Continuing Innovation in Northwest Arkansas: 10 Startups Accepted to the Fourth Plug and Play Supply Chain & Logistics NWA Program

BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS April 6th, 2021 - Plug and Play Northwest Arkansas announced the selection of 10 startups into the fourth batch of its Supply Chain & Logistics Program in the beginning of March. This 12-week program aims to facilitate opportunities for pilots, POCs, and new relationships between the selected batch startups and Plug and Play's global ecosystem. Anchor partners of the program include Walmart, J.B. Hunt, Tyson Foods, and Georgia Pacific, as well as Ecosystem Partners ArcBest, BNSF Logistics, and Crowley Maritime. The program is also supported by Community Partners Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC), NWA Council, Walton Family Foundation, and the University of Arkansas.
The selected startups will have the opportunity to engage with Plug and Play's network of corporate partners, venture capitalists, alumni, and industry leaders. Due to current challenges surrounding COVID-19, companies will be connected virtually to partners in private sessions to accelerate the POC process and work on joint projects to find the best solutions to the challenges our corporate partners addressed.
The Plug and Play Northwest Arkansas Office was started in July of 2019. Over the past 20 months the program has facilitated seven commercial rollouts, 12 pilot projects, and over 60 meetings between corporate partners and startup companies. “Although 2020 was a challenging year, the Plug and Play Innovation Program was able to successfully adapt the way we engage with our startups and corporate partners,” says Farzin Shadpour, Plug and Play Supply Chain Managing Director. “This has led to the acceleration of several supply chain innovation projects that keep products moving efficiently across the country.”
Click below to learn more about the 10 startups participating in the program:
Aanika Biosciences - Aanika Biosciences, Inc. provides food security services for large food and agricultural companies. We use synthetic biology to ensure the integrity of supply chains and reduce potential losses.
AVATOUR - AVATOUR enables remote inspections, marketing tours, training, and more -- saving time and money while keeping personnel safe.
Dapster - Dapster is building a tele-operated pick-and-place mobile robot for operators of large-scale warehouses.
Elementary Robotics - Elementary’s easy-to-use software, deep learning AI, and camera systems are built to capture visual data, deliver fast and reliable real-time judgements, and provide lasting value to your business.
Fillogic - Fillogic is the Logistics-as-a-Service platform for retail that converts non-selling space at local malls into tech-enabled, micro fulfillment hubs.
Shipium - Provider of shipping logistics service intended to offer fast delivery services to retailers.
Slip Robotics - Slip Robotics is solving inefficiencies in short-haul logistics using a robot as a service business model.
Tag N Trac - Tag-N-Trac was founded with a vision to provide customers full stack IoT solution by integrating multiple modes of technology typically hardware, software, and data — to build solutions for large, complex problems.
Tive - Cellular trackers and a cloud-based software platform enable real-time visibility into your shipment's location and condition, from end to end.
Voxel - Real-time AI reviews your security footage to identify missing PPE, potential workplace hazards, & activities that lead to injury. Our cutting edge technology can have a significant impact on reducing your loss costs and OSHA reportable violations. The platform works by sending real-time notifications of safety violations and risky behaviors to on-site personnel and providing detailed reports with analysis of past incidents.
Visit the Plug and Play Northwest Arkansas website to learn more. https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/arkansas/
About Plug and Play Northwest Arkansas
Established in 2019, Plug and Play Northwest Arkansas is a hub for supply chain and logistics solutions for future-thinking corporations and eager startups to meet and engage. Our program is designed to reflect our vision of bringing together innovators so that we can help revolutionary new ideas grow.https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/arkansas/
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in over 30 locations globally, giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 30,000 startups and 500 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. Companies in our community have raised over $9 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, Lending Club and PayPal. For more information, visit
https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/