By the time Omar Kasim graduated from high school in 2012, the Tulsa, Oklahoma student had already mapped out a clear course for his life. He intended to study business management at the University of Arkansas, then head off to law school after earning his undergraduate degree.
The idea of becoming founder and CEO of his own restaurant – before his 23rd birthday – had never crossed Kasim’s mind.
But after being bitten by the entrepreneurial bug in his freshman year of college and recognizing an opportunity in Fayetteville, Arkansas’ dining scene, Kasim shifted career gears. He jumped headlong into the job of launching his own culinary startup company. But he needed help.
“The startup journey is a lonely journey. Nobody thinks like you do, or believes in your dream like you do,” says Kasim.
To get his business off the ground, Kasim worked closely with Startup Junkie Consulting, the Fayetteville-based firm I operate. In partnership with the Little Rock-based nonprofit Winrock International, Startup Junkie leads the Northwest Arkansas Venture Team. In short, our job is to help entrepreneurs by connecting them to mentors and investors, offer guidance as they craft and refine their business plans and provide access to CenterSpace, a co-working office in downtown Fayetteville. The best part: Our consulting services are free.
Our clients usually don’t have the money to spend $200 to $300 an hour on consulting services. But they really need the advice and support.
The Walton Family Foundation supports our initiative as part of its commitment to create a culture of entrepreneurship in Northwest Arkansas.
Kasim is a great example of a young businessman who sought the help of our venture team to turn his vision into reality.
Today, he operates Con Quesos, a fusion taco eatery near the university campus. The fast casual restaurant’s re-imagined tacos – which include versions peppered with flavors inspired by Indian, Jamaican and Louisiana cuisine – have been a hit with students and young professionals.
Open just over a year, Con Quesos has surpassed sales projections. A second location is in the works for later in 2017, and Kasim has ambitions for as many as 15 additional restaurants in the next five years.
To support clients such as Kasim, in addition to our direct consulting, the NWA Venture Team also hosts regular networking events, including sessions in which clients pitch their startup ideas to established entrepreneurs and investors.
‘What’s stopping you from doing this?’
Kasim and I first discussed his idea for Con Quesos when I met him at the Sam M. Walton College of Business. He’d noticed a need for more ethnic food options in Fayetteville, and believed there was a market for a restaurant that gave diners flavors from around the world, packaged in the familiar form of a taco.
I had a simple question for him: ‘What’s stopping you from doing this?’
Startup Junkie connected Kasim with a network of restaurant owners and entrepreneurs, who provided feedback on his concept and advice about things like customer service.
“There was support for everything, from how to set up the corporate structure to finding financing,” Kasim recalls. He often conducted business from co-working space Startup Junkie provides at our offices in downtown Fayetteville. And he used our conference rooms for meetings with distributors and interviews with future employees.
‘It was great to have people rooting for me.
The end result: A restaurant that emphasizes both the food and ambience, featuring tacos made entirely in-house with fresh ingredients and names such as Montego, Bombay and Dardanelle.
Kasim recalls our co-working space as a great place to share his ideas with other supportive, risk-taking entrepreneurs.
“In a place like Startup Junkie, you have 10, 15, or 20 other people who think what you are doing is accomplishable, just like they think what they are doing is accomplishable,” Kasim says.
“The biggest thing for me was the companionship, and the mentorship. It was great to have people who were rooting for me, right in the same office space.”
Kasim’s success story is one that’s being replicated again and again in Northwest Arkansas. Together with our clients and partners, we’re making the region a place where entrepreneurs thrive.
Jeff Amerine is founding principal of Startup Junkie and a leader of the NWA Venture Team.
