ARise

The ARise team wishes you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas & the happiest New Year! 🎄 🚀

🌟 SME Spotlight: Meet Brett Amerine! Brett Amerine is the Managing Director of Startup Junkie and a dynamic leader with expertise spanning Government/DoD, supply chain, retail/CPG, food, and technology. As an investor, entrepreneur, and residential real estate developer, Brett is passionate about making an impact through innovation and growth. With certifications like PMI PMP and extensive experience in marketing, finance, government contracting, and project management, Brett brings invaluable insights to entrepreneurs. Whether you’re navigating government contracts or scaling your startup, Brett is ready to help guide your next steps. Want to connect with experts like Brett? Apply for ARise today to access one-on-one consultations with Brett and other subject matter experts ready to help you succeed! 📩 Learn more and apply at https://buff.ly/3YpV1NG

Pitch better than Brennan and Dale! Learn how to perfect your pitch on January 23, 3-4 PM, with a special ARise workshop for Arkansas Governor's Cup teams 🏆 and anyone else who would like to learn how to improve their startup pitch. The workshop will focus on the Oral Presentation portion of the Governor's Cup. Sign up now at https://lnkd.in/gGJ3r-dd. Not familiar with the Governor's Cup? The Arkansas Governor's Cup is a business plan competition for college students offering cash prizes, mentorship, and networking opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills and launch startups. The event is led by Tiffany Henry at Arkansas Capital Corporation and supported by a host of incredible sponsors. ARise is proud to partner with them to make its coaching and consulting services available to all the teams participating in this year's competition. Want to participate in the competition? Check out all the details and submit an application by the January 31 deadline - https://lnkd.in/gmSwhyhP. The follow-up to this session in February will be a special workshop focused on perfecting your elevator pitch. More details to come! Startup Junkie | Conductor | 75Strong Arkansas | Kiva NWA | Arkansas Economic Development Commission | Arkansas State University | John Brown University | Lyon College | University of the Ozarks | Ouachita Baptist University | University of Arkansas | University of Arkansas ­- Sam M. Walton College of Business | Philander Smith University | Harding University | Central Baptist College | University of Central Arkansas | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D. | Jeff Amerine, PMP | Brett Amerine | Grace Rains, MBA | Kaitlyn Loughridge | Esperanza Massana Crane | Bob Kucheravy | Mallory Race | Laura Kingrey | Nicole Iman | Amy Hopper Swan

Pitch better than Brennan and Dale! Learn how to perfect your pitch on January 23, 3-4 PM, with a special ARise workshop for Arkansas Governor's Cup teams 🏆 and anyone else who would like to learn how to improve their startup pitch. The workshop will focus on the Oral Presentation portion of the Governor's Cup. Sign up now at https://lnkd.in/gGJ3r-dd. Not familiar with the Governor's Cup? The Arkansas Governor's Cup is a business plan competition for college students offering cash prizes, mentorship, and networking opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills and launch startups. The event is led by Tiffany Henry at Arkansas Capital Corporation and supported by a host of incredible sponsors. ARise is proud to partner with them to make its coaching and consulting services available to all the teams participating in this year's competition. Want to participate in the competition? Check out all the details and submit an application by the January 31 deadline - https://lnkd.in/gmSwhyhP. The follow-up to this session in February will be a special workshop focused on perfecting your elevator pitch. More details to come! Startup Junkie | Conductor | 75Strong Arkansas | Kiva NWA | Arkansas Economic Development Commission | Arkansas State University | John Brown University | Lyon College | University of the Ozarks | Ouachita Baptist University | University of Arkansas | University of Arkansas ­- Sam M. Walton College of Business | Philander Smith University | Harding University | Central Baptist College | University of Central Arkansas | University of Arkansas at Little Rock | University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D. | Jeff Amerine, PMP | Brett Amerine | Grace Rains, MBA | Kaitlyn Loughridge | Esperanza Massana Crane | Bob Kucheravy | Mallory Race | Laura Kingrey | Nicole Iman | Amy Hopper Swan

