Arkansas Entrepreneur Spotlight
Each month, AEDC’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division shines a light on an Arkansas entrepreneur as part of its “Arkansas Entrepreneur Spotlight.”
Bea Apple, Co-Owner of HillFolk
I go by Bea, and I moved to Rogers, Arkansas from the Bronx in 1993 when I was 13, and have lived and worked all over the state, and have three teenagers. I went to John Brown University in Siloam Springs and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering, and worked in that space for 15 years before opening Pressroom in 2011 and then Hillfolk in 2018. Hillfolk started out as a brick and mortar at 8th Street Market in Bentonville, and I operated in that space for 8 years, surviving Covid to launch a line of 31 kits in 1500 Walmart stores nationwide in 2024.
SOCIAL MEDIA
The entrepreneurial spirit created by our bold trendsetters has made Arkansas a hub of international commerce and is launching a new generation of dealmakers. Through a statewide network of partners and targeted tax incentive programs, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission is committed to empowering start-ups and visionaries with open collaboration, unparalleled resources, beneficial policies, and a willingness to get things done.
ARise Arkansas
ARise is a new initiative that helps tech and tech-enabled companies in Arkansas scale up, create high-wage job opportunities, and drive technological innovation. Learn more
75Strong
75Strong is a statewide program that trains economic developers and community leaders on entrepreneurship and small business development, in addition to providing direct technical support for Arkansas small businesses. Learn more
ESO Monthly Call
Join us for our Monthly ESO & Entrepreneur Community Call, held the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM CT. These calls provide updates from the Entrepreneur Support Organization (ESO) network, feature an Entrepreneur Spotlight, and offer an open forum for community members to share news, events, and opportunities happening in their areas. Learn more
Onward FX
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Onward FX (Founder/Funder Exchange) connects high-potential startups with leading investors through curated, one-on-one meetings. Driven by founder and investor feedback, the rebrand gives Arkansas’ startup ecosystem a clear, memorable identity that aims to attract national investors and showcase the state as a competitive place to build and scale. Learn more
News
AEDC Awards $2M to 12 Startup Accelerator Programs
December 08, 2025AEDC has awarded $2 million to support 12 Arkansas-based startup accelerators.
Read >Arkansas’ Premier Founder-Funder Event Goes Statewide with Onward FX Expansion
August 21, 2025Onward FX is expanding into a statewide program, giving Arkansas founders direct access to one-on-one meetings with venture capital firms.
Read >‘Meet the Buyers’ Event for Arkansas Small Business Owners to be Held on May 20
April 16, 2025AEDC will host a 'Meet the Buyers' event for small businesses and entrepreneurs on May 20, 2025.
Read >
