Arkansas Entrepreneur Spotlight

Each month, AEDC’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division shines a light on an Arkansas entrepreneur as part of its “Arkansas Entrepreneur Spotlight.”

Chase Lawson, Founder and CEO of Appellate Technologies, Inc.

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Chase Lawson, Founder and CEO of Appellate Technologies, Inc., a public safety technology company building ASTRO (Automated System for Towing & Recovery Operations) — the emerging national system of record for vehicle custody and police-initiated towing operations.

A former State Trooper, Chase founded Appellate after experiencing firsthand the operational inefficiencies, liability exposure, intelligence gaps, and community challenges surrounding vehicle towing, impound management, and chain-of-custody workflows in policing.

Appellate has developed a platform that transforms towing and impound events into structured, searchable intelligence — including VIN data, photographs, GPS information, and release records — helping agencies improve efficiency, accountability, public transparency, and real-time investigative and public safety operations. The platform is also designed to strengthen consumer protection and accountability in the towing process, as an estimated 1,500–2,000 Americans lose access to their vehicles each day due to an inability to afford towing and storage costs.

Today, the company is actively partnering with agencies across multiple states, including live deployments with major police departments, and is continuing to expand nationally from its growing operational presence in Arkansas. Appellate represents a new category of infrastructure-grade public safety technology focused on modernizing how vehicle custody information is captured, managed, and leveraged across law enforcement.

The entrepreneurial spirit created by our bold trendsetters has made Arkansas a hub of international commerce and is launching a new generation of dealmakers. Through a statewide network of partners and targeted tax incentive programs, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is committed to empowering start-ups and visionaries with open collaboration, unparalleled resources, beneficial policies, and a willingness to get things done.

ARise Arkansas

ARise is a new initiative that helps tech and tech-enabled companies in Arkansas scale up, create high-wage job opportunities, and drive technological innovation. Learn more

75Strong

75Strong is a statewide program that trains economic developers and community leaders on entrepreneurship and small business development, in addition to providing direct technical support for Arkansas small businesses. Learn more

Arkansas Business Resource Hub

The Arkansas Business Resource Hub is a free and centralized online listing of organizations providing resources, programs, and funding for Arkansas entrepreneurs and small business owners. Learn more

ESO Monthly Call

Join us for our Monthly ESO & Entrepreneur Community Call, held the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM CT. These calls provide updates from the Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO) network, feature an Entrepreneur Spotlight, and offer an open forum for community members to share news, events, and opportunities happening in their areas. Learn more

Onward FX

Onward FX (Founder/Funder Exchange) connects high-potential startups with leading investors through curated, one-on-one meetings. Driven by founder and investor feedback, the rebrand gives Arkansas’ startup ecosystem a clear, memorable identity that aims to attract national investors and showcase the state as a competitive place to build and scale. Learn more