If you live in Northwest Arkansas or the surrounding areas, you might have heard the term “GORP.” So, you might wonder what it is and why it’s important in Northwest Arkansas.
GORP stands for Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program. It is an incubator program for startups and entrepreneurs trying to get their businesses off the ground. As you can tell from the name, the primary focus is on outdoor-based companies, a big industry in Northwest Arkansas.
Want to learn more about GORP and how it affects Northwest Arkansas? Keep reading to learn the most important details!
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GORP Explained
As I briefly mentioned, GORP (Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program) is an incubator startup program for entrepreneurs. It’s in partnership with the University of Arkansas.
Thus far, GORP has done this program three times, and it has proven to be successful.
Generally, GORP chooses six startup businesses at a time and puts them through an intensive 12-week program. Each candidate is supported in growing their business with financial aid from the program.
The chosen businesses receive $15,000 and all the intensive training they need to create their products.
It’s important to note that GORP does not just choose anyone for this intensive program. Generally, the entrepreneurs are somewhat experienced (although not highly experienced), which ensures the money won’t go to waste.
The application process is not easy, as there is a vetting process. All candidates must go through the application and have interviews before being offered a place in the program.
The vetting process needs to be intense because GORP offers many resources to candidates, including financial and marketing assistance.
Below is a list of some help businesses can get from GORP.
- Marketing assistance, including help from professors
- Supply chain assistance
- Product design help
- Architecture assistance
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Cloud Pad: A GORP-Funded Company
I was lucky enough to speak with a GORP member, Cloud Pad. It’s a highly innovative company because they design safety items for rock climbers.
As you may or may not know, Northwest Arkansas is popular for rock climbing, and it’s easy to get injured when free climbing. Generally, people use mattresses on the ground if they fall while climbing. However, Cloud Pad offers a new solution–the Cloud Pad!
Climbers can scrunch the Cloud Pad, put it in their bag, and place it on the ground to protect themselves if they fall, making it more convenient than an actual mattress! They plan to launch the product soon, and they can do so because of the funding they received from GORP.
How Does GORP Affect Northwest Arkansas?
Now that you know what GORP is, you might wonder how it affects Northwest Arkansas. Why do these incubators make a difference?
Below are the main reasons GORP positively affects Northwest Arkansas.
GORP Focuses on Outdoor Recreation
One of the special things about GORP is that it focuses on outdoor companies rather than any random type of business. Since Northwest Arkansas is a popular place for outdoor activities, GORP is an excellent way to further encourage outdoor-based brands to grow and thrive.
Northwest Arkansas truly is an outdoor community. Some of the popular activities here include the following.
- Mountain biking
- Running
- Hiking
- Rock climbing
- Kayaking
The Next “Unicorn” Could Come Out of Northwest Arkansas
The second reason GORP is important to Northwest Arkansas is that the next billion-dollar company could come from here! This is often referred to as “the next Unicorn.”
In case you’re unaware, a Unicorn is a billion-dollar company, where the phrase “the next Unicorn” comes from. A lot of the time, startup founders see the potential of Northwest Arkansas, and they see the talent that’s coming here from across the world.
They know there must be a startup founder in Northwest Arkansas with an idea that could potentially be a billion-dollar company, so they’re waiting for that.
These business people and investors want to fund the promising businesses to see what the next cool thing (or billion-dollar company) is.
There has been a lot of talk behind closed doors about what the next billion-dollar company from Northwest Arkansas will be. So, naturally, they’re excited to see that, and GORP also focuses on that.
Many of these funding companies (including GORP) are trying to get products ready and out to market, allowing them to see what the market wants and what it can do.
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Northwest Arkansas Is a Great Place To Build a Business
There’s no question that Northwest Arkansas is one of the best places in the country to build a business from scratch. Here, we have the proper grounding and foundation for companies to grow from nothing and thrive.
This region is one of the best places to be for consumer packaged goods companies and supply chains (Walmart and JB Hunt).
Another big part of the business culture in Northwest Arkansas is the entrepreneurship programs we have, like Walton Business School.
Here in Northwest Arkansas, plenty of suppliers work with companies like Walmart, JB Hunt, and Tyson, creating many jobs for locals and an innovative community. Many of the businesses and companies here become so successful that they eventually branch off of those things or get bought out for millions of dollars.
So, whether you’re in the coffee business, consumer goods business, actual physical products, or online work, Northwest Arkansas is undoubtedly the place to be.
Programs and funders like GORP encourage people to go out and start their own ventures, and many other places across the country lack that same encouragement because they don’t have programs like GORP.
GORP also attracts outsiders to Northwest Arkansas because they can see how much assistance the program gives new businesses.
This draws people in and makes them more likely to become innovators in their fields. People consider Northwest Arkansas a desirable place to start a business because of helpful incubator programs like GORP.
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Conclusion
GORP is an excellent funding program for new businesses looking to get their feet off the ground, and it operates in Northwest Arkansas. This greatly benefits the area because it draws entrepreneurs to Northwest Arkansas and helps promising businesses grow and thrive.
After reading this post, you should better understand what GORP is and why it’s so beneficial for Northwest Arkansas!