First off, welcome back! I have just graduated medical school and am excited to pursue my intern year here in Searcy Arkansas. It’s quite a change of pace from urban living in Texas, lots of country here.

Having just moved here, here’s a few startups I recommend everyone check out in Little Rock:

1. Apptegy

Apptegy is a solution provider for schools looking to improve their online identities. As they note on their blog, building a mobile app for a school isn’t enough, you have to make it engaging.

Apptegy was named a Forbes best startup employer to work and I’m excited to follow their journey here.

2. BankLabs

BankLabs provides alternative banking products. For example, their construction loan product automated a lot of the “draw” process that most hard money lenders use during rehabs (wish my last lender would have used this…). They also have tools to automate the loan application and participation process.

3. Bond.AI

Bond.AI has created a hyper-intelligent solution that allows banks to personalize the customer experience. The Empathy Engine they created is the first solution that allows you to understand the customer holistically.

AI is the future and would love to see how this product develops.

4. GasPOS

GasPOS is a highly efficient point of sale for high volume gas stations and truck stops. Their business model aligns incentives so that they do well when their customers do well.

Personally I think this is a great concept and I hope to see it at more stations. Most of the gas stations/stops that I’ve been to have been extremely slow with payments and I think this is a clear win-win.

5. Labscoop

Labscoop has a really innovative business model that I can relate to having worked in a lab so many times in undergrad. Their platform lets you comparison shop for lab supplies and get the best price.

Love this concept! Seems like a simple solution to a giant market that’s ready to be disrupted.

6. BarkBar

Ah what we would not do for our pets. An indoor/outdoor restaurant and park for pets only? That’s something I can see dog parents going crazy for.

Stay tuned for next post, we’ll highlight a few companies with excellent marketing blogs you should be following.