ACC Capital Foundation
Where Ideas Get Moving
ACC Capital Foundation helps students, educators, and emerging entrepreneurs turn curiosity into action.
Connection
Big ideas grow faster when people are connected.
ACC Capital Foundation brings educators, students, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem leaders together across regions and institutions. Through programs like the EDGE Summit, university faculty and entrepreneurship champions connect, collaborate, and share practical ways to bring entrepreneurial thinking into the classroom and beyond.
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Competitions
We believe students learn by doing.
Our competitions give students the chance to test ideas, build business plans, practice pitching, and receive feedback from entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders. Programs include the ACC Capital Governor’s Cup, Arkansas’s premier collegiate business plan competition, and the Y.E.S. Competition, offered in partnership with Economics Arkansas for students in grades 5–8.
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Curriculum & Resources
Entrepreneurship should be accessible, practical, and easy to bring into learning environments.
Our resource hub supports faculty and educators with evergreen tools, videos, guides, and materials designed to encourage student entrepreneurial development. These resources help educators spark creativity, support business idea development, and create meaningful hands-on learning experiences.
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Our Impact
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students engaged
$0M+
in prizes awarded to student entrepreneurs
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ventures launched by program alumni
Alumni Spotlight
Meet Jillian Woodruff, Founder of Waderbuddy
Jillian Woodruff first brought Waderbuddy to the Governor’s Cup in 2023 while representing Ouachita Baptist University. Her idea was simple, smart, and deeply connected to Arkansas outdoor life with a tool that helps duck hunters stay steady while taking off their waders.
Jillian’s pitch earned her first place in the Small Business Division and a win in her division’s Elevator Pitch. She left the competition with prize money, new confidence, and connections that helped her keep building.
In March 2024, Jillian pitched Waderbuddy at Pitch It Texarkana and won $7,500. Most recently, she showcased her product at the Delta Waterfowl Expo, putting Waderbuddy in front of industry professionals, outdoor enthusiasts, and potential customers.
Now, Jillian is giving back to the same competition that helped move her idea forward. As a Governor’s Cup judge, she supports the next generation of student entrepreneurs by sharing feedback, encouragement, and real-world perspective from someone who has been in their shoes.
Her advice to aspiring entrepreneurs:
Don’t give up! If it were easy, everyone would be an entrepreneur! The challenging times make you appreciate both the small wins and the big ones.
-Jillian Woodruff