[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px|||1px||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator Launches, Seeks Applicants for Inaugural Cohort<\/b><\/p>\n
Bentonville, Arkansas | January 7th, 2025 – <\/b>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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n 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.<\/span><\/p>\n AGCA\u2019s mission aligns with Arkansas\u2019 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\u2019s (OEI) Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program (GORP).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Arkansas, with its dense cycling community and world-class infrastructure, provides the perfect backdrop for this ambitious project. \u201cThis is an exciting time for the cycling industry, and Arkansas is well-positioned to be at the forefront of it all,\u201d explained Martial Trigeaud, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Cardinal Cycling Group, Founder and Cohort Advisor for the program AGCA.<\/span> Startups interested in shaping the future of cycling are encouraged to apply to AGCA\u2019s inaugural cohort. Applications are open now at www.cyclingaccelerator.com<\/a><\/span>. 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The program was sponsored by a $125,000 grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and a funding match from the Walton Family Foundation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For more information, please visit www.cyclingaccelerator.com<\/a><\/span> or contact AGCA staff at agca@uark.edu<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n About the Startup Junkie Foundation:<\/b> The Startup Junkie Foundation<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is 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.<\/span><\/p>\n About the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program<\/b>: The <\/span>Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program<\/span><\/a> (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 <\/span>Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation<\/span><\/a> 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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n CONTACT:<\/b><\/p>\n Caleb Talley<\/span><\/p>\n Executive Director<\/span><\/p>\n Startup Junkie Foundation<\/span><\/p>\n caleb@startupjunkie.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Untitled-1600-x-628-px-1800-x-628-px-1500-x-628-px.png” title_text=”Untitled (1600 x 628 px) (1800 x 628 px) (1500 x 628 px)” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Photo by Drager Creative courtesy of Visit Bentonville.Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator Launches, Seeks Applicants for Inaugural Cohort 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.\u00a0 This new initiative, led by cycling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":3852,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":" ARise is on a mission to empower tech ventures in Arkansas to scale up, create high-wage employment opportunities, and drive world-class technological innovation throughout the state. With a vision of becoming the driving force behind entrepreneurial economic growth in Arkansas, ARise aims to establish the state as a premier destination for tech companies worldwide to start and scale their businesses.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ARise offers a comprehensive suite of services designed to support startups and entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey:<\/p>\r\n\r\n ARise provides personalized consulting and coaching to guide tech ventures toward success, from concept validation to scaling strategies. Differentiating itself from other programs, ARise provides its startups with coaching on a continued basis and regular check-ins to ensure each venture has a customized plan to receive services and support.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ARise helps startups navigate the capital landscape, connecting them with funding opportunities and providing the support they need to secure investment. Whether a startup is looking for venture capital or non-dilutive government support, ARise assists innovators with securing the best funding for the current stage of their company. The program also offers investor recruitment and education to support startups within Arkansas.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ARise's network of SMEs and mentors offers invaluable guidance and support across industries, empowering entrepreneurs to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. This SME network provides a breadth of knowledge for new ventures, including the expertise of those who have grown their own companies and those who have proficiency in highly specialized fields like biotechnology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and retail value chain management.<\/p>\r\n\r\n As a collaboration between Startup Junkie, Conductor, and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, ARise facilitates connections between startups and established companies to foster growth and expansion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n ARise strengthens the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Arkansas through a comprehensive digital resource library, targeted events, and collaborations with other entrepreneurial support organizations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n The ARise program is open to tech and tech-enabled ventures that are Arkansas-based and scalable. All services are offered at no charge to entrepreneurs across the state. To enroll in the program, visit\u00a0www.ARiseArkansas.org<\/a>\u00a0to (1) complete an onboarding application and (2) schedule an initial consultation with a program representative.