The following is a list of networking events in Northwest Arkansas that will be happening in 2018. Events are added and updated weekly as new information becomes available, so check back often! (For a list of B2B networking groups that meet regularly in and around Northwest Arkansas visit our B2B Networking Groups page. And if we've missed any events (or you spot one that needs a correction), shoot us an email via our contact form!
Leisurlist and Bike Rack Brewing Co are kicking off a monthly young professionals meet-up series called 'After 5' at 8th Street Market! Come alone or come with friends and hang out with us to meet like-minded young professionals. The first two rounds are on us (for the first 50 people, 21+), so all you need to do is register for your free ticket and show up!
Cost: $20.00 - $30.00
Avg. Attendance 40 - 60
Rogers-Lowell Chamber Membership Required
This may be the best networking bang for your netwroking buck! Six business representatives sit at a table and each participant at the table has two minutes to promote their products and services. Then, we rotate to two other tables and rinse and repeat, which means you get to network with at least 18 participants. That's a lot of networking! So be sure to bring plenty of business cards, brochures, product samples, and promo items to hand out. (Also, the free breakfast is actually pretty good!)
Cost: Free
Registration Required
This seminar discusses essential startup steps, legal business structures, regulations and licensing, key issues that affect your business success, and common pitfalls entrepreneurs face. Cal Rose from Wright Lindsey Jennings will address the legal issues affecting small businesses and Martha Londagin of Legacy National Bank will address small business lending. This is a must for first-time small business owners!
Cost: $50.00
Avg. Attendance 750
More than 700 Springdale business leaders come together at this event, which features the announcement of the Civic Service Award honoree. This event is a great place to meet local Springdale business folks and catch up on all the news about the incredible economic growth Springdale has been witnessing lately.
Villages of Cross Creek are hosting this small business expo. VOCC is inviting ALL types of small business to set up a table to showcase your offerings – anything from insurance to woodworking! Be sure to RSVP to this event as space will be limited.
Free
Avg. Attendance 50 - 60
The Venture MashUp (presented by Startup Junkie) is a bi-monthly event that brings everyone from our entrepreneurial community together for local beer and an opportunity to learn from inspiring entrepreneurs. The event is free, but spots are limited so sign up today!
Cost: $75.00 – $100.00
Avg. Attendance 1,000
This is an annual gathering of 1,000+ Northwest Arkansas leaders to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year and honor outstanding businesses and individuals in our community. The evening includes a reception, dinner featuring a keynote speaker, and annual awards presentations. The Chamber has mentioned they will be changing the event up this year to reflect member feedback, so we're excited to see what they have in store!
Cost: Free
Coffee+E is a bi monthly morning networking event. The event gives entrepreneurs, creatives, inventors, and innovators a time to establish relationships and engage in some creative collisions. The guest speaker for this event will be Maggie Owens of Specialized Real Estate Group.
Cost: Free
Gig Coffee Socials are a monthly in-person gathering hosted by The Gig Community. We like to get together to bond over the unique triumphs and woes that being a gig worker bring. Our events are open to any 1099/contract worker in the 4-county Northwest Arkansas area! Even if you earn just a bit of income from self-employment/contract work, we want you to join us!
Cost: Free
An evening of free business networking hosted by Keller Williams' realtors Cameron LaGrone and Kevin Boortz. Bring your business cards! Light, complimentary appetizers will be served on a first come first serve basis. All attendees are responsible for their own alcoholic beverages.
Cost: Free
Have an idea? Beware the pitfalls of building something nobody wants. Learn how to identify the problem you really want to solve and form testable hypotheses about it based on a target user or customer segment. Participate in interactive exercises that demonstrate how to create and reframe meaningful problem statements. (Multiple dates offered, but content will remain the same.)
Cost: Free
Practicing as user centered designer or just dipping your toe in the design thinking process? Let's explore the design thinking process and practice concepts together. We’re planning for a mini ideation workshop with Hello Local, a themed gift shop focused on locally produced goods.
$6 - $22
Techstars Startup Weekends are 54-hour events designed to provide superior experiential education for technical and non-technical entrepreneurs. Beginning with Friday night pitches and continuing through brainstorming, business plan development, and basic prototype creation, Techstars Startup Weekends culminate in Sunday night demos and presentations. Participants create working startups during the event and are able to collaborate with like-minded individuals outside of their daily networks. All teams hear talks by industry leaders and receive valuable feedback from local entrepreneurs. The weekend is centered around action, innovation, and education. Whether you are looking for feedback on an idea, a co-founder, specific skill sets, or a team to help you execute, Techstars Startup Weekends are the perfect environment in which to test your idea and take the first steps towards launching your own startup.
