Startup Junkie Wins SBA Accelerator Fund Award And $50,000

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced Thursday the 80 winners of the second annual Growth Accelerator Fund Competition and one Arkansas startup group was recognized.

Fayetteville-based Startup Junkie, led by Jeff Amerine and crew, were picked as an organization helping to improve the entrepreneurial ecosystem in an area of the country where gaps exist at different levels. As part of its winning effort, Startup Junkie will receive a cash prize of $50,000 from the SBA.

In accepting the funds, the accelerators will also be committing to quarterly reporting for one year, providing metrics such as jobs created, funds raised, startups launched and corporate sponsors obtained. This will allow the SBA to continue building upon its database of accelerators and their impact, and to develop long-term relationships with the startups and constituents in these innovative and entrepreneurial communities, the SBA said.

Accelerators serve entrepreneurs in a broad set of industries and sectors – from manufacturing and tech start-ups, to farming and biotech – with many focused on creating a diverse and inclusive small business community.

“SBA is continuing to make advances in supporting unique organizations that help the start-up community grow, become commercially viable, and have a real and sustained economic impact,” said SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet.

“Through the wide-spread outreach of this competition, we are able to reach entrepreneurial ecosystems across the country. My commitment is to make our resources available to 21st century entrepreneurs where they are, and these accelerators, also known as incubators and innovation hubs, are the gathering place for today’s innovators and disruptors,” Contreras-Sweet added.