awards annually, which allow innovators to advance new technologies and have contributed to the creation of thousands of jobs.

The Road Tour seeks to increase SBIR and STTR participation by women, small companies in underrepresented states like Arkansas, and individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

Participants can also learn about state-specific resources for innovation-based ventures. Lunch will be provided. Small technology firms, scientists, and researchers are encouraged to attend.

Registration is required and available online at , where an agenda and other details about the event can also be found.

For more information, contact ASBTDC’s Karen Bergh at 501-831-2584 or kbergh@ualr.edu.

Based at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, ASBTDC assists emerging, existing and expanding small businesses through a statewide network of offices. Learn more at .

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The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and Arkansas APEX Accelerator are hosting an introductory webinar Sept. 28, from 10-11:30 a.m., on the federal Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs, known collectively as America’s Seed Fund.

The two programs annually award over $4 billion in non-dilutive grants and contracts for the development of new technologies, products and services that respond to federal agency priorities.

The live webinar on Sept. 28, “Power Up Your SBIR/STTR Seed Funding Journey,” will cover the program requirements and application process, what makes a competitive proposal and how to navigate the federal System for Award Management, plus ASBTDC and Arkansas APEX Accelerator services to assist applicants.

On Oct. 10, the center will host another webinar, “Seed Funding for Small Farms, Agtech, and More: Introduction to the USDA SBIR Program.”

This virtual event is for agricultural researchers and producers alike who are actively engaged in commercializing ag products and solutions. Four U.S. Department of Agriculture experts, including Dr. Denis Ebodaghe, Small and Mid-Sized Farms national program leader, will take part.

Join the webinar to find out how SBIR/STTR can enhance innovative on-farm or in-lab projects.

There’s no cost to participate in either webinar. Both are made possible by Federal and State Technology funding through the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To register, visit .

For more information, contact ASBTDC’s Karen Bergh at 501-831-2584 or kbergh@ualr.edu.

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