On a late September evening, the community space at Springdale’s INTERFORM was buzzing with activity.
From across the region, eight finalists, all Hispanic entrepreneurs, were preparing for Entrepreneurship For All’s inaugural Spanish-speaking pitch contest. Paula Delgado of Bentonville, Arkansas, was ready to make her case for expanding her translation business to serve the rapidly growing Hispanic community. Agustin Becerra of Rogers, Arkansas, wants to open a nursery for plants, trees and flowers tailored to thrive in the region.
“We like to call it a ‘Shark Tank’ without the bite,” jokes Rodrigo Salas, a member of the judging panel and executive director of the Northwest Arkansas chapter of EforAll, a national nonprofit which helps underrepresented entrepreneurs successfully start and grow their businesses through training, mentorship and professional support.
Each finalist exemplifies what Rodrigo calls the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit of the Hispanic community across Northwest Arkansas. “They are driven by much more than just making a living. They are driven by improving the lives of everyone in our community.”