Celebrating Global Entrepreneurship Week in Arkansas
November 01, 2021Across Arkansas, entrepreneurs are creating new businesses every day. These hardworking Arkansans are launching new technology companies, retail companies, manufacturing companies, and more. The sky’s the limit for entrepreneurs in Arkansas.
Entrepreneurs are essential elements of Arkansas’ business landscape, creating the small businesses that form the backbone of the state’s economy. In Arkansas, there are 258,552 small businesses, accounting for 99.3% of the total businesses in the state. These small businesses employ 491,383 employees, or 47.1% of all employees in Arkansas.
Some entrepreneurs in Arkansas stay small, providing essential services and goods for their local communities. Others scale up, exporting products to new markets. And some Arkansas entrepreneurs, like Sam Walton, J.B. Hunt, and John Tyson, grow their businesses into world renowned companies.
Regardless of how big their businesses end up being, all entrepreneurs need help starting out. They need resources and assistance to navigate the challenges of launching a new enterprise and to grow their businesses.
During Global Entrepreneurship Week, we recognize these entrepreneurs for their courage, creativity, and tenacity while providing much-needed resources. Global Entrepreneurship Week is held worldwide from Nov. 8-14.
Global Entrepreneurship Week, a weeklong celebration operated by the Global Entrepreneurship Network with support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to participate in learning and networking activities that can help them grow their businesses. There will be approximately 40,000 activities during Global Entrepreneurship Week, across 180 countries, impacting nearly 10 million people.
Entrepreneurs in Arkansas drive our state forward with their innovation and dedication. Arkansas has a long tradition of entrepreneurship, and we aim to continue this tradition by supporting entrepreneurs throughout the state. Global Entrepreneurship Week is an opportunity to highlight the impact that entrepreneurs in Arkansas have made and provide resources and training for them.
Arkansas will have a range of events and resources available to entrepreneurs during Global Entrepreneurship Week. There will be introductions to entrepreneurship for aspiring business owners, startup stories, pitch competitions, and other valuable educational events.
In the aftermath of a global pandemic, our entrepreneurs are playing a more important role than ever, bringing their innovation and skills to solve new challenges. One of the major goals of the 2021 Global Entrepreneurship Week is “rebooting our communities and our economies for a better, more sustainable and equitable post-pandemic world,” according to the Global Entrepreneurship Network.
Global Entrepreneurship Week in Arkansas would not be possible without the work of Conductor, which serves as the State Coordinator for Global Entrepreneurship Week in Arkansas. In this role, the Conway-based entrepreneur support organization (ESO) works with individuals and organizations to develop and host events around Arkansas to highlight and empower entrepreneurs, innovators, and makers during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
"GEW not only provides an opportunity for us to highlight and provide resources to entrepreneurs throughout the week, but it also provides an opportunity for organizations that regularly support and work with entrepreneurs to collaborate and celebrate that work alongside other organizations across the globe,” said Grace Rains, Executive Director of The Conductor.
See the list below for Global Entrepreneurship Week events in Arkansas:
Global Entrepreneurship Week – November 8-14
Exploring Entrepreneurship
November 3
9-10am
Doc Bryan Auditorium
Arkansas Tech University
Russellville
Cost: Free
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Exploring Entrepreneurship (ecenterdirect.com)
Starting a Business in Arkansas
Monday, November 8
11-12 am
Virtual
Cost: Free
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
ASBTDC Events | Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Lunch & Learn: Demystifying the Kiva Crowdfunding Platform
Monday, November 8
12-1 pm
435 South Main St.
Pine Bluff
The Generator
Event Registration (google.com)
How to Write a Business Plan
Monday, November 8
2-3:30 pm
Virtual
Cost: Free
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
ASBTDC Events | Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Startup Culture in the Classroom
Monday, November 8
4:30 pm
Virtual
Cost: Free
Startup Junkie
Startup Culture in the Classroom Tickets, Mon, Nov 8, 2021 at 4:30 PM | Eventbrite
Lunch & Learn: Contracting Programs for Woman-Owned Small Businesses
Tuesday, November 9
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
435 S. Main Street
Pine Bluff
The Generator
Event Registration (google.com)
Digital Marketing: Developing a Sales Funnel
Tuesday, November 9
12-1pm
Virtual
Cost: Free
Communities Unlimited Inc.
Digital Marketing: Developing a Sales Funnel | Global Entrepreneurship Network (genglobal.org)
A Conversation with Beverly Morrow
Tuesday, November 9
6-7:30 pm
435 S. Main Street
Pine Bluff
The Generator
Event Registration (google.com)
Artist Reboot
Wednesday, November 10
10-11:30 am
Virtual
Cost: Free
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
ASBTDC Events | Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Break-Even Analysis and Pricing
Wednesday, November 10
12-1pm
Virtual
Cost: Free
Communities Unlimited Inc.
Breakeven Analysis and Pricing | Global Entrepreneurship Network (genglobal.org)
Lunch & Learn: Simmons Bank Supports Small Businesses
Wednesday, November 10
12-1 pm
435 S. Main Street
Pine Bluff
The Generator
Event Registration (google.com)
#VCPitchNPint
Wednesday, November 10
6-8 pm
Brewski’s
Little Rock
Cost: $5 early-bird tickets, $10 at the door
The Venture Center
#VCPitchNPint | Global Entrepreneurship Week - The Venture Center
Intro to the Cash Flow Statement and Cash Flow Planning
Thursday, November 11
12-1pm
Virtual
Cost: Free
Communities Unlimited Inc.
Gentrepreneurship Pitches and Celebration
Thursday, November 11
6-7:30 pm
435 S. Main St.
Pine Bluff
The Generator
Minority Pitch Night
Thursday, November 11
6-7:30 pm
250 Donaghey Ave.
Conway
The Conductor
Minority Pitch Night | Global Entrepreneurship Network (genglobal.org)
StartUp Stories at Midnight Oil Coffeehouse
Thursday, November 11
6:30-7:30 pm
Midnight Oil Coffeehouse (801 E. Race Ave.)
Searcy
Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce
StartUp Stories at Midnight Oil Coffeehouse | Global Entrepreneurship Network (genglobal.org)
Sell Online with E-Commerce Tools
Friday, November 12
9-10 am
Virtual
Cost: Free
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
ASBTDC Events | Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Financing Your Business 101
Friday, November 12
11 am – 12pm
Virtual
Cost: Free
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
ASBTDC Events | Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center
Digital Marketing: Content Creation
Friday, November 12
12-1pm
Virtual
Cost: Free
Communities Unlimited Inc.
Digital Marketing: Content Creation | Global Entrepreneurship Network (genglobal.org)
Happy Hour
Friday, November 12
5-6:30 pm
435 S. Main Street
Pine Bluff
The Generator
Event Registration (google.com)
RCA Rural Pitch Competition
Saturday, November 13
6-7:30 pm
Virtual
Rural Community Alliance
RCA Rural Pitch Competition | Global Entrepreneurship Network (genglobal.org)
To submit an entrepreneurship event to this list, contact Tyler Hale at [email protected].
