With the Spark! pre-accelerator program, the Venture Center and Little Rock Regional Chamber are helping to boost Arkansas startups and small businesses with a unique program that provides mentorship, subject matter expertise and face-to-face time to business leaders. Now in its second year, Spark! has transitioned to a virtual program due to the COVID-19 pandemic but still offers unprecedented access for small business owners.

Ashley Jones, managing director of community programs for the Venture Center, said the goal of the program is to provide opportunities, exposure and company growth for local entrepreneurs.

During the program, the founders and CEOs learn a range of skills essential to business success, including pitching, media skills and more. These skills will come in handy when they have a chance to pitch at the Venture Center’s annual Pitch ‘N Pint event on Nov. 17.

Launched in 2019, Spark! underwent significant changes for its second edition due to unforeseeable circumstances. In the first program, each participant received office space at the Venture Center’s Little Rock Tech Park offices. This was rendered impractical in 2020, and the Venture Center and Little Rock Chamber quickly pivoted to a virtual format. While the startup founders have missed out on the face time, they still receive all the benefits of the training and instruction the program offers.

“While COVID-19 has done away with all of the ‘in-person’ aspects of this program, the value and benefits of the program remain the same. The addition of unlimited virtual mentorship with our online community of mentors has been of great value to this newest Spark! cohort,” Jones said. “Participants of the Spark! program receive unlimited mentorship via our mentorship platform, Union, weekly subject matter expert-led workshops, marketing assets, pitch help, the opportunity to participate in an upcoming pitch event and several other benefits.”

Jones sees Spark! as a flagship program for both the Venture Center and the Little Rock Chamber that has room to grow in the coming years.

“We want Spark! to be the program entrepreneurs think of when they need help reaching that next level of growth! We look forward to continuing our efforts and adapting this program to meet the needs of the entrepreneurs we serve,” she said.