Grace Rains

Grace Rains is the Executive Director at the Conductor, a public-private partnership between the University of Central Arkansas and Startup Junkie Consulting that drives innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic empowerment in Arkansas. In her role, Grace guides the strategy and execution of Conductor programming, oversees the ARise program, a statewide program for tech and tech-enabled founders, and collaborates closely with entrepreneurs and stakeholders to cultivate an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in central Arkansas. Grace attended the University of Central Arkansas for both her undergraduate degree and Master of Business Administration. She is a 2021 graduate of Leadership Arkansas and a 2022 recipient of Arkansas Business’s 20 in their 20s. Previously, Grace served as the Executive Director of the Ark Angel Alliance, the state’s first angel investing network. She also served as the State Coordinator for Global Entrepreneurship Week through the Global Entrepreneurship Network.