One year. 25+ communities. 🌟 As we wrap up an incredible year, we’re proud of the progress we’ve made in delivering on our promise to serve entrepreneurs and innovators across Arkansas. From cities to small towns, ARise is creating opportunities and driving growth statewide. 🚀 But this is just the beginning. In the year ahead, we’re doubling down on our mission to expand even further, ensuring that every corner of the Natural State has access to the support and resources needed to thrive. Here’s to reaching even more of Arkansas in 2025! 💼✨ 👉 Are you a tech or tech-enabled entrepreneur? Apply today and join us on this mission: https://buff.ly/3NxFPb4 Arkansas Economic Development Commission | Conductor | Startup Junkie | Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D. | Jeff Amerine, PMP | Kristopher Adams | Brett Amerine | Caleb Talley | Grace Rains, MBA | Esperanza Massana Crane | Laura Kingrey | Bob Kucheravy | Clint O'Neal, CEcD | Matthew Ward |

Get ready to support your local Arkansas-based video game studio! If you haven't heard of Kjartan Kennedy's Causeway Studios, be sure to check them out as they prepare to release their DEBUT GAME next month. 😱 Built in Arkansas and set in Oklahoma, "The Haunting of Joni Evers" 👻 will be available on Steam starting January 13, 2025! Check out their full press release here - https://lnkd.in/gJnNV3Gv. ARise | Startup Junkie | Conductor | Arkansas Economic Development Commission | 75Strong Arkansas | Jeff Amerine, PMP | Grace Rains, MBA | Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D. | Brett Amerine | Kaitlyn Loughridge | Jakob Michaelis | Esperanza Massana Crane | Bob Kucheravy | Mallory Race | Laura Kingrey | Tyler Hale | Serafina Lalany | KNWA-TV and Fox 24 News (NBC and Fox affiliate) | KUAF 91.3 Public Radio | NWA Daily | Worth Sparkman | Paul Gatling | Karen Kilroy | Zak Morris

🌟 SME Spotlight: Meet Bradley Gentry, PMP! Brad Gentry is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gentry Professional Services, with over 20 years of experience in designing and testing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems. A native of Benton, Arkansas, Brad holds advanced degrees in electrical engineering and an MBA, alongside certifications as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP). Brad’s mission with Gentry Professional Services is to help clients across aerospace, defense, energy, healthcare, and IT industries preserve institutional knowledge and adapt to workforce challenges. Want to connect with experts like Brad? Apply for ARise today to gain access to one-on-one consultations with him and other top SMEs across Arkansas. 📩 Learn more and apply at https://buff.ly/3YpV1NG Arkansas Economic Development Commission | Conductor | Startup Junkie | Jeff Amerine, PMP | Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D. | Esperanza Massana Crane | Laura Kingrey | Clint O'Neal, CEcD | Bob Kucheravy | Kristopher Adams

It's not too late to register and join us for today's workshop on the 5 Steps to Put your Startup on the Path to Success!! 🌟 Register here! https://lnkd.in/gUBVwht6

📢 Attention Business Owners: New Reporting Requirement! The Business Owner’s Online Reporting (BOIR) system is a helpful tool that simplifies the process of preparing and submitting your business’s tax-related filings. Whether you’re reviewing annual reports or planning for next year’s filings, BOIR provides easy access to everything you need to stay compliant. The BOIR is a mandatory requirement introduced under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) for U.S. businesses. It ensures transparency in ownership structures and helps combat financial crimes like money laundering. 🌐 Learn more & file here: https://buff.ly/4eL0lQz

Claudia Scott, Matthew Lundy, and I jhad the privilege of judging the Startup Challenge at the University of the Ozarks yesterday. It was so much fun to meet these young entrepreneurs and see their final business plans and oral presentations. 👏Congratulations to the 🏆 judges’ choice Pet Buddy and audience choice Léonn. Also, special thanks go to Nataly Paulina Vindas Calderon for putting together such a great event and letting me share with the students in Clarksville about the ARise program. 🚀 Startup Junkie | Conductor | Grace Rains, MBA | Jeff Amerine, PMP | Jeff D. Standridge, Ed.D. | Brett Amerine | Arkansas Economic Development Commission | Esperanza Massana Crane | Bob Kucheravy | Mallory Race | Laura Kingrey | Tyler Hale