The Venture Center and the Little Rock Regional Chamber Announce Nine Small Businesses for 2022 Spring Spark! Accelerator

The Venture Center and the Little Rock Regional Chamber Announce Nine Small Businesses for 2022 Spring Spark! Accelerator

Fourth Spark! Cohort Features Local Small Businesses

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. May 4, 2022 – Nine small businesses selected for the fourth Spark! cohort have begun their acceleration program at The Venture Center. Spark! is a small business accelerator founded by The Venture Center, and the Little Rock Regional Chamber, and sponsored by Entergy, Arkansas Money & Politics, Think Rubix, Frost PLLC, Wright Lindsey Jennings, and Central Arkansas Library System.

The program grows Arkansas-based companies through a sales, marketing, and business finance curriculum and connections with mentors. At The Venture Center’s recent kickoff event, locals learned about the focused curriculum and span of resources available through the program.

Pam Reed, The Venture Center’s Managing Director of Community Programs says the opportunity to work with the 2022 cohort is something she’s proud to be a part of.

“I’m excited to help these founders reach their business goals,” said Reed. “Most of them have already done the heavy lifting needed to get started and stay in business; however, they often need the tools to get to the next level… Spark! will help with this endeavor.”

The 2022 Spring Spark! cohort has businesses with a broad range of services including gel manicure kits, e-commerce for pet treats, food preparation, and more. The program started Wednesday, April 27, and ends on June 29, 2022. Participants will pitch their businesses to a crowd at PitchNPint, scheduled for June 23 at Ron Robinson Theater.

“We are really pleased with these nine terrific small businesses and their enthusiasm for learning, growing and positively impacting Little Rock’s future,” said Jay Chesshir, President of the Little Rock Regional Chamber. “This group is ready to take on the challenges of thriving in our economy and we look forward to helping make it happen!”

Other benefits of Spark! include media exposure, mentorship, workshops, access to The Venture Center’s co-working space, and inclusion in the growing Spark! Alumni network.

The selected companies for the 2022 Spring Spark! cohort are:

Sara Hurst, Bella’s Kitchen & Wellness – Food Services

Alicia Adams-Talbert, Talbert Lawn Services – Home Care Services

Taliah Ragland, Aspiring Medical Training Institute – Professional Training

Dianna Donahue, URBANE Magazine – Publishing

Nicole Snow & Crystal Hanner, Enova – Beauty

Lendel Aikens, Med Unlimited – Medical Mobile Units

Lauren Anderson, Calm + Confidence – Biodiversity Preservation

Nicole Winstead, WoofCat – Pet e-Commerce

Kristy Carter, Kristy Carter Consults – Mission-Driven Consulting

To learn more about Spark! please visit www.venturecenter.co/spark, and for Pitch N Pint tickets, visit www.venturecenter.co/pitchnpint.

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About The Venture Center

The Venture Center is a globally recognized Arkansas-based Entrepreneurial Support Organization (ESO) that helps entrepreneurs turn their start-ups into viable, high-growth businesses. By leveraging the expertise of a world-class team of mentors, intensive programming, and introductions to the investor community, The Venture Center serves as an engine for economic growth in Arkansas and beyond.  

About The Little Rock Regional Chamber 

The Little Rock Regional Chamber is the principal business-driven leadership organization responsible for fostering the economic growth and development of the Little Rock region to ensure that business and industry may operate profitably and enhance the earning opportunities and quality of life for every citizen.