Bjorn Simmons
Venture Catalyst & Champion for Inclusive Innovation
Bentonville, Arkansas
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Skills
Education
Lists including Bjorn
Work Experience
2023
Executive Director
2023
Founder and Executive Director of the Multicultural Business Xcellerator - fueling innovation, powered by diverse founders. The MBX is the first Xcellerator in Arkansas dedicated to building inclusive innovation across the Heartland. Applications are open now at: thembx.com
2023
Senior Program Officer
2023
Winrock International (Winrock) is a global non-profit organization committed to enhancing economic opportunities, sustaining natural resources, and safeguarding the environment worldwide. We fortify the capabilities of women, children, youth, civil society organizations, and businesses, empowering them to actively contribute to sustainable development and make a positive societal impact. In my role as a Senior Program Officer on the US Programs team, I am at the forefront of building and leading our comprehensive portfolio that provide equity through innovation and entrepreneurship. I am responsible for shaping and conveying the overarching visions and strategies of our inclusive innovation programs, ensuring their successful execution and implementation.
2022
Venture Partner
2022
Investing in the everyday economy with a commitment to diverse and underrepresented founders.
Board Member
2021
CACHE works with creatives, communities, and organizations to empower a more inspiring, inclusive, and equitable NWA. As an arts service organization, CACHE helps to coordinate, connect, augment, export, and exchange these inspiring creative resources with the rest of the world. Hence the imagery – but more importantly the ethos – of CACHE, a proud ambassador of Northwest Arkansas and its artists, culture-bearers, makers, dreamers, entrepreneurs, and collectives.
2022 - 2023
Executive Director
2022 - 2023
Driving ecosystems rooted in equity and rich in culture through civic engagement, innovation, and entrepreneurship. We've been doing a ton of work cultivating entrepreneurial leaders and building black and brown power. I'm honored to step up to lead the organization, launching new programs, expanding our partnerships and cultivating strategic impact. We are excited to open our Northwest Arkansas Office in 2023! More to come... www.thinksocialimpact.org
Director of Innovation
2022 - 2022
Imagine a world where historically disadvantaged communities are fully enfranchised and moved to economic prosperity. Democracy entrepreneurship, inclusive innovation, and that which lies in between are the ground for which the Foundation for Social Impact (a 501(c)3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization) stands. We believe it is critically important to resource a culture of civic and economic participation in underrepresented communities to erect and sustain viable, 21st-century ecosystems. As Director of Innovation, I build and lead our entrepreneurship, ecosystem development, and economic mobility portfolio. I work with entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial support organizations, cities, investors, and family offices to research and resource thriving and inclusive business building ecosystems.
2019 - 2020
Founder, Managing Director
2019 - 2020
Building ecosystems and working with cities and corporations to develop pipelines and access to diverse founders through structured curriculum, community, and active capital.
2014 - 2020
Co-Founder
2014 - 2020
As Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, I am the head of marketing, sales, partnerships, and public relations of Wyzerr. Wyzerr is an insights company building artificially intelligent solutions to make market research accessible and affordable for all businesses. Our mission is to empower businesses to make smarter decisions by actively listening to their community: their customers, employees, and the marketplace. We do this by turning traditional surveys into game-like smartforms that make the feedback experience fun, fast, and easy! Wyzerr smartforms can answer up to 25 questions in under 60 second, with that data we use machine learning and AI to power an insights dashboard for real-time analytics and recommendations. Wyzerr is a 2015 graduate of The Brandery Venture Accelerator in Cincinnati, Ohio and 2014 Graduate StartFast New York Incubator Program in Syracuse, NY. For more information on the tech startup Wyzerr or to request a demo, visit www.Wyzerr.com • Lead, Structure and Manage B2B Sales & Marketing Team • B2B content creation that includes email nurture campaigns, case studies, blogs, newsletters, etc. • Facilitate Strategic Opportunities and Partnerships • Manager PR team, media, and press relations • Update and manage CRM System • Implement and consistently build innovative growth strategies. • Support my co-founders and board to ensure quality execution of company mission • Ensure the company vision is supported and maintained through internal culture • Collaborate with the creative team in managing all marketing activities • Oversee account management and scheduled insights/analytic reports • Maintain relationships with community partners and social responsibility
2016 - 2018
Director, Inclusive Innovation
2017 - 2018
Leading the region's commitment to being intentional about diversity and inclusion in the growing tech ecosystem of Greater Cincinnati, better known as #StartupCincy
Community Catalyst
2016 - 2018
Community Catalyst and Manager of #StartupCincy, the Cincinnati Startup Ecosystem. Learn more at www.startupcincy.com As Community Catalyst, I am responsible for the following: 1. Startup and Entrepreneur Recruitment 2. Events & Programming 3. Connecting the regional community, capital, and accelerator networks 4. Peer City Reporting & Partnerships 5. Managing the StartupCincy Advisory Board 6. Diversity & Inclusion In 2017, StartupCincy was recognized as the #1 community for startup activity in the state of Ohio and is now home to over 400 startups.
2018 - 2018
Managing Director
2018 - 2018
Hillman was the first accelerator in the midwest, committed to founders of color. The accelerator invested $100,000 into each company and also connected them to resources, mentors, and capital to support the strategic growth and development of each company. As Managing Director, I worked with the founders and Executive to secure funding, recruit companies, establish partnerships, and led the events/programming schedule. During my tenure, Hillman graduated its inaugural and second cohorts.
2013 - 2017
CEO
2013 - 2017
The MEANT Group is a full-service experiential marketing firm and brand launch pad. The name MEANT is an acronym, representing the company’s platforms: Marketing, Entertainment, Advertising, Networking, and Talent. The MEANT Group was designed to empower startups, SMB's, non-profits and big co's with equitable brands and experiential marketing campaigns. The company has leveraged much of its presence through strategic partnerships with national brands and institutions such as The University of Arkansas, Monster Energy Drinks, Wyzerr, Noble Wolf Vodka, Platinum E-Hookahs, The Designer's Choice Fashion Preview, Arkansas College Prep Academy, Voscato, Sooligan Social Media App, Ozone Vodka, Glaziers Distribution, and more. The company serves as a branding connoisseur and ambassador of artistic expressions, while supporting a strong commitment to social responsibility. MEANT’s mission is to launch innovative personal and corporate branding campaigns serving clients in entertainment, sports, culinary arts, nonprofits, music, TV, politics, and fashion. With MEANT all things are possible as we continue to turn dreams into reality by building those strategic partnerships and maintaining our dedication to offering a wide range of services based on these principles: tailored customer service, innovative marketing experiences, and supreme execution.