In episode 20, Jeff Amerine, Founder of Startup Junkie, and Jeff Standridge, Managing Director of the Conductor, share how their method of ecosystem-building has proven to be successful, helping Northwest Arkansas become a destination of choice for startups in the retail, software, and supply chain sectors, as medical, data analytics, FinTech, and manufacturing companies migrate toward central Arkansas. Startup Junkie and the Conductor have championed a proven method for building entrepreneurial ecosystems by establishing a four pillar approach to programming and support and are now ready to share these insights they’ve learned over the years with regions worldwide.

Proof-of-concept funding is often one of the largest barriers entrepreneurs face when attempting to launch a company and access to high value mentors is a critical component of the success of any early-stage company. Winrock International's I-Fund provides both funds for technical assistance and training to enable entrepreneurs to make their ideas, research, and inventions a reality. In this episode, I-Fund Program Manager, Amy Hopper, shares how her team provides a platform for the creation and launch of high-growth companies, spurring economic development, and job creation.

In the middle of the American Heartland and headquarters, Northwest Arkansas has enjoyed national attention from Entrepreneur.com as an unexpected hub for tech startups, from DataFox as one of the best places to found a startup outside of Silicon Valley, and from FastCompany.com as a top place for minority-owned businesses. To kick off Season 2, we are joined by Jeanette Balleza Collins, Entrepreneurial Development Director of the Northwest Arkansas Council, as she shares with us some of her favorite organizations and initiatives that are helping to facilitate meaningful connections for entrepreneurs in the Heartland. Special thanks to the Northwest Arkansas Council and Startup NWA for sponsoring the Ecosystem Builders Series.