Starting Up

June 15, 2021

New Business

The Traveling Bar

Kombi Keg

A couple NWA folks have found a way to bring drinks to NWA from the back of their classic Volkswagen Kombi. The truck, Kombi Keg NWA, is the first of an Australia-based franchise to reach Arkansas.

  • The right vibe: The classic van offers a variety of drinks, ranging from iced tea to cocktails, and caters to different events, from weddings to community gatherings. This Kombi is equipped with a chilled wine trunk and six taps.
  • Make a stop: With most of its U.S. franchises located in southern California and Florida, Kombi Keg is a breath of coastal air in Arkansas. Welcome to the area!

Find out more about Kombi Keg NWA HERE.

Travel

Reaching for the Sky

NWA Daily

XNA has some big plans. Over the next twenty years, airport planners have outlined twenty projects for NWA's airport as its passenger count continues to increase.

  • One at a time: The projects are aimed at expanding the overall operational capabilities of the airport, and will be started in phases. The projects will include a skybridge, additional concourses and parking garages, and even a hotel on the property.
  • 24: The number of direct flights offered by XNA, which includes newly announced destinations like New Orleans, Austin, and basically all of Florida.

See the full "Twenty for 20" plan, as well as other information about the projects, HERE.

Sponsored by Art Feeds

Detective Work

Art Feeds

Art Feeds, a local non-profit that provides resources and spaces where children can express their creativity, is kicking off its digital summer camp with Artist Detective.

  • Art Feeds Camp: Artist Detective is a 4-day digital art summer camp, calling on young artists to use their creativity and problem solving skills to crack a mysterious case. Every day of the camp, the artist detective is one step closer to solving the mystery.
  • WFH: Campers will have everything they need to have fun making art at their own pace and from their home. Campers will be able to watch projects and instructions for each "day" of camp starting July 6th.

Find out more about Art Feeds Art Camp HERE. ALL proceeds from Camp in a Box support our year round Community Assist Program.

Sports

One Final Outing

NWA Daily

Welp.. That's a wrap for the No. 1 Arkansas baseball team. Last night the hogs lost the best of a 3 game series to NC State putting an end to their legendary season.

  • In short: The best player in college baseball started on the mound last night for the Razorbacks, but even he couldn't keep NC State's bats at bay. They took the lead in the 8th inning with a solo home run, which sealed the game.
  • Historic Hogs: The Razorbacks put up some historic numbers with a 50-13 overall season record, which is the most wins by any Van Horn team; the program had bests 109 home runs and 567 strikeouts by pitchers.

The team received overwhelming support from fans after the loss. Here is to one final huddle. WPS

Business

Keep Them Coming

NWA Daily (Exchange Co-Working Space)

NWA's startup ecosystem has been on fire this year with a flurry of activity. The region is becoming a legitimate force in the startup world, attracting venture capital from across the nation like never before.

  • Milestones: AMBOTS, located in Fayetteville, was featured on CBS's Innovation Nation, and Springdale company, NOWDiagnostics received FDA approval for COVID antibody test, Lineus Medical received FDA approval for its SafeBreak device.
  • Round and round: So far this year, Rejociy raised $500K in funding, EasyBins raised a seed round, Natural way raised a $1mm round, and AcreTrader secured $12mm in Series A funding.

You can learn more about the startup community in NWA HERE.

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