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 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 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.

鈥淲e are seeking current and future Arkansas entrepreneurs who envision practical, creative, high-impact ways to put AI to work in a business setting,鈥� 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 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

鈥淭he community is invited to join us for a fun and inspiring time. Come enjoy the pitches, support Arkansas innovators and expand your AI knowledge,鈥� 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. 鈥淲e are thrilled to bring this opportunity to Arkansas through our SBDC connection,鈥� Fine said.

For questions about the event, contact ASBTDC鈥檚 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 .

The post Arkansas Entrepreneurs Wanted for Pitch Contest Spotlighting AI Business Ideas appeared first on News.

The Go 4th Fridays Entrepreneurship Lunch Series will kick off at noon Friday, Sept. 26, at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock with a free pizza lunch, an inspiring talk from alumni, and an open-mic session for students to pitch their own ideas.

The inaugural program, 鈥�3 Grads鈥� Legendary Video Game: Immercenary with Electronic  Arts,鈥� will feature 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock graduates JD Robinson, Christopher Stashuk, and Elton Pruitt, who will share the story of how they developed the video game 鈥�鈥� in the 1990s for .

Each alumnus will highlight the unique role he played in the project鈥攚hether as a writer, artist, or developer鈥攁nd the challenges and surprises that came with building a console game as independent creators.

Robinson, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in creative writing, said his goal is to share a message with students about readiness and resilience.

鈥淔ocus on a goal or live your dream is sound advice, but I鈥檇 add that the ability to recognize opportunity when it presents itself is even more important,鈥� Robinson said. 鈥溾�楤e ready鈥� is the best advice I can give. Something can be ephemeral and meaningful at the same time, and if a few students leave with that understanding, I will feel like I鈥檝e made a worthwhile contribution.鈥�

The lunch series is co-sponsored by the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock School of Business and Tech Launch. The events will take place on the fourth Friday of every month the campus is open and will feature free lunch, inspirational speakers, and student open-mic sessions where participants can share ideas, ask for input, and connect with peers.

Organizers hope the events will encourage students from all disciplines to collaborate on entrepreneurial projects like applying to the Governor鈥檚 Cup competition, entering pitch contests, and even starting new companies. Local investors and community leaders will also be invited to meet students, hear their ideas, and explore opportunities to support innovation at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock.

鈥淭his is how we create interaction and engagement between students from all disciplines,鈥� said Marla Johnson, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 tech-entrepreneur-in-residence. 鈥淲e want these lunches to become a watering hole where students, researchers, industry partners, and entrepreneurs come together to exchange ideas and fuel Arkansas鈥檚 next wave of innovation.鈥�

The Sept. 26 event will begin at noon with pizza and networking in the atrium in the Reynolds Business Building, followed by the alumni presentation and Q&A at 12:15 p.m. in Room 103. The final half-hour will be devoted to student open-mic pitches and idea-sharing.

The Go 4th Friday Entrepreneurship Lunch Series is free and open to the public. For more information, email mkjohnson@ualr.edu. Fill out to register for the event.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Launches Go 4th Fridays Entrepreneurship Lunch Series with Legendary Video Game Creators appeared first on News.

鈥淎rgentina is quickly becoming a leader in AI innovation, with companies like Celara driving the future of AI-powered business transformation,鈥� said Marla Johnson, 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock鈥檚 tech-entrepreneur-in-residence. 鈥淔rom streamlining operations and reimagining knowledge management to creating new revenue opportunities, Celara is redefining AI鈥檚 real-world impact.鈥�

The event, held at the Schueck, Lexicon, McCarty Auditorium in the Engineering and Information Technology Building, will feature presentations from experts at Celara followed by a networking reception at the Windgate Center of Art + Design.

The program begins at 1:30 p.m. with a keynote talk, 鈥淏eyond the Buzz: Where AI is Headed in 2025.鈥� Zubair Talib, an AI expert with an MIT background and executive director at Celara Labs, who will explore what鈥檚 next for AI in 2025.

鈥淎rtificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries across the globe, and we are excited to bring international experts to campus to share their knowledge with our students, faculty, and business community,鈥� said Dr. Brian Berry, vice provost of research and dean of the Graduate School at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock as well as a board member of the Little Rock Technology Park. 鈥淭his event is an incredible opportunity to learn from those international experts on the cutting edge of AI innovation.鈥�

A panel discussion at 3 p.m., 鈥淚nvesting in AI,鈥� will dive into AI investment trends, examining how Celara is integrating AI-first products and identifying new business opportunities. The panel will feature Talib and Pablo Abdian, CEO and co-founder of Celera Labs.

“Celara is at the forefront of AI investment, building strong AI teams and identifying emerging opportunities,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淭heir firsthand experience offers valuable insights into the future of AI investment and what truly drives impact.”

Following the discussions, attendees are invited to a 4:30 p.m. reception at the Windgate Center, where they can meet the visiting entrepreneurs, network with industry leaders, visit the art galleries, and enjoy Argentine wine and refreshments.The tech event is sponsored by Gadberry Financial Group, the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, and the Associated Industries of Arkansas. This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited. To RSVP, visit this webpage.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Hosts Argentinian AI Experts for Tech Innovation Event appeared first on News.