We are delighted to announce that four Health Sciences Innovation and Entrepreneurship (HSIE) Fellows from the University of Arkansas competed in the Stu Clark New Venture Championships at the University of Manitoba from March 9-11, 2023. The HSIE program allowed the fellows to collaborate with business students from the UA Walton College of Business’s New Venture Development program to form two companies, Pediatrica Therapeutics and Caremate, with a BioVentures/UAMS technology being at the heart of Pediatrica Therapeutics. The two teams were joined by two additional University of Arkansas teams in the field of 32 teams from across North America.

The teams comprising Megan Reed and Julia Tobacyk of Pediatrica Therapeutics, and Kindann Fawcett and Tiffany Miles of Caremate, excelled in the competition. The teams put up an impressive performance with their hard work, strong answers to tough questions, and stage presence, making the UA Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the University of Arkansas, and UAMS proud. Pediatrica Therapeutics took home second place overall and third in the elevator pitch. We congratulate all the teams that participated and wish them the very best for their future endeavors.

The Stu Clark New Venture Championships is a high-energy competition focused on entrepreneurship and innovation, where participants compete with both their business plans and elevator pitches for over $60,000 in cash prizes. The competition had both an undergraduate and graduate division, allowing participants to connect with other entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders from their industries. Over 50 of Winnipeg’s industry experts and veteran judges, including Stu Clark, provided valuable feedback to help take the ventures’ next step towards success.

For more information on the HSIE program, please visit the UAMS Translational Research Institute.