WeWork Labs has expanded to Northwest Arkansas, establishing its headquarters in Bentonville at the Massey Building.
WeWorks Labs is a global platform for early-stage startups and small businesses that is part of the WeWork company. Partnering with the Northwest Arkansas Council, WeWork Labs NWA will offer an equity-free incubator program designed to help more than 50 early-stage entrepreneurs. The program is supported by the Walton Family Foundation.
There will also be “microbatches,” or specialized cohort classes available through WeWork Labs. The classes will focus on a range of issues, including fashion, food, fundraising, e-commerce, founders of color, female founders and more.
“We are thrilled to join a strong base of Arkansas entrepreneurial support organizations as we launch our first WeWork Labs program in the Heartland in Northwest Arkansas, a region that continues to prioritize and invest in the growing entrepreneurial ecosystem,” Tom Lowden, head of WeWork Labs in the United States and Canada, said in a statement. “We are confident WeWork Labs will be a value-add to the startup community and regional economy, further positioning Northwest Arkansas as the destination for startup innovation. We’ll offer comprehensive and tailored programs that give emerging startup founders the tools and connections they need to launch, adapt and scale their companies.”
Carlos Estrada, Labs manager, will head up the WeWorks Lab Northwest Arkansas program, while Chandler Abbott will serve as the WeWork Labs Northwest Arkansas Lead.
READ MORE: Newport’s Tech Depot Receives $2.5 Million in Economic Development Funding
Image courtesy of WeWork Labs