donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup business plan competition

With one of the largest cash prize pools in America, the Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup business plan competition encourages students attending any Arkansas two or four year college or university to act on their ideas and talents in order to produce tomorrow's businesses. Since the competition was started in 2001, more than 1,300 students representing 22 Arkansas colleges and universities have participated. The students and their faculty advisors have received over $1,000,000 in prize money.

history of the competition

In 2001, with a vision for promoting entrepreneurship, the Arkansas Capital Corporation Group conceived the idea for a statewide business plan competition. This vision was about creating a first-class competition, one that would send a message to students that the resources to succeed in business can be found in Arkansas. In the third year of the competition, a separate track was created for undergraduate and graduate students.

In 2004, the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation made a major grant to the Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation to expand the event to both Oklahoma and Nevada. With the Foundation's grant, the competition was named after the late media entrepreneur Mr. Donald W Reynolds. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Nev., the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States.

In 2008, the First Annual Tri-State business plan competition was held in Las Vegas. The Tri-State Award represents the pinnacle of the three statewide business plan competitions for Arkansas, Nevada, and Oklahoma. At the Tri-State competition, the top two teams from each state (undergraduate & graduate) compete for cash awards totaling $118,000.

The Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup Business Plan Competition celebrated its 10th anniversary with Don Soderquist as the event Chairman.

2012 cash awards

The 2012 Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup awards will include:

  • $25,000 - First Place Undergraduate
  • $15,000 - Second Place Undergraduate
  • $10,000 - Third Place Undergraduate
  • $5,000 - Most Innovative Undergraduate
  • $5,000 - Best Agriculture Undergraduate
  • $12,000 - Semi-Finalist Qualifier Prizes
  • $6,000 - Advisor Prizes
  • $2,000 - Elevator Pitch Prize
  • $25,000 - First Place Graduate
  • $15,000 - Second Place Graduate
  • $10,000 - Third Place Graduate
  • $5,000 - Most Innovative Graduate
  • $5,000 - Best Agriculture Graduate
  • $6,000 - Finalist Qualifier Prizes
  • $6,000 - Adivsor Prizes
  • $2,000 - Elevator Pitch Prize

2012 Arkansas college and university participation

The colleges and universities that who will participate in the 2012 competition include:

  • Arkansas State University - Jonesboro
  • Arkansas Tech University
  • Harding University
  • Henderson State University
  • Hendrix College
  • John Brown University
  • Ouachita Baptist University
  • Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia
  • University of Arkansas - Fayetteville
  • University of Arkansas at Fort Smith
  • University of Arkansas at Little Rock
  • University of Arkansas at Monticello
  • University of Central Arkansas
  • University of the Ozarks

letter from aeaf chairman sam walls

We are pleased to present the 2012 Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup. It has been through the support and hard work of many people and groups that this has become one of the preeminent collegiate business plan competitions in the United States.

After high school, a family friend helped me obtain a job on a construction road crew which allowed me to afford college. Upon graduation, I visited him and thanked him for what he did for me. He replied, "I didn't do anything for you, you did it for yourself, I merely gave you the opportunity." That comment has stayed with me and now; years later, providing "opportunity" is at the center of everything that Arkansas Capital Corporation does. 

Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation (AEAF), an affiliate of Arkansas Capital Corporation, provides the opportunity for Arkansas students of all ages to learn about entrepreneurship and instill in them the vision that they could be the next great Arkansas entrepreneur like Donald W. Reynolds, Jack or Witt Stephens, Sam Walton, Charles Murphy, William Dillard, or John Tyson.

Just as I was told by the family friend, ultimately it is what people do with these opportunities that will determine the value of our efforts. Students and teachers, it is my hope that you take advantage of this wonderful entrepreneurial experience.

Respectfully,

Sam Walls
Chairman,
Arkansas Economic Acceleration Foundation

bill clark chairman's fund

The Bill Clark Chairman's fund provides grants to help students as they participate in regional or national business plan competitions. Requests can be granted for up to $1,000. More information is available below. If you are interested in this grant, please contact us.

Bill Clark Chairman's Fund

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