Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator Announces Inaugural Cohort of International Startups
BENTONVILLE, Arkansas USA (February 27, 2025) – The Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator (AGCA) has selected 10 innovative companies from a broad pool of international applicants. These companies represent the cutting edge of cycling technology and innovation, from performance analytics platforms to e-bikes and custom manufacturing.
“We are thrilled to announce our first cohort that will help shape the future of cycling,” said Martial Trigeaud, Founder and Cohort Advisor of the AGCA program. “Each selected company brings unique technological solutions that align perfectly with our mission to establish Arkansas as a hub for the cycling industry and cycling innovation.”
The cohort includes three of Arkansas’ own companies: Hightag, Lockstop, and TrailPilot. “Supporting Arkansas entrepreneurs is core to our mission,” noted Caleb Talley, Executive Director of the Startup Junkie Foundation, one of the program’s facilitators. “We look forward to connecting our hometown founders with their global peers and to hosting the full group for an immersive experience in Bentonville.”
The selected companies for the AGCA’s inaugural cohort include:
Blubrake: (Milan, Italy) Blubrake’s mission is to help e-bike brands build better and safer e-bikes. Thanks to its high-tech braking product, Blubrake is dramatically improving braking experience for safer and more confident rides. Blubrake applies best-in-class technology to build anti-lock brake systems (ABS) specifically designed for e-bikes. https://blubrake.com/
BrakeAce: (Rotorua, New Zealand) BrakeAce is the first-to-market braking analytics platform revolutionizing mountain bike performance and safety with data-driven insights. https://www.brakeace.com/
Hightag: (Bentonville, Arkansas) Hightag installs smart cameras throughout action sport facilities, giving cyclists and other athletes the power to automatically capture footage of themselves while they ride. https://www.hightag.com/
Kino Bikes: (Lyon, France) Kino Bikes converts non-cyclists to e-bikes for their daily commute by providing a multi-use cargo bike. https://kino.bike/
Link My Ride: (United Kingdom) Link My Ride is a mobile app and web platform providing tools for communities to connect and build real-life relationships through cycling. https://linkmyride.com/
Lockstop: (Bentonville, Arkansas) Lockstop is a patent-pending Smart Lock that mounts to existing bike racks, providing free, secure parking for cyclists while generating real-time mobility data to help cities optimize infrastructure, reduce emissions, and drive active transport adoption. https://www.lockstop.co/
NOCA: (Berlin, Germany) NOCA is the connected master data platform for the cycling industry to structure and manage master data in a single source of truth across all teams, and systemically share it with supply chain partners. https://www.noca-mobility.com/
Posedla: (Varnsdorf, Czech Republic) Posedla is revolutionizing cycling comfort with custom 3D-printed saddles. https://posedla.com/
Skarper: (London, England) Skarper is the newest generation of e-bike drive systems, transforming regular bikes into e-bikes and back again in one click. https://skarper.com/
TrailPilot: (Bentonville, Arkansas) TrailPilot is an app that creates GPS-guided audio tours for MTB trails, helping destinations share their story while giving riders a seamless, immersive way to explore. With turn-by-turn navigation and local insights, TrailPilot makes every ride easier, safer, and more engaging. https://www.trailpilot.co/
These companies will participate in AGCA’s intensive hybrid program, gaining access to key investors, industry mentors, and strategic partnerships with leading brands. The program, facilitated by the Startup Junkie Foundation and the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP), will leverage Arkansas’s world-class cycling infrastructure, professional network, and vibrant cycling community.
The program will commence in March 2025, with companies participating in virtual and in-person sessions in Bentonville, Arkansas. The public is invited to attend the program’s Demo Night on May 20 at the Ledger, the first-ever bikeable building. Participating cohort companies will also be onsite at Bentonville Bike Fest to engage with festival attendees.
The accelerator program is made possible by a $125,000 grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and matching funds from the Walton Family Foundation. This investment reinforces Arkansas’ commitment to becoming a global center for cycling innovation and technology. Leading U.S. bicycle industry trade and advocacy organization PeopleForBikes is sponsoring the program’s Demo Night event alongside the Morgridge Family Foundation. PeopleForBikes will also provide programmatic support to help international founders better understand U.S. market trends, regulations, and rider demographics.
For more information about the Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator or the selected companies, please visit www.cyclingaccelerator.com or contact AGCA staff at agca@uark.edu.
About the Startup Junkie Foundation: The Startup Junkie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Northwest Arkansas that focuses on supporting entrepreneurs and fostering economic development. The foundation works to provide resources, mentorship, and educational programs to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, with a particular emphasis on serving underrepresented founders and rural communities.
About the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program: The Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP) is a business incubation program focused on the development of entrepreneurs who are creating innovative products and services within the outdoor recreation industry. Launched by the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in 2022, the program has directly supported 47 companies through its cohort incubator and program staff have consulted on over 400 business ideas in the outdoor recreation space.
About PeopleForBikes: PeopleForBikes is a national bike foundation and the U.S. bicycle industry’s trade association representing more than 340 bicycle industry supplier members and nearly 1.4 million individuals. Through our three areas of influence — infrastructure, policy, and participation — we accelerate the construction of safe, fun, and connected places to bike; advance pro-bike and pro-bike-business legislation; and welcome more people to the joys of riding a bike. Our goal: Become the best place to ride a bike in the world. Join us at PeopleForBikes.org.
About the Morgridge Family Foundation: The Morgridge Family Foundation invests in leaders and organizations that are reimagining solutions to some of today’s biggest challenges. MFF offers vision, community, and resources to support a network of partners achieving their profound impact. Learn more at thinkmff.org.
Contact:
Caleb Talley
Executive Director
Startup Junkie Foundation
Website:
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