$10 Suggested Donation
This is a "microfunding dinner" to support creative projects in town. Here's how it Works: for a $10 suggested donation, attendees receive a plate of food, a drink, and a vote. You can give more or less, but know that 100% of door sales go to our SOUP winner. The evening begins with four presenters sharing their project ideas on topics ranging from art and education to social justice and tactical urbanism. Each presenter has four minutes to share their idea, then SOUP attendees are given the opportunity to ask up to four questions. When the presentations are complete, presenters and attendees alike share a meal, during which they can discuss the presentations, while also sharing their own resources, ideas, and hopes for the Bentonville community.
The evening culminates with everyone voting on their project-of-choice and the winner of the vote is granted all of the money raised by participants that evening. Winners return to future SOUP dinners to report on their project’s progress. Tickets available at the door, or register at the link below to guarantee your spot.
$17
Join Northwest Arkansas Young Professionals for a night of fun at NWA’s newest entertainment option, Axe Throwing! Space is limited, so get reserve your spot soon! This will be a really fun way to network and have a good time alongside other YPs. We are excited to present this unique event concept to you!
Save the date! Details coming soon...
Membership May Be Required (We aren't sure...)
Networking, drinks*, and professional development! This is part of a new leadership development series for 2019 from Northwest Arkansas Emerging Leaders. "L.E.A.D" (Leadership, Education, Activation & Development) will give you the opportunity to network and learn from some of the region’s top (and also up-and-coming) leaders.
The series will kick off with Michael Iseman from Startup Junkie. Michael will be teaching the importance of self-care and efficient ways to perform regular self-maintenance in order to stay sharp and avoid burnout. You’ll walk away having identified some of your own early indicators, learn some tips for when life is getting a bit out of balance, and take away some tools you can use to make the necessary pivots to get quickly back on track.
Free with Chamber Membership
This informal event being put on by the Bentonville Chamber will allow you to showcase your company, meet with other members of the business community and network in a casual atmosphere. Refreshments and food will be provided.
Kyle Kellums of KUAF will facilitate an interview with Hosseini to discuss his life in writing and newest book "Sea Prayer," an illustrated book on the refugee crisis.
Cost: Free
Avg. Attendance 30
Fayetteville Chamber Membership Required
Complimentary breakfast, door prizes, and networking with members of the Fayetteville Chamber.
$120 for Team of 4
Compete and drink for charity! This signature sell out Miniature Golf Tournament promises to be the best one yet! Stay tuned for some new additions and surprises to be announced early 2019. Each team enjoys free beer, snacks, music and the chance to win prizes. The highlight of the night is the putt-off contest for the opportunity to win the coveted Mini-Masters Green Jacket. Proceeds benefit Open Avenues as they work to help people with disabilities right here in Northwest Arkansas by offering job and life skills training, onsite employment, job placement services and transportation.
Cost: Team - $800.00 | Single - $200.00
Registration Required
This four-person scramble tournament is a fun way for Chamber members to come together, compete for prizes and network with other players. It’s a great way to treat yourself, reward company employees and say thank you to special clients on the golf course.
Players can test their skills in the hole-in-one, longest drive, closest-to-the-pin and putting contests. Prizes will be awarded for top finishing teams and individual contest winners. Each golfer will receive two complimentary adult beverage tickets, snacks, and non alcoholic beverages. Breakfast will be served for the morning golfers. Lunch will be provided to every golfer.
$65 - $149
Avg. Attendance 1,500
The NWA Business Women's Conference is the premier women's conference in the region. Known for its outstanding keynote speakers and networking opportunities, more than 1,500 of northwest Arkansas' most accomplished business women attend the conference each year.
Cost: $100.00 - $150.00
Great developers aren’t just found in the Valley, or Seattle, or New York. They’re right here in Arkansas, in the heart of America. In the middle of “nowhere.” The name, Nowhere Developers, is our way of tipping our hats to all the incredible developer talent in our region. For this reason, our mission is to provide a platform for industry professionals to engage in top-notch, pure-tech events in the state of Arkansas.
The Nowhere Developers Conference will star local, regional, and national speakers that will talk about the state of technology, software engineering, machine learning, and our region’s technology ecosystem. The conference will feature various expert-led sessions tailored to our attendees technological interests. Local food will be provided to foster community and attendee interaction. Additionally, attendees can look forward to networking, appetizers, and drinks at the afterparty.
Cost: TBD
Avg. Attendance 1,000
The Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit brings together small businesses, entrepreneurs, C-level executives, retail and suppliers, technology, academia and communication and social media professionals to celebrate technology, innovation and the power of digital in shaping our future. Forward-thinking and practitioner-driven general session speakers and high value breakout sessions deliver ways to effectively collaborate on innovative solutions to common business challenges and learn how technology is powering change and leveling the playing field.