FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Startup Junkie has announced the 10 finalists who will compete in the Arkansas Regional Qualifier of the Startup World Cup, taking place Thursday, August 14 at TheatreSquared in downtown Fayetteville.

The 2025 finalists are:
• Auxigen
• B. Watts Collective
• Build-A-Way Inc.
• EdenNet
• Fidari
• Hidalga Technologies
• Humimic Biosystems
• NYX NoCode
• Swaply
• Tailored Financial Solutions

These ventures were selected from a competitive pool of applicants by a panel of first-round judges, including Tiffany Henry, executive director of ACC Capital Foundation; Shan Pesaru, CEO of Sharp Hue; and Chandler Abbott, senior manager at Walmart.

On August 14, the finalists will pitch live on stage to an in-person judging panel featuring Chris Seawood of TheatreSquared, Tanya Mims of First National Bank of NWA, and Serafina Lalany of StartupNWA. The winner will go on to represent Arkansas at the Startup World Cup Grand Finale in Silicon Valley, competing for a $1 million investment prize.

Fayetteville Mayor Molly Rawn will deliver opening remarks for the evening’s program. The Arkansas Regional Qualifier is made possible through the support of Sharp Hue, First National Bank of NWA, and TheatreSquared.

As part of the event, Startup Junkie will host a special silent auction featuring contributions from the entrepreneurial community. Proceeds will help cover travel expenses for the winning team.

Featured auction items include professional headshot sessions from B. Watts Collective, a business startup package from Venture Law Partners, artwork from Art deCentrale, a luxury houseplant from Pink Fern, and more.

The Startup World Cup, organized by Pegasus Tech Ventures, is a global competition with over 70 regional events across six continents.

Event details:
Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: Theatre Squared, Fayetteville, AR