Eleven teams have been selected to participate in the inaugural cohort of FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas, a program designed to empower innovators to address the most pressing transportation challenges in Arkansas by tapping into the power of federal intellectual property (IP).
The program aims to build capacity and deepen connections within the regional innovation ecosystem, with a focus on technology transfer and venture creation. The selected teams include postgraduates, faculty, and university staff across Arkansas, all working to develop solutions that improve the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of how people and products move throughout the state.
As a major logistics hub located at the heart of the U.S., Arkansas plays a critical role in freight and goods movement nationwide. However, the state faces unique transportation challenges, including limited transit accessibility in rural areas and the need for sustainable solutions to reduce emissions and improve infrastructure. Projects developed during the program will focus on improving access to remote areas with limited transportation, designing green freight systems, and developing sustainable transit options for local communities to help solve for these barriers and create more sustainable and efficient mobility systems.
Teams will receive exclusive access to market-viable federal IP during the seven-month FLIPspace program, leveraging top-tier patents to fast-track mobility solutions, gaining hands-on training in tech transfer basics, design thinking, lean startup methodologies, and pitch preparation. Participants will each receive a $2,000 stipend to fund their participation, as well as access to innovation lab space and mentorship from industry leaders. The program will culminate in a pitch competition, with the teams presenting their solutions to Bentonville, Arkansas–based venture studio Highway Ventures for potential funding and incubation.
“These innovators are embarking on a collaborative effort to shape the future of mobility in Arkansas,” said Tara Loomis, director, Program, Federal Innovation at VentureWell. “FLIPspace will equip our cohort with the tools, connections, and expertise needed to transform Arkansas’ transportation landscape.”
The University of Arkansas plays a vital role in supporting the FLIPspace program by offering participants access to innovation lab space, mentorship from leading faculty members, and connections to regional transportation stakeholders.
“FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas aligns with I³R’s mission to pioneer solutions that empower communities,” said Ranu Jung, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor and founding executive director of the Institute for Integrative and Innovative Research (I³R) at the University of Arkansas. “By fostering regional collaboration, we drive advancements in Arkansas’ transportation landscape and create scalable models. We are proud to partner with VentureWell to support opportunities for Arkansas-based faculty and researchers as they leverage federal lab intellectual property in their learning for turning ideas into market-ready innovations.”
In addition to the support provided by I³R at the University of Arkansas, FLIPspace: Advanced Mobility Arkansas is made possible through the support and dedication of partners including the Walton Family Foundation, the Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer, Highway Ventures, the Licensing Executives Society, and The Venture Mentoring Team. These organizations are committed to empowering Arkansas’ next generation of problem-solvers, providing valuable resources, guidance, and expertise to help each selected team develop solutions with realized impact.
Meet the Teams
Team One
Team Lead: Sheri Washington (pictured at left, 1)
Members: Sean Abrigo (2), Bekzod Akhmuratov (3), Brenda Hernandez (4)
Both Sean Abrigo and Sheri Washington are part of Michigan Mobility and Logistics, a cloud-based logistics solution for managing and optimizing supply chain needs. At the University of Arkansas, Bekzod Akhmuratov is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering and Brenda Hernandez is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Operations Management.
Team Two
Team Lead: Pratik Pokharel (1)
Members: Uttamasha Anjally Oyshi (2), Philip Nunez (3), Joel Takow (4)
Three team members are students at the University of Arkansas, with Anjally Oyshi pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Computer Science, Pokharel pursuing a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, and Takow pursuing a Master’s Degree in Operations Management. Nunez is a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas Walton College of Business, with a degree in Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Supply Chain Management.
Team Three
Team Lead: Ehsan Naderi (1)
Members: Drew Fleming (2), Philip Sambol (3), Najee Stubbs (4)
Two team members are faculty of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Arkansas State University, with Naderi the interim Electrical Engineering program chair and Fleming an assistant professor of Mechanical Engineering. Stubbs is a graduate researcher and Master of Science candidate in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. Sambol is an entrepreneur who has launched businesses in the entertainment, retail, and nonprofit sectors.
Team Four
Team Lead: Eric Specking (1)
Members: Jeremiah Miller (2), Stephen Sieck (3)
All three team members work together at Infinity Labs, contributing diverse expertise in decision analysis, systems engineering, data science, operations research, and program management. Specking serves as a principal engineer, Miller as the software solutions division lead, and Sieck as the transformational technologies division lead. Collectively, they bring experience in technology development, analytics, cybersecurity, and supporting U.S. Department of Defense initiatives through various roles.
Team Five
Team Lead: Mehdi Zolali (1)
Members: Neda Adeli Ardabili (2), Milad Sangsefidi (3)
All three team members are doctoral students at the University of Arkansas, with Adeli Ardabili studying industrial engineering, Sangsefidi studying mechanical engineering, and Zolali studying transportation engineering.
Team Six
Team Lead: Suman Mitra (1)
Members: Arna Nishita Nithila (2), Anik Roy (3)
All three team members are part of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas, Mitra as a faculty member specializing in transportation engineering, and Nishita Nithila and Roy as graduate students studying civil engineering.
Team Seven
Team Lead: Karla Diaz-Corro (1)
Members: Sarah Hernandez (2), Lekshmi Sasidharan (3)
All three team members are part of the University of Arkansas, Hernandez and Sasidharan as Department of Civil Engineering faculty, and Diaz-Corro as a doctoral student specializing in transportation policy, planning, and engineering studies.
Team Eight
Team Lead: Anindya Debnath (1)
Members: Baldev Giri (2), Lika Mamiseishvili (3)
All three team members are studying at the University of Arkansas, with Debnath pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Civil Engineering, Giri pursuing a Master’s Degree in Transportation Engineering, and Mamiseishvili pursuing a Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering.
Team Nine
Team Lead: Adedolapo Ogungbire (1)
Members: Saurav Pokharel (2), Mubarak Thanni (3)
All three team members belong to ZeRo Lab, a research laboratory within the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas that works to address transportation challenges.
Team Ten
Team Lead: Amarjeet Tiwari (1)
Members: Mohammad Tahir Ansari (2), Toluwanimi Ogundipe (3)
All three team members have collaborated at the University of Arkansas asphalt lab on a variety of pavement-related projects with a unified mission to improve transportation infrastructure across the state.
Team Eleven
Team Lead: Sagar Silwal (1)
Members: Geoffery Agorku (2), Leire Ashqui Lopez (3)
The three team members met at the Freight Transportation Data Research Lab, a research group within the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Arkansas.
Follow along the teams’ journeys by following #FLIPspace on social media.