Kristian Andersen Big On Arkansas Startup Scene
By Mark Carter
The growth of the Arkansas startup ecosystem over the past few years hasn't gone unnoticed by Kristian Andersen, the nationally prominent entrepreneur/investor who grew up in Conway.
Andersen remains a big part of the Arkansas entrepreneurial scene. He built his strategic design firm, KA+A, and helped launch the member-managed seed capital fund Gravity Ventures, in Indianapolis, but Andersen returned to Conway to raise a family and even help launch two Gravity funds in Arkansas.
(Seriously, Gravity's Arkansas portflio reads like a Who's Who of the state's tech-based startups including several IA client firms.)
In addition to his work with KA+A, Andersen launched a few software companies and co-founded Conway's own Pathagility (featured here in Arkansas Business). Joining Pathagility in the KA portfolio are Lesson.ly, Visible.vc, TinderBox, and most recently, Structural LLC.
He commutes between Arkansas and Indy, and therefore can add a little national perspective to what he sees brewing in his home state. Arkansas, he believes, has come a long way from the days of beating the bushes trying to find entrepreneurs willing to launch a tech-based startup.
"You know, it’s been really gratifying to see this startup ecosystem continue to mature," he said. "A few years ago, you had to turn over a lot of rocks to find folks that were actively pursuing careers in high-tech entrepreneurship. Funding was hard to find and talent -- developers, designers, etc. -- was in really short supply."
Indeed. But Arkansas as a launchpad for big-time, tech-based ventures...that's not such a crazy notion anymore. Look at IA client firm DataRank, which last year became the first Arkansas startup at Y Combinator.
"Folks don’t look at you quite so cross-eyed when you tell them you’re launching a startup in Arkansas," Andersen said. "We have a robust network of mentors, funders and support organizations now."
Specifically, he noted Gravity, Fund for Arkansas' Future, Natural State Angels and organizations like IA, the ARK Challenge, the Arkansas Venture Center and the Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub.
"It’s quite remarkable to see the number of young people that are choosing entrepreneurship over a more traditional career path," he said. "Just look at the interest level that the Arkansas Fellowship generated in its inaugural year."
More to come -- in this very space even -- on the Arkansas Fellowship.
Meantime, Andersen is enjoying watching it all play out. Right now, most of his focus is on Pathagility, which recently shifted its focus to the huge PGx market. He's "highly engaged," if not completely immersed in the day-to-day ops. After all, he does have other irons to tend.
"I tend to spend different amounts of time on them, during different seasons of the business," he said of his multiple ventures. "Right now, I’m particularly engaged with Pathagility as my team is working on re-designing aspects of the software itself. "
Good stuff. Stay tuned...