University of Arkansas at Little Rock students with entrepreneurial ambitions have a campus ally ready to help them launch businesses.
The Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, which is based at UA Little Rock, today launched BYOB, or “Build Your Own Business.”
A university news release describes the effort:
ASBTDC’s new Build Your Own Business initiative is for UA Little Rock students who plan to start a business, have an idea for a side business or startup company, or have research with commercial potential.
College students have founded some of the world’s most innovative companies, including Facebook, Google, WordPress, and Dropbox. State Director Laura Fine said the ASBTDC wants to help all students reach their business potential.
“Starting a business can take many forms: a side gig, a full-time profession, or commercialization of an innovative technology,” Fine said. “Students studying art, engineering, journalism, or other disciplines have an opportunity to turn their ideas and passions into money-making ventures, sometimes with little to no capital. ASBTDC can help UA Little Rock students develop their ideas and get started.”
Students interested in BYOB are encouraged to participate in a new webinar series and virtual consulting.
- Sept. 18 – Getting Ready to BYOB
We’ll talk about using a straightforward lean canvas approach to get your new business off the ground. | Register - Oct. 15 – Magic Water Drink, LLC: A Student Startup Story
UA Little Rock MBA graduate Pavithran Tirukazhukundram Sekar (Pavi) Indira will talk about his journey in launching Magic Water Drinks. | Register - Nov. 18 – Tech Launch at UA Little Rock
Glediana Rexha will discuss the Tech Launch program, which helps students, faculty, and staff realize the commercial potential of their inventions and research. | Register
The center is hosting virtual office hours for UA Little Rock students from 1-4 p.m. on the first and third Friday of the month, beginning Sept. 19. The one-on-one appointments are free and confidential.
For more information, see asbtdc.org/byob or contact Heather Robinette at hbrobinette@ualr.edu.