News
Winrock International Announces New Small Business E-commerce Support Program
March 9, 2021
Little Rock, Ark. – March 10, 2021 – As fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge small businesses, Winrock International is pleased to announce the Small Business E-commerce Local Learning (SELL) project to support small businesses in Northwest Arkansas. Funded by the Walton Family Foundation, SELL leverages Winrock’s proven entrepreneurial programming support, coaching and […]
Claiming Space for Women’s Leadership
March 8, 2021
When discussing the careers of women leaders, there’s a phenomenon referred to as the “glass cliff.” A relative of the term glass ceiling, the “glass cliff” is when a company is in trouble and a female leader is put in charge to save it. The notion suggests that when women are finally given a chance […]
National and Local Community Lenders Announce Multi-Million Dollar Fund to Support Small Business and Nonprofit Recovery Across the South
March 3, 2021
March 3, 2021 – A diverse group of community finance organizations today announced the Southern Opportunity and Resilience (SOAR) Fund, which aims to raise $150 million to provide affordable capital and free business support to small businesses and nonprofits in 15 southern and southeastern states to help them navigate and rebuild from the COVID-19 health […]
Winrock Introduces Early-Stage Fund to Close Financing Access Gap in Arkansas
December 10, 2020
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS – DECEMBER 10, 2020 – Winrock International is pleased to announce the Validation Fund, Arkansas’ first evergreen, not-for-profit fund dedicated to deploying early-stage awards to validation-stage Arkansas startup companies. Powered by an initial $1.1 million contribution from the Walton Family Foundation (WFF), the Validation Fund aids in the creation of jobs and […]
‘Making’ a Safer World
November 12, 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic brought regular life to a halt, the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, which is implemented by Winrock International, launched a task force of independent makers and manufacturers to produce personal protective equipment (PPE). Using tools such as laser-cutters and 3D printers, the Hub’s task force produced face shields, acrylic barriers and other […]
Showing Resilience in Unprecedented Times
November 3, 2020
In January of 2020, Noah Asher was feeling good. Vascugenix, the Little Rock medical device startup where he serves as CEO, had completed its fundraising. It was on track to bring its first product — a medical device called the Speed Torque invented by Vascugenix co-founder Dr. Dwight Chrisman — to market by April. “We […]
USDA Rural Development and Winrock Launch Placemaking Project in Four Arkansas Communities
October 19, 2020
LITTLE ROCK, AR — October 19, 2020 — United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Bette Brand today announced that USDA has signed cooperative agreements with five organizations to support placemaking technical assistance throughout the United States, including in four Arkansas communities. Winrock International will use a $215,000 grant to […]
Winrock Experts Share Knowledge and Insights at Concordia 2020
September 25, 2020
Once again, experts from Winrock International were a significant presence at the Concordia Summit, an annual gathering held during U.N. General Assembly week that brings together decision-makers and opinion-leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Although the event was virtual this year, it continued to draw ambassadors, CEOs and other headliners, including USAID Acting […]
Combating COVID-19 Challenges with Telemedicine Tech
August 27, 2020
By the time malaria swept through northeast Arkansas in 1899, the sisters of the Holy Angels Convent knew disease well. A cholera outbreak the year before had chased them from the community of Pocahontas to Jonesboro, 40 miles to the south. They had come to America from a convent in the Swiss Alps to teach […]
Serious ‘Games’ That Reduce Real Risks
June 22, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need for virtual solutions to help organizations continue their operations while maintaining health and safety. A Louisiana company that took part in a startup accelerator implemented by Winrock International is filling this need by working with organizations to craft virtual, immersive compliance training programs that resemble video games. The […]