Startup Junkie releases 2025 report on statewide, global impact
by February 17, 2026 1:30 pm 415 views
Fayetteville-based Startup Junkie Consulting released Tuesday (Feb. 17) its 2025 Annual Report highlighting the organization’s statewide and global impact, including its leadership of multiple programs in Arkansas, across the region and internationally.
Link here for the report.
In Northwest Arkansas, Startup Junkie expanded its support with 904 consulting meetings, 105 events and 8,066 event attendees. It also maintained a Net Promoter Score of 97.1 among client companies in advanced manufacturing, consumer goods, biotech, and tech-enabled ventures.
In central Arkansas, staff of the Conductor, an innovation and economic impact program of Startup Junkie, hosted 515 consulting meetings, nearly 800 attendees across 21 workshops, trainings and community events. It also maintained a Net Promoter Score of 92.6. The Arnold Innovation Center, a coworking space for small business owners and entrepreneurs, reached 184 members and hosted 15 member events.
Other programs focused on statewide economic growth reached significant milestones. ARise, a statewide program for technology and tech-enabled startups, supported more than 150 companies in Arkansas, including 139 enrolled startups. The program hosted 715 consulting sessions, facilitated 584 referrals, and connected with more than 3,500 Arkansans through events and outreach.
75Strong, a three-year entrepreneurial development initiative, launched in 2025 and brought together 66 economic developers, chamber executives, community leaders, and university staff from 43 counties in the state. The program provided training and guided community visits in 12 cities and equipped area leaders with tools to build entrepreneurial capacity and strengthen regional strategies.
“2025 set a powerful foundation for the future,” said Jeff Amerine, founder and managing director of Startup Junkie. “The partnerships we strengthened both locally and globally, the founders we supported, and the communities we worked with all contributed to a year of real momentum. As we look to 2026, we’re committed to building on this progress and continuing to create opportunities for innovators across Arkansas.”
Regarding its regional impact, the Lithium Regional Innovation Cluster brought on 93 ventures, supported 31 industry leaders, and hosted 227 consulting meetings across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas.
Startup Junkie’s global impact included initiatives in Korea that supported 38 startups from the United States, Korea, Indonesia and Singapore. Participants in the four global cohorts reported an average 2.2x increase in employment and projected revenue increases.