NWA Council, Apprenticely to host startup hiring event in July

The Northwest Arkansas Council and Apprenticely are collaborating to connect technology talent with the region’s startups through a hiring event on July 16 at the Collaborative in Bentonville.

The Collaborative at 700 S.E. Fifth St., Suite 130, is an education and research hub of the University of Arkansas. The hiring event is supported by StartupNWA, the council’s entrepreneurship program, and is open to the public. It starts with a networking breakfast, followed by interviews between startups and candidates.

“Northwest Arkansas founders are building fast, at scale, and they hire for the qualities that actually move the work: curiosity, drive and the willingness to own an outcome,” said Serafina Lalany, executive director of StartupNWA. “This program strengthens the talent pipeline that keeps our ecosystem growing and gives more Arkansans a direct path into the startup economy.”

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Northwest Arkansas added about 6,000 jobs in the year ending February 2026, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the state’s total job growth. Meanwhile, new startups are launching, and investment continues to grow as founders choose to build their companies here, according to a news release.

The release shows the collaboration between the Northwest Arkansas Council and Apprenticely creates a pipeline connecting Arkansans launching careers in technology with the region’s startups. It provides founders with a direct, affordable way to grow their teams. Founders can add full-time employees for 12 weeks, with Apprenticely covering placement during the period.

Through its Work-Based Learning program, Apprenticely provides $10 an hour, up to 480 hours per placement. At $15 an hour, an employer pays $2,400 for a full-time, 12-week role. Each placement will focus on technology work and receive an employer mentor, check-ins, a midpoint review and transition planning.

“At Apprenticely, we train Arkansans for real tech careers and support them on the job,” said Nichole Parsons, work-based learning program manager at Apprenticely. “This partnership puts that talent to work inside the state’s fastest-moving startups, and we handle the sourcing, screening and support so founders can say yes to a hire they might otherwise pass on.”

Recent graduates, career changers and others looking to work in technology can apply for the hiring event. Link here to apply for open roles, posted under the Work-Based Learning section. Apply by July 10 to be considered for the hiring event.

Startups with open roles include Align AI, HaveMore.Space, Huml Health, Collab Design Co. and Umami. Available positions span software development, AI operations, marketing, data analytics and design. The program is recruiting startups and candidates before the hiring event. Startups interested in joining the program can email Parsons at [email protected].

The networking breakfast from 9 to 10 a.m. July 16 is open to anyone interested in startup careers, the roles available and how Apprenticely works. At 10 a.m., the selected candidates and startups begin interviews across software development, operations, marketing, business development and support. Those interested in being selected as a candidate must apply by July 10.