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BENTONVILLE, Ark. \u2014 The Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator (AGCA) announced the selection of 10 companies for its 2026 cohort. The selected companies come from Belgium,Canada, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States.<\/p>\n
The program is designed to help tech-enabled companies in the cycling industry explore businessopportunities in the United States and Arkansas.<\/p>\n
The program will conclude with a public Demo Day on June 10 at Compton Gardens, where the companies will showcase their innovations. The event will take place during the same week as the NBDA Summit and the Bentonville Bike Fest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had a large number of applications this year. Each year, we are impressed by the
innovation coming from the industry and the high standards of the companies that apply. We selected 10 companies based on feedback from our partners and the level of interest from the industry,\u201d said Martial Trigeaud, the program\u2019s founder and Cohort Advisor of the Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator (AGCA).<\/p>\n
The accelerator is made possible by a $125,000 grant from the Arkansas Economic
Development Commission and matching funds from the Walton Family