Winrock International has announced the creation of a new fund dedicated to deploying early-stage capital to Arkansas startup companies. The Validation Fund, which went live Dec. 10, seeks to catalyze this crucial category of validation-stage funding. -Arkansas Money & Politics

• Rodney Ferguson, president and CEO of Winrock International, says the goal of the Validation Fund is to drive economic growth across the state of Arkansas.

• The Walton Family Foundation contributed an initial $1.1 million, which will fund awards of $50,000 to $150,000 in eight to 10 validation-stage companies in Northwest Arkansas over the next two years. -Arkansas Money & Politics

• More information on the Validation Fund can be found HERE.