Endeavor Birmingham Joins Endeavor Heartland to Strengthen Regional Entrepreneurship
Merger builds on five years of momentum and deepens support for Birmingham founders
Bentonville, Ark. – Endeavor, the global organization supporting high-impact entrepreneurs, announced today that its Birmingham office has joined Endeavor Heartland, expanding the regional platform’s presence into Alabama. The formal transition into the Heartland reflects a shared mission to back entrepreneurs who scale companies and strengthen local economies.
Malcolm McDonald, who has led Endeavor’s efforts in Birmingham for the past three years, will continue directing efforts locally as part of the Endeavor Heartland team.
“Joining Endeavor Heartland gives Birmingham founders a continued local presence and a stronger connection to the national and global Endeavor network,” said McDonald. “We’re building on five years of momentum and deep community support to unlock even greater opportunities for the city’s leading entrepreneurs.”
The move brings Birmingham-based companies Linq and Acclinate into the Endeavor Heartland portfolio. Acclinate, co-founded by Del Smith and Tiffany Whitlow, uses community trust and AI-powered technology to improve diversity in clinical trials. Linq, co-founded by early Shipt employees, has evolved from digital business cards into a communications-first CRM alternative for field sales reps.
“Our mission is to help the most promising founders scale faster, and Birmingham is a natural fit,” said Canem Arkan, managing director of Endeavor Heartland. “Having Malcolm and Birmingham leadership aligned strengthens our ability to support founders across the region.”
Endeavor launched in Birmingham in 2019 through a partnership with Atlanta, but with Endeavor’s move away from cities into broader geographic regions in the US, has now joined Endeavor Heartland. This union allows the Birmingham team to focus on its local impact while benefiting from Endeavor Heartland’s broader regional infrastructure. With this change, Endeavor Heartland now operates from offices in Bentonville, Tulsa, Kansas City, and now, Birmingham.
“Endeavor has played a pivotal role in my entrepreneurial journey, and I’m thrilled about the opportunities that teaming up with Endeavor Heartland brings. The impact in Birmingham over the past five years has been remarkable, and with expanded resources and a broader network, we’re poised to grow that impact exponentially,” says Endeavor Entrepreneur Tony Summerville, founder and chairman of Fleetio.
About Endeavor Heartland
Endeavor Heartland is part of Endeavor, a global organization that supports high-impact entrepreneurs in scaling their businesses and driving economic growth. Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, Endeavor Heartland serves founders across Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, providing mentorship, strategic connections, and access to capital. Through its network of world-class mentors and investors, Endeavor helps entrepreneurs accelerate growth, create jobs, and transform industries. For more information, visit us.endeavor.org/office/bentonville.