Photo by Drager Creative courtesy of Visit Bentonville.
Se lanza el acelerador de ciclismo global de Arkansas y busca candidatos para la cohorte inaugural
Bentonville, Arkansas | January 7th, 2025 – The Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator (AGCA) has officially launched in Bentonville, Arkansas, a destination that is positioned to become a global center for cycling innovation.
This new initiative, led by cycling industry veterans and entrepreneurial experts, aims to attract a cohort of 10 exceptional startups from North America, Europe, and Asia. The accelerator will offer a 10-week hybrid program designed to support cycling-related tech innovation, provide access to key investors and mentors, and build strategic partnerships with top brands in the industry.
AGCA’s mission aligns with Arkansas’ ongoing investment in cycling infrastructure, creating a unique ecosystem where tech-enabled solutions for cycling can test and scale. With its focus on both business growth and cutting-edge technology, the accelerator promises to foster long-term cycling industry growth in Arkansas. It will be led by staff from Startup Junkie Foundation and the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship & Innovation’s (OEI) Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP).
Arkansas, with its dense cycling community and world-class infrastructure, provides the perfect backdrop for this ambitious project. “This is an exciting time for the cycling industry, and Arkansas is well-positioned to be at the forefront of it all,” explained Martial Trigeaud, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Cardinal Cycling Group, Founder and Cohort Advisor for the program AGCA.
“Startup Junkie has supported new startups in Arkansas for over a decade,” said Caleb Talley, Executive Director of the Startup Junkie Foundation. “Given the importance of cycling to our state’s economy and the density of industry leaders in our community, it made sense for us to help organize and execute this new program alongside our colleagues from the GORP program and with Martial’s cycling expertise.”
Startups interested in shaping the future of cycling are encouraged to apply to AGCA’s inaugural cohort. Applications are open now at www.cyclingaccelerator.com. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis until the application window closes on Tuesday, February 11. Decisions will be announced by Tuesday, February 18.
The program was sponsored by a $125,000 grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and a funding match from the Walton Family Foundation.
For more information, 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: El 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 Oficina de Emprendimiento e Innovación 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.
CONTACTO:
Caleb Talley
Executive Director
Fundación Startup Junkie
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