UA Little Rock Launches Go 4th Fridays Entrepreneurship Lunch Series with Legendary Video Game Creators
UA Little Rock is launching a new monthly event designed to spark innovation, cross-campus collaboration, and entrepreneurial thinking among students, faculty, and community members.
The Go 4th Fridays Entrepreneurship Lunch Series will kick off at noon Friday, Sept. 26, at UA Little Rock with a free pizza lunch, an inspiring talk from alumni, and an open-mic session for students to pitch their own ideas.
The inaugural program, “3 Grads’ Legendary Video Game: Immercenary with Electronic Arts,” will feature UA Little Rock graduates JD Robinson, Christopher Stashuk, and Elton Pruitt, who will share the story of how they developed the video game “Immercenary” in the 1990s for Electronic Arts.
Each alumnus will highlight the unique role he played in the project—whether as a writer, artist, or developer—and the challenges and surprises that came with building a console game as independent creators.
Robinson, who earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in creative writing, said his goal is to share a message with students about readiness and resilience.
“Focus on a goal or live your dream is sound advice, but I’d add that the ability to recognize opportunity when it presents itself is even more important,” Robinson said. “‘Be ready’ is the best advice I can give. Something can be ephemeral and meaningful at the same time, and if a few students leave with that understanding, I will feel like I’ve made a worthwhile contribution.”
The lunch series is co-sponsored by the UA Little Rock School of Business and Tech Launch. The events will take place on the fourth Friday of every month the campus is open and will feature free lunch, inspirational speakers, and student open-mic sessions where participants can share ideas, ask for input, and connect with peers.
Organizers hope the events will encourage students from all disciplines to collaborate on entrepreneurial projects like applying to the Governor’s Cup competition, entering pitch contests, and even starting new companies. Local investors and community leaders will also be invited to meet students, hear their ideas, and explore opportunities to support innovation at UA Little Rock.
“This is how we create interaction and engagement between students from all disciplines,” said Marla Johnson, UA Little Rock’s tech-entrepreneur-in-residence. “We want these lunches to become a watering hole where students, researchers, industry partners, and entrepreneurs come together to exchange ideas and fuel Arkansas’s next wave of innovation.”
The Sept. 26 event will begin at noon with pizza and networking in the atrium in the Reynolds Business Building, followed by the alumni presentation and Q&A at 12:15 p.m. in Room 103. The final half-hour will be devoted to student open-mic pitches and idea-sharing.The Go 4th Friday Entrepreneurship Lunch Series is free and open to the public. For more information, email [email protected] or contact the School of Business or Tech Launch. Fill out this form to register for the event.