Start Here Little Rock, an initiative to increase the engagement of women and minorities in the entrepreneurial process in Little Rock, will host an event with panelists and speakers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The organization expects more than 300 people to attend.
Skip Rutherford, dean of the Clinton School of Public Service; Steve Rice, founder of Start Here Little Rock; a panel of women and minority entrepreneurs; and a panel of local entrepreneur support organizations will speak at the Ron Robinson Theater, 100 River Market Ave.
Sericia Cole will be the event emcee.
The first panel includes:
- Chris Bell, founder and principle consultant of full-service public accounting firm Complete Consulting of Little Rock;
- Jeston George, founder and CEO of technology company Apptegy of Little Rock;
- Ivan Hudson, founder of the Ivan Hudson Agency, a Farmers Insurance office in Little Rock;
- Tina McCord, founder and CEO of Zuni Learning Tree, a digital platform for teachers and parents;
- Gina Radke, CEO of aerospace interior hardware manufacturer Galley Support Innovations of Sherwood;
- Maf Sonko, founder and CEO of financial technology startup LumoXchange of Atlanta,
- Tinisha Turner, founder of BigUms Catering of Maumelle; and
- Maura Yancy, president and editor-in-chief of the Hola! media group of Little Rock.
The organization panel includes representatives from the Arkansas Innovation Hub in North Little Rock, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), the Delta Regional Authority, the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Venture Center in Little Rock.
Start Here Little Rock was launched in collaboration with the Clinton School an the Arkansas Association of Black Professionals.
According to a news release, there is 90 percent or higher opportunity gap for women and minority entrepreneurs seeking capital investment and the initiative seeks to close this gap.
Rutherford said in a release, "Democratizing access to capital for entrepreneurs from every part of our society is vital for success in modern innovation. Start Here Little Rock provides a starting point for minority and women entrepreneurs by raising awareness and providing access to the resources and support already available in the thriving startup community right here in Little Rock.”
"Resources for entrepreneurs exist in our community,” Katie Milligan, community organizer for Start Here Little Rock, said in the release. “The first step is to raise awareness among women and minority entrepreneurs, or would-be entrepreneurs, about what tools exist and work together to increase engagement by providing access to key resources, education and support. Start Here aims to begin the conversation towards building a more inclusive and accessible ecosystem.”