The 2023 Heartland Challenge Startup Competition presents the Startup Expo this Saturday, Apr 15, where 12 semi-finalist teams will be displayed for the public to explore and engage with.

• With a side of learning: Attendees can enjoy free food and drinks while learning about the participating startups and casting their vote for a $5,000 audience favorite prize.
• Venture Journey: The Heartland Challenge simulates the process of raising venture capital for high-growth enterprises and is Arkansas's first global student startup competition. Since its virtual debut in the Spring of 2020, the competition has awarded over $350,000 to deserving startups.

Mark your calendars and register for the Startup Expo HERE.

Back for its third year, the 2023 U.S. Pro Cup will draw hundreds of cross-country mountain bikers and fans from around the country to Fayetteville's Centennial Park this week, April 12-16. Trails will be closed starting today to prepare for the event.

• All levels: Cross-country mountain bikers will compete across all levels throughout the four-day event, including hopeful athletes attempting to qualify for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
• New extremes: Centennial Park is the only North American race destination featuring the hors categories, meaning uncategorizable, race opportunities that offer the longest, steepest, and most extreme routes where elite bikers can earn significant points.

In celebration of the event, we're giving away a 14" Strider Balance Bike to one of our NWA Daily Fans! Who will be the first fan to respond?

Bentonville-based Counter, a frozen food brand that turns viral TikTok recipes into products, just landed a deal with Sam's Club to sell its frozen food products in over 400 stores starting in June.

• Delicious influence: Counter uses recipes created by social media influencers to produce affordable, high-protein, and low-calorie meals like protein tortillas, chicken bites, burritos, bowls, protein waffles, and more.
• Going viral: Co-founders Jeff Ferrell and Benn Manning launched Counter in 2021 after realizing the lack of representation of social media recipes in retail. After raising $1.2m in seed round funding, they've launched a website and landed a deal with Sam's Club to get products in 400 stores nationwide.

Read more about this content-creator-led frozen foods brand HERE.

Warm up your singing voices for the 6th annual VoiceJam Festival this weekend, Apr 14-15, at Walton Arts Center, where six a cappella groups from across the US will compete for the title of VoiceJam Champion.

• Headliner: Kicking the weekend off Friday night at 8p, the a capella sensation Duwendé will perform with their classic bass-and-beatbox-driven funk/pop style.
• Face the music: Saturday will begin with VoiceJam Workshops from 8:30a-4p, including training sessions with Rob Dietz, Gabriel Hahn, and members of Duwendé. The VoiceJam Competition starts at 7:30p featuring this year's finalists: VIBE, Walk the Line, Trillium, A-Side, Mind The Gap, and Euphoria.

Learn more about VoiceJam Festival and reserve tickets HERE.

Brightwater: A Center for the Study of Food will offer Future Chefs Food Camps from Jun 12 – Jul 24 this summer, providing fun week-long day camps filled with baking and culinary education with Brightwater chefs for children ages 9-17.

• Future foodies: The mission of Future Chefs Food Camps is to introduce NWA youth to the exciting world of food, teaching them knowledge and skills related to cooking, food safety, and nutrition through fun, learning-focused experiences.
• Theme week: Each culinary and baking camp will include a special theme like Pop Culture Cooking, Fast Food Favorites, Traveling Through Baking, and more.

Each camp costs $450, and Brightwater offers a discount if you register multiple children. Sign up HERE.