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AcreTrader CEO Carter Malloy Builds Successful Tech Company in Arkansas

 August 09, 2023

Arkansas is a state where entrepreneurs and innovators thrive. With the nation’s top opportunity share for entrepreneurs, Arkansas provides fertile ground for entrepreneurs to develop new business ideas, launch their ventures, and operate successful companies.

One Arkansas entrepreneur has found success with a venture that combines technology with his passion for farmland investing. Carter Malloy is the founder and CEO of AcreTrader, an online platform that connects farmers who want to sell farmland with investors who want to buy.

For its latest ‘Executive Voice’ video, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission interviewed Malloy to learn why he chose to return to Arkansas to operate his company and what the advantages are for doing business in The Natural State.

An Arkansas native, Malloy developed the idea for AcreTrader, while working in San Francisco. He moved back to his home state to set up shop in Fayetteville and began working on building and operating AcreTrader.

“I always wanted to come to Arkansas, particularly here in Fayetteville. I just love this place,” Malloy said. “More importantly, we could build a really great culture and a really great company here by finding really great talent, providing a cool a cool place to work, and as a result, not only have better retention of staff and build better tenure with our staff, but also it’s a cheaper place to operate a business.”

Since the company’s start in 2018, Malloy has grown AcreTrader’s services and employment significantly. Located on the Fayetteville square, AcreTrader is a modern company that takes advantage of the tech talent in Northwest Arkansas and its location in the American agricultural heartland.

“There are a number of distinct advantages of working from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Arkansas, first, it’s absolutely beautiful, right? We get to have this really cool office right here on the square downtown, and it’s a lovely place to live. So, we have happy employees and happy partners in our business every day that come to work here. To put it simply, I would put our team up against any technology team anywhere in the world.

Malloy found a supportive business environment in Arkansas, where executives were willing to provide guidance to him as he launched AcreTrader.

“The state has an incredibly collaborative culture. I’ve never been told ‘no’ by somebody in the State of Arkansas, no matter how senior they are in any position. The folks at the top of the largest companies in the state have been willing to take time out of their day to help me and help our business.

For Malloy, the answer to the question ‘Why Arkansas?’ is straightforward. “It’s an amazing place to live. Low cost of living, great people, great talent to build a business on. Ultimately, a great environment as well to build a business inside of. I’m very proud to call Arkansas home and to be building a business here,” he said.

For more information on Carter Malloy and AcreTrader, listen to the Malloy’s interview on the Arkansas Inc. Podcast.

See other executives make the case for doing business in Arkansas here.