Axios NW Arkansas is an Axios company.

The University of Arkansas is helping entrepreneurs capitalize on the Natural State.

What's happening: Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) revealed its first cohort of startup companies yesterday.

Why it matters: Entrepreneurship in the outdoor recreation industry is burgeoning in NWA. Helping to build a hub of businesses here taps into the expertise at the University of Arkansas' Walton College of Business and capitalizes on Arkansas' natural resources.

Flashback: GORP launched last year at the Collaborative, a U of A location in Bentonville.

How it works: Startups in the cohort receive training through weekly workshops, team mentoring and dedicated product or service development to help them scale. As participants, they're eligible to receive up to $15,000 in seed funding from the U of A.

State of play: GORP's first cohort represents an eclectic mix of ideas for outdoor recreation:

What they're saying: Shellhammer told Axios there are "tens of companies" doing work in the outdoor recreation space located in NWA. Many of them could potentially qualify for upcoming cohorts.

What's next: As with most incubator formats, the four startups will have some sort of coming-out party at the end of the program, usually a pitch to potential investors.

Yes, and: There will eventually be two other incubator tracks at GORP, one for biodesign and one related to technology and software.

Get more local stories in your inbox with Axios NW Arkansas.

Support local journalism by becoming a member.

No stories could be found

Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios NW Arkansas.

Support local journalism by becoming a member.