At the University of Arkansas’ Sam M. Walton College of Business, the Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation provides students with a network of living laboratories. This ecosystem isn’t just designed to spark ideas, but to provide the resources and support necessary to build, test and launch them through real-world experience. Students from every discipline engage in hands-on opportunities ranging from side hustles to solving real business and community challenges.
What sets this ecosystem apart is how it extends beyond campus into Northwest Arkansas, across industries, and throughout broader innovation networks. Through direct work with startups, corporations, and community organizations, students take on meaningful challenges, gain valuable experience and build networks that help propel careers and ventures forward.
McMillon Innovation Studio
Brings interdisciplinary student teams together to solve real-world challenges
for corporate and community partners through human-centered design and hands-on experimentation.
Venture Intern Program (VIP)
Connects ambitious undergrads with startups, venture capitalists and entrepreneurial
organizations for hands-on, semester-long and micro-internships that deliver fast-paced,
real-world experience.
Founders Forum
A weekly meetup where student founders and curious minds share ideas, showcase
early ventures and get real-time feedback in a collaborative, coffee-fueled space.
Side Hustle Hub
A launchpad for student entrepreneurs building side businesses, offering targeted
workshops, practical resources and a built-in community to help ideas grow.
Student Business Incubator
A 10-week summer immersion where student founders go all-in on their ventures,
backed by mentors, workshops and funding to help launch their ideas.
New Venture Development
An interdisciplinary graduate program where student teams develop real ventures
in an incubation-style environment, moving ideas from concept to commercialization.