Gary Dowdy to manage FinTech accelerator

Gary Dowdy has been selected to lead the FinTech Accelerator program at the Venture Center in Little Rock, which kicks off its inaugural program this year.

The FinTech Accelerator is a 15-week program designed to accelerate the growth of early stage financial technology startups. The highly selective program will admit up to 10 leading startups poised to challenge the status quo in the financial services sector, according to Venture Center officials.

Portfolio companies will receive an initial $50,000 investment and will be eligible to pitch for up to $100,000-$300,000 of additional investment at the end of the program.

Dowdy has had a hand as a founder or executive in six tech startups, including a mobile banking firm based in Silicon Valley. He is also a member of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s task force on computer science and is an adjunct professor for the Executive MBA program at University of Arkansas, Walton College of Business. He received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Arkansas and a MBA from the Krannert School of Business at Purdue University.

“It is rare for an accelerator program to be led by a serial entrepreneur and seasoned executive of Mr. Dowdy’s caliber,” said Lee Watson, President and CEO of The Venture Center. “In addition to a deep bench of executive experience, Gary has also built and sold companies, and cohort founders will benefit from the day-to-day guidance of someone who’s built and scaled startups at the highest level.”