Regional healthcare leaders and the University of Arkansas are teaming up to create a program that will focus on creating marketplace solutions to healthcare industry challenges.

• Solving problems: The program is called the Northwest Arkansas Biodesign Sprints (NABS). The aim is to leverage partnerships to build a community of people trained in innovation methods, expose clinical and healthcare system needs, and yield early-stage ideas and prototypes for the marketplace. 
• Partnerships and potential: The initial NABS partnerships will be with Arkansas Children’s, Washington Regional Medical Center, Mercy, and Northwest Health. The program will focus on challenge sprints and design sprints, which will both ideally result in new innovations and solutions to known problems in healthcare. 

Read the full story HERE. 

The Fayetteville Farmers’ Market is having its first Spring Fling of the year this Saturday, March 19. 

• Sun’s out, market’s out: The Spring Fling will be in the usual outdoor Farmers’ Market spot on the downtown Fayetteville square and will take place from 7a-2p. The next Spring Fling is scheduled for next Saturday, March 26.
• If you can’t make it: Fayetteville’s Online Market is offered year-round for your convenience! You can make orders from 6a on Sundays to 6p on Wednesdays for Thursday evening pickups at the Fayetteville Library’s South Parking Lot. 

For updates on the Fayetteville Farmers’ Market, click HERE. 

Experts from Crowdfunding Capital Advisors will host a series of free programs designed for entrepreneurs, business owners, and potential retail investors April 5-6. 

• Content: There will be 4 programs total — 2 founder sessions and 2 investor sessions. The programs will cover equity and debt crowdfunding and include explanations of the tools available to help entrepreneurs and business owners raise capital. Retail investors will have the opportunity to learn the best practices for investing in startups. 
• Locations: The crowdfunding sessions will be at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville on April 5 and Brightwater in Bentonville on April 6. There will be a founder session each morning and investor sessions each afternoon/evening.

Click HERE to learn more and register. 

Tech startup Mycelium Networks has been building the Helium network, which provides inexpensive, long-range connectivity to Internet of Things (IoT) devices through a network of nodes. 

• Big announcement: The company is now inviting IoT builders to build on the network with the launch of the $1m Mycelium Fund, which is free data for locals or anyone who wants to move to NWA to build IoT solutions. 
• Accelerate the future: The tech startup is building one of the most capable testbeds in the entire nation right here in NWA and is currently providing monthly stipends to homes and businesses that agree to "host" a coverage node at no cost to the community.  

Visit ConnectNWA.com to learn more and help build coverage for NWA.

There will be no shortage of things to do this Spring Break as The Jones Center is adding to the week of events. 

• A week of fun: The Jones Center is offering free and low-cost activities, events, and entertainment March 21-25 for all ages. With ice skating, swimming, biking, crafts, movies, and more there will be something for everyone. 
• Special events: To name a few activities, there will be “dive-in” movies in the aquatic center, inflatables to crawl around and jump on in the gymnasium, and outdoor lawn games to enjoy as well. 

Click HERE for more details on Spring Break at The Jones Center.