Nine local entrepreneurs have been selected to participate in the second annual Spark! — a local small-business pre-accelerator program developed by the Venture Center and the Little Rock Regional Chamber to provide opportunities, exposure and company growth for local entrepreneurs.
Through mentorship, group sessions, expert-led workshops, feedback on pitches and the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in a pitch contest, Spark! helps entrepreneurs refine the tools they have and acquire the ones they need.
In this Spark! Spotlight series, we’re introducing you to the entrepreneurs in the second cohort and to their small businesses. Meet Lisa Carver and Becky Parkerson, founders of RampUp.
Not every company is equipped to deal with human resource matters. That’s where RampUp comes in. This Little Rock company, co-founded by Lisa Carver and Becky Parkerson, is a one-stop human resources firm.
“We founded RampUp because startups and small businesses often do not have dedicated human resource professionals. But they typically need assistance with HR basics, employee relations, legal compliance and organizational culture,” Carver said.
Carver and Parkerson are hoping to take RampUp to the next level with Spark! and become an established virtual human resources provider across Arkansas over the next year. The company’s goal is to expand regionally and nationally within the next three years.
Read the full article introducing this year’s Spark! class from Arkansas Money & Politics: SPARKING INNOVATION: 2020 SPARK! CLASS FROM VENTURE CENTER GOES VIRTUAL.
We hope you enjoy getting to know each of our entrepreneurs and encourage you to register for the GEW Pitch Competition, which takes place Nov. 17, to see their pitches!