Startup Junkie, Innovation Hub announce ‘collaborative partnership’

The Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub and Startup Junkie Consulting announced Wednesday that they have entered into a collaborative partnership to work with early-stage startup business ventures across the state.

Through the new partnership, the Innovation Hub and Startup Junkie will develop and share new facilities, events, and programs that will support and advance startup ventures in Arkansas. Some collaborative services include consulting, education, mentoring, events, and networking to the founder and creative community.

The programming developed by the Innovation Hub in its Launch Pad maker space around advanced manufacturing and fast prototyping will be complemented by Startup Junkie’s expertise in mentoring, counseling, training, and assistance to startup founders, technologists, creatives, investors, and corporate innovation clients, the two groups said.

In a press release announcing the news, the two entities said the combined efforts will provide the infrastructure and support needed to “conceive, develop, validate, and launch new innovative products, services, and ventures in less time with a greater probability of success.”

Startup Junkie will be visible and active in the Innovation Hub’s main headquarters facility in Central Arkansas, as well as in new locations around the state as they are developed.

“Working together, we can leverage our respective strengths to bring a full complement of resources, services, and expertise to further build the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Arkansas,” said Warwick Sabin, executive director of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub. “Startup Junkie has a proven record of success in Arkansas and the Ozarks region with early-stage venture development, and we look forward to working with them to create infrastructure and programming that can have a statewide impact.”

“This teaming agreement will allow us to build real depth to the startup and creative movement in the south central United States,” said Jeff Amerine, founding principal of Startup Junkie Consulting. “The Startup Junkie team is humbled and honored to be working with the world-class team Warwick has assembled at the Arkansas Innovation Hub.”