The much anticipated fifth installment of the NWA Startup Crawl is tomorrow – Sept. 8, 2023 – returning to downtown Fayetteville with the best and brightest in the local entrepreneurial scene, featuring a diverse range of local startups and small businesses exhibiting their products and services, along with live music, art, and local breweries.

Launched in 2017, the Startup Crawl has connected more than 5,500 members of the Northwest Arkansas community to the region’s most exciting startups, founders and creatives over a shared interest in local craft beer and live music.  

“It’s the biggest startup party in the Heartland,” said Caleb Talley, Startup Junkie executive director. “And this year, it’s gotten bigger and better, giving everyone the opportunity to meet the founders of some incredible young companies, innovative thinkers and to get a glimpse inside their world in as fun an atmosphere as any.”  

GET YOUR STARTUP CRAWL TICKETS HERE! (IF YOU HAVENT ALREADY…)

The Startup Crawl will kick off on the Fayetteville square at 5 p.m. Guests will check in at one of three stations located on East Avenue and Mountain Street, at which paid ticket holders can check in to receive a Startup Crawl-branded, reusable Silipint cup and wristband and general admission (unpaid) ticket holders can check in for their crawl map. Walk-ups can purchase a ticket on location.  

With that cup, attendees will be able to enjoy beers, ciders or seltzers from any of the 14 local craft breweries represented, most of which having been paired with the 10 stops along the crawl, as well as from the beer garden located on the same street. Crawlers will also be given a passport, and those who have their passports marked by at least five of the 10 stops along the Crawl will receive a t-shirt provided by Natural Threads. Those who make it to all 10 stops will be entered for a chance to win an Apple iPad.

This year’s stops + brewery include:

• Startup Junkie (Pryor Center, #270) + Bike Rack Brewing

• Zenwork (Pryor Center, #250) + Black Apple Hard Cider

• SharpHue (Pryor Center, #210) + Orthodox Farmhouse Brewery

• Century Bank of the Ozarks (Pryor Center, #215) + Fossil Cove 

• AcreTrader (26 W. Center St.) + Columbus House Brewery

• Encore Bank (112 W Center St., Bottom Floor) + Bentonville Brewing Co.

• Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub (123 W Mountain St.) +  Social Project Brewing

• Urban Cellar Winery (21 W. Mountain St.) + New Province Brewing Co.

• Big Box Karaoke (115 N Block Ave.) + Saddlebock Brewing

• Fayetteville Town Center (15 W Mountain St.) + Ozark Beer Co. & Scarlet Letter

• Beer Garden (East Center St.) +  Crisis Brewing & Ivory Bill Brewing Co. & Rendezvous Junction Brewing Co.

Some of the featured stops, too, will showcase local startups. The Fayetteville Town Center will be host to a number of startups as well as resource organizations that play a critical role in the success of the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Attendees can also meet a number of entrepreneurs at the Brewer Family Entrepreneurship Hub, including the latest cohort of companies participating in the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreational Program (GORP).

In front of the Pryor Center, on South East Avenue, from East Rock to East Mountain streets, live music will be performed from the Startup Crawl’s main stage. This year’s music lineup is one for the ages – featuring artists that average more than 2 million monthly streams on Spotify, including one Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist. Inside the Pryor Center, attendees can take in live music at B.C.’s Blues Shack, courtesy of The Music Education Initiative.

Main Stage – East Avenue/Mountain Street

5:00 p.m. – Midnight South 

6:00 p.m. – joan 

7:15 p.m. – Sister Hazel

B.C.’s Blues Shack – Pryor Center 

 5:30 p.m. – Tim Anthony & Friends

Be sure to meet all the startups, small businesses and organizations represented at Startup Crawl 2023!

Other things to look for…

•  A live recording of the Startup Junkies podcast will be happening at the Pryor Center. Stop by for a chance to be on the show!

• Artists Shay Holloway and Jeffry Cantu will be doing live demonstrations of painting and weaving, respectively, on the second floor of the Pryor Center.

• Get your 2023 Startup Crawl merch, featuring a limited edition poster with artwork by local illustrator Yang Luo-Branch, at the merchandise tent on Mountain Ave.