While he was in college, Nathan Bailey of Monticello had a business idea. With help from his on-campus Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, that idea is now a real product.
Bailey, a 2018 graduate of Arkansas State University with a degree in agriculture business, has been selected as one of the “new influentials” for the 2019 class of “20 in their 20s,” which will be featured in the Sept. 9 issue of Arkansas Business.
Each year, Arkansas Business highlights 20 influential young adults that have outstanding accomplishments and/or responsibilities in the business and non-profit sectors.
Bailey is the sole owner of Waterbug Irrigation, which sells his innovative product, the Bailey Patch. The Bailey Patch is designed to solve polytube blowouts in farms’ irrigation systems.
Robert Bahn, lead business consultant at the A-State ASBTDC, began working with Bailey in 2016 during his junior year at Arkansas State.
During this time, Bailey developed his prototype and was in search of area manufacturers. After a consulting visit at the ASBTDC, Bahn was able to help connect him with an array of partners.
He first presented his patent-pending design during the 2016 A-State Business Plan Competition and went on to win $1,000. He then advanced to the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup.
Ultimately, Bailey came to the ASBTDC with the idea he invented and came out with a salable product.
Commenting on how the Bailey Patch helped with recent floods in Arkansas, Bailey stated, “It couldn’t have been done without the help of the ASBTDC, especially the market research.”
Bahn and Bailey still remain in touch, as the young influential’s business journey continues.