The Venture Center

05/27/2026

05/20/2026

We love celebrating our colleagues here at The Venture Center!!

Congratulations to Ashley on graduating from Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XLI!

Your hard work, leadership, and commitment to making a difference in our community has truly shined throughout this journey. We’re excited to see all the incredible things ahead for you as you continue to lead, inspire, and serve.

Cheers to this amazing accomplishment & enjoy your cake!

04/29/2026

JOLT through The Venture Center's eyes.

We watched teams dive headfirst into tough, real-world challenges, from getting stuck to starting over, and then lighting up when a puzzle finally clicked.

There was a lot of caffeine, a lot of late nights, and a lot of “wait… I think I’ve got it” moments.

What stuck with us most? The way teams and individuals helped each other and figured it out together...one puzzle at a time!

04/20/2026

Time is running out to secure your spot at JOLT.

If you’re ready to test your technical skills, think critically under pressure, and collaborate with other cybersecurity professionals and enthusiasts, this is your moment.

Last chance to register. Don’t miss the challenge. And a huge shoutout/thank you to our awesome game makers + for the press release coverage!

04/03/2026

Imagine this: the fast-paced world of a growing tech startup collides with the emerging risks of artificial intelligence.

This year’s JOLT Cyber Challenge scenario continues the story from last year’s competition. The once-scrappy social platform Jitter has been fully acquired and rebranded as J, shifting its focus toward artificial intelligence with the development of a new system known as jAI. As J scales rapidly, legacy systems, rushed decisions, and AI-driven features introduce new and unexpected security vulnerabilities.

At JOLT, you’ll step into this unfolding scenario and respond as the crisis evolves in real time.

Can your team handle the pressure? Register today!
https://lnkd.in/gbXkDnJp

Thank you to our sponsors: University of Arkansas - Pulaski Technical College University of Arkansas at Little Rock Little Rock Regional Chamber First Orion Arkansas Coding Academy Southern Arkansas University Laravel Little Rock Technology Park

03/26/2026

Innovation can start anywhere…even in the kitchen!
Thomas Williams of Delta Dirt Distillery turned his science background into something truly unique: sweet potato vodka. Since opening in 2021, Delta Dirt has grown into a destination, drawing visitors to Helena and pushing boundaries in the spirits industry.

Now they’re expanding with new products, all rooted in a mindset of trial, error, and not being afraid to fail.

Because sometimes the best ideas come from trying something different. Come here about Thomas’ story and help us celebrate their five year anniversary.

When: Thursday, April 2nd | 5:30–7:00 PM
Where: The Venture Center (417 Main Street, Little Rock)
This event is free to the public! Drinks and food provided.

RSVP Here: https://forms.gle/mipfqxsDNTYnUzds9

03/16/2026

Tickets for JOLT are officially on sale!
The JOLT Cyber Challenge is an intensive, weekend-long cybersecurity competition where teams of four work through hands-on, Jeopardy-style challenges designed by seasoned cyber professionals to test and sharpen skills such as web application vulnerabilities, reverse engineering, and encoding.

Secure your spot today and prepare to defend! Bonus: If you register before March 24th, you will get a free JOLT t-shirt.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-jolt-cyber-challenge-tickets-1982317108835

03/12/2026

Opportunity is growing in South Arkansas, and you don’t need a traditional degree to be part of it.
Through our brand new LiTHIUMWORKS Job Seekers workshops, we’re helping connect local talent to careers in the emerging lithium industry and preparing people with the training and skills needed to step into these roles.

“You don’t need a fancy degree to work with us - college degree, no degree, GED, high school degree - what we need are folks who want to learn, willing to train, and who will show up. And we plan to train folks locally, here in Lafayette County.”
— Will Smith, Smackover Lithium

The future lithium workforce is being built right here in Lafayette County, and it starts with people who are ready to learn and get to work.

03/10/2026

We’re excited to announce our first VCInnovate of 2026 featuring Thomas Williams, Head Distiller at Delta Dirt Distillery!

After Thomas graduated from the University of Arkansas, with plans to pursue a career in medicine, Thomas decided to pivot and attend Moonshine University. There he helped develop the sweet potato-based spirit that became Sweet Blend Vodka. Today, he’s on a mission to make it a household name after earning multiple top spirits awards around the world.

Join us to hear his story of innovation, risk-taking, and building a premium Arkansas-born brand.

When: Thursday, April 2nd | 5:30–7:00 PM
Where: The Venture Center (417 Main Street, Little Rock)

This event is free to the public! Drinks and food provided. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/gWkts43M or on our event page!

03/02/2026

Our Veteran-Owned Small Business Accelerator is in full swing!

Our founders are diving deeper, building smarter, and challenging each other to think bigger every single day. The energy in the room is strong, the conversations are real, and the progress is already showing.

We can’t wait to see what this cohort accomplishes next!