Teams compete at Startup event

One concept involves a themed kit each month to help kids

BENTONVILLE — Bridget Reed and Dave Ellcey hoped their project would not only win at startup weekend, but eventually help impact the lives of children with disabilities.

Reed and Ellcey are one of the six teams participating in Northwest Arkansas Startup Weekend: Maker Edition. The three-day event is being held at Harrison French and Associates in Bentonville.

Reed and Ellcey hadn’t yet named their concept, which is aimed at helping children with learning disabilities and coping with sensory and dexterity issues.

Their concept involves a kit or box centered around a theme. For example, Christmas is the theme for December. The box would include a book and arts and crafts items approved by an occupational therapist.

A different kit will be available each month. The idea is to have fun activities, but at the same time have activities aimed at helping children with learning disabilities, along with sensory and dexterity issues.

“There’s a legit need for it and whoever wants to hustle and get behind it can change lives,” Ellcey said.

Reed and Ellcey must have a prototype of their kit ready by Sunday and then they will have to give a pitch to judges about their project. They also have to come up with a name, logo, a business plan and research for the project.

Reed came up with the idea for the kit Friday, but admits as a parent she needed the kit and activities for her children.

Amy Pedid and Ron Bowes are on another team. They are trying to solve an issue

confronting people for years — where can you neatly keep all those board games?

The two had a 3-D image on a laptop of a stackable storage system and they must build a prototype of the storage system by Sunday. They also had to come up with a name.

Pedid believes there’s a market for the storage system. She cited the different sizes board games come in adding to the problem of storing them neatly.

The storage systems will be portable, so also an easy way to transport games.

The startup event is sponsored by Startup Junkie and the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

David Tominskey, a facilitator for Startup Weekend, said the maker’s edition is the first one in Arkansas. People have to make their project this weekend and then pitch it, Tominskey said.

Tominskey said 45 to 50 people pitched ideas Friday night and then the teams were formed. Mentors will be on hand to speak with the team, he said.

Tominskey said startup events are good because they inspire ideas and expose people to what it takes to make their ideas a reality.

Haley Allgood, executive director of Startup Junkie, said they hold one to two startup events each year.

Allgood said several businesses have been launched as result of the local startup events. Allgood said 15 to 20 startup events are held globally.

“If we get one business created after one of our startup events then that’s a huge success,” Allgood said.

The teams will make their pitches today and prizes will be awarded, Allgood said.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Philipp Richter of Bentonville creates saw ponies for a bench he’s building Saturday during the first Northwest Arkansas Startup Weekend at Harris French and Associates Design Lab in Bentonville.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Trent Bower, production manager of the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub of Little Rock, makes an adjustment on a 3-D printer during the event. Several 3-D printers were provided to help creators with their ideas.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/CHARLIE KAIJO Bridget Reed of Little Rock (center) explains Saturday a product she and her team are designing to a colleague during the first Northwest Arkansas Startup Weekend event at Harris French and Associates Design Lab in Bentonville. Her product is called the BOTH Box (Bringing Occupational Therapy Home). The box is a hand-crafted kit with themed activities designed for specific learning delays.