<\/p>\r\n\r\n \u201cGrowing technology companies is critical for Arkansas\u2019 long-term economic success. The ARise program is a key element of our strategy for providing support and resources for tech ventures as they scale up in the Natural State.\u201d - Clint O\u2019Neal, Executive Director, Arkansas Economic Development Commission<\/p>\r\n \u201cLaunching a tech venture is a challenging endeavor \u2013 and entrepreneurs do not always have the resources they need to succeed. Through the ARise program, we aim to provide tech entrepreneurs with the resources and expertise they need to grow and scale their businesses. We are excited to collaborate with Startup Junkie Consulting on the management of the ARise program to help tech entrepreneurs create high-tech business growth in the Natural State.\u201d - Esperanza Massana Crane, Director, AEDC\u2019s Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Division<\/p>\r\n \u201cARise reflects our vision and brand promise to help AEDC drive an increasingly bright future for Arkansas-based tech and tech-enabled ventures.\u00a0 We could not be more excited to be partnered with AEDC for this critical statewide program.\u201d\u00a0- Jeff Amerine, Co-Director at ARise & Founder and Managing Director at Startup Junkie Consulting<\/p>\r\n \u201cWe\u2019ve built the ARise program and services to fill gaps for tech and tech-enabled entrepreneurs looking to scale within our state and to open doors for those entrepreneurs within our state - we want entrepreneurs to have access to all our state has to offer including SMEs, industry partners, and other resources.\u201d - Grace Rains, Co-Director at ARise & Executive Director at Conductor<\/p>\r\n ARise - Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs is on a mission to empower tech ventures in Arkansas to scale up, create high-wage employment opportunities, and drive world-class technological innovation throughout the state. This is a collaborative initiative funded by the Arkansas Economic Development Organization and led by Startup Junkie. ARise is dedicated to empowering tech ventures in Arkansas through consulting and coaching, capital access, a subject matter expert network, industry connections, and ecosystem resources.<\/p>\r\n For media inquiries, please contact:<\/p>\r\n Kristopher Adams, ARise Program Manager<\/p>\r\n kris@arisearkansas.org<\/a><\/p>\r\n 479-402-0036<\/p>\r\n Tyler Hale, Communications Officer<\/p>\r\n tyler.hale@arkansasedc.com<\/a><\/p>\r\n 501-410-7883<\/p>\r\n For more information about ARise, visit\u00a0arisearkansas.org<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n Follow ARise on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a> for updates and announcements.<\/p>\r\n About Arkansas Economic Development Commission<\/p>\r\n At AEDC, we know economic advancement doesn\u2019t happen by accident. We work strategically with businesses and communities to create strong economic opportunities, making Arkansas the natural choice for success. AEDC is a division of the Arkansas Department of Commerce. To learn more, visit ArkansasEDC.com.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3848","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-release"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3848","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3848"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3848\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3961,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3848\/revisions\/3961"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3848"}],"curies":[{"name":"gracias","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/span>
<\/span>\u201cStartup Junkie has supported new startups in Arkansas for over a decade,\u201d said Caleb Talley, Executive Director of the Startup Junkie Foundation. \u201cGiven the importance of cycling to our state\u2019s 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\u2019s cycling expertise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n![\"ARise](\"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ARise-300x300.png\")
\r\nIntroducing ARise: Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs<\/h1>\r\nFayetteville, Conway, and Little Rock, Ark.- June 20, 2024 -<\/strong> Arkansas's tech entrepreneurs have a new ally in their journey towards success with the launch of ARise - Arkansas Innovators, Startups, and Entrepreneurs. A fresh and expanded iteration of the Arkansas Statewide Technology Commercialization program formerly known as Innovate Arkansas, ARise is an ambitious initiative funded by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and led by Startup Junkie, aimed at propelling tech and tech-enabled companies in Arkansas to new heights of innovation and economic vitality.\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/ARise-Startup-Junkie-Conductor-AECD-Tech-Program-1-300x200.jpg\")
\r\nMission & Vision<\/h3>\r\n
Program Services<\/h3>\r\n
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Startup Consulting and Coaching<\/h4>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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Capital Access Navigation<\/h4>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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Advanced Subject Matter Expert (SME) Network<\/h4>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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Connection to Industry<\/h4>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
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Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Resources<\/h4>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
Enrollment<\/h3>\r\n
Quotes<\/h3>\r\n