The Collaborative

Attention NWA scalable tech startups: Here is an opportunity to meet 1:1 with dozens of venture capital firms in Bentonville next month.

Attention NWA female entrepreneurs, product managers, marketers, and engineers: Join an All-Female Weekend Hackathon at The Collaborative, produced by Fierce Foundry! Join forces with incredible female talent in NWA to build a world-changing company idea October 5-6th. Two ways we stand out from other hackathons: - All participants are female - We will be judging overall company idea (including business plan and market size potential), not just the prototype created during the hackathon About FemHack [ARKANSAS]: In 48 hours, our teams of female engineers, designers, marketers and business leads will: - Build a working product prototype that a founder may continue building post-hackathon - Create a Go-to-Market Strategy for their product - Create an investor deck and business plan (including market research) for their product Register specifically based on your skills (dev, design, GTM, business) and you will be added to teams accordingly. The top three teams will be awarded cash prizes based on: - functionality and overall user experience of the prototype - viability of business plan and Go-to-Market Strategy We will be celebrating all hackers at our Female Founders & Funders Happy Hour, Monday, October 7th. Learn more and sign up here: https://lu.ma/sazezp5v

This year, the U of A’s economic impact grew to $3 billion, reaching every corner of the state. “The U of A is advancing economic prosperity for the state and its citizens,” said Mike Malone, vice chancellor for economic development. “We’re committed to developing the Arkansas workforce, deploying our innovative technologies and enhancing economic opportunity in every community in our state.” Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gEzZkfZP

Last chance to sign up for the I-49 Corridor Workforce Summit on October 10th at the Ledger in downtown Bentonville! Only a few spots remaining for employers, HR directors, and economic developers from NWA and SWMO. Sign Up Today: https://lnkd.in/gvCT7Tpf Join the I-49 Corridor Workforce Summit, co-hosted by the University of Arkansas, to help build a resilient, thriving workforce through the development of regional partnerships across Northwest Arkansas and Southwest Missouri. In an era defined by rapid change and interconnected challenges, collaboration across regional lines has never been more crucial. This one-day summit will pull together community leaders, employers, and workforce partners to tackle the pressing issues of today and help shape the workforce landscape of tomorrow. Featuring presentations and discussions from experts and practitioners in the workforce. Discover innovative solutions to staffing and scheduling dilemmas. Explore proactive talent pipelines and ways to enrich our talent pools. Engage with thought leaders on navigating evolving workforce policies. Uncover what Gen Z and Gen Alpha seek in their career paths. This is your opportunity to connect, learn, and lead the way toward a stronger, more adaptive workforce. Together, we can build resilient communities through the power of regional partnerships. Don’t miss this event. Be a part of the conversation that drives progress and opportunity in our region.

Go Daizhan Ennals!

Want to be a drone pilot? Sign up for class and learn from the best - Dr. Richard Ham!

Last week The Collaborative and the U of A Professional and Workforce Development hosted Commissioner Ken Warden, Alisha Lewis, and Mason Campbell from the Arkansas Division of Higher Education to discuss the university's economic impact across the state and the future of Arkansas workforce development. Cheryl Murphy Patricia Milner, PhD Tara Dryer, Ed.D., PMP Tobias Teeter

NWA and SWMO Employers: Join us at the Ledger in Bentonville on October 10th.

Registration for the 2024 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit is now open! Early bird pricing ends September 13th. Register Now: https://lnkd.in/guENEHZz When: October 27-30 Where: Rogers Convention Center The?Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit, hosted and produced by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce,?has emerged as the premier technology conference in the Heartland, showcasing the vibrant innovation ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas (NWA). This year’s theme,?Homegrown, emphasizes the region’s technological leadership and the unique contributions of local entrepreneurs and innovators. Building on this foundation, the Summit enhances robust connections within its local and national community of executives, entrepreneurs, practitioners, students, and educators.

Today The Collaborative hosted Day 2 of the Master of Science in Product Innovation orientation. These new students will have access to our facilities, including our co-working spaces, workshops, mentoring, and the Beta in Bentonville Product Prototyping Lab.