David Sanders
Director

Innovate Arkansas is a catalyst, connector, and convener of entrepreneurs and industry leaders to help the Arkansas economy grow smarter and faster through innovation, acceleration, and deep incubation. Sanders and the Innovate Arkansas team of business and industry advisors deliver high-impact, demand-based services and programs targeting scalable, knowledge-based ventures. As a result, Innovate Arkansas’ companies have created more than 1500 jobs while raising over $400 million in investment and generating more than $575 million in revenues. At Winrock, Sanders has led efforts to start other programs and funds that serve to build Arkansas’ knowledge-based startup companies.

His professional career extends into the private and public sectors. Before joining Winrock, David served in private, college-preparatory school administration. He led business development efforts for a major energy services provider. For nearly a decade, David was a syndicated columnist. He has contributed to the Wall Street Journal and National Review. He is a Robert D. Novak Journalism Fellow with The Fund for American Studies and holds a B.A. in political science and communications from Ouachita Baptist University. He is a board member of the Arkansas World Trade Center. David served in the Arkansas General Assembly from 2011 to 2019, first as a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives and then the Arkansas State Senate.

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