story by Roby Brock, a TCW content partner and owner of Talk Business & Politics
roby@talkbusiness.net
One of Arkansas’ most respected entrepreneurial leaders, Jeff Amerine, stepped down from his post with the University of Arkansas to devote more time to a startup consulting business that he says is poised for bigger growth.
In a planned transition, Amerine stepped down from his post as associate vice provost for research and economic development and as the director of Technology Ventures at UA at the end of 2014. He says he will continue to work closely with the university and will continue to teach entrepreneurship at the state’s flagship school while applying much more of his time to his consulting firm, Startup Junkie Consulting.
“The reason for my decision was driven by the growth Startup Junkie Consulting has been experiencing,” Amerine told Talk Business & Politics. “We have long-term contract funding from the SBA to further expand the startup/venture scene in an effort called the Ozarks Regional Innovation Cluster. We are one of 14 regional innovation clusters nationally.”
Amerine said his objective is to expand venture/startup mentoring and support services to women, veterans, and minorities in Northwest Arkansas, Eastern Oklahoma, and Southwest Missouri.
In addition to the SBA funding that was awarded in September 2014, Amerine said foundation funding has also set in place long-term financial stability for Startup Junkie.
“This funding is allowing us to add depth and breadth to the programs, places, events, and networking needed to drive founder and technical talent development, attraction, and retention while also expanding the early-stage funding continuum,” Amerine said.
Amerine said he expects to see more activity in accelerator programs like the ARK Challenge, investor engagement opportunities like the Natural State Angel Association, and events like the G60 Elevator Pitch.
“With all of this on the plate, I made a judgment that I needed to work on all of this full time for the full potential to be realized,” he added.
Amerine joined the university as a technology licensing officer in 2008 after an 18-year career as an executive and builder of technology businesses. He held senior leadership positions in seven startup ventures and three Fortune 500 companies and teaches entrepreneurship in the university’s Sam M. Walton College of Business.
In November 2012 he was named director of technology licensing for the university.
Amerine is also an adviser to Innovate Arkansas, an initiative operated by Winrock International for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission that grows and sustains knowledge-based companies in Arkansas. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in physical science in 1984. He also holds a master’s degree in operations management from the UA, conferred in 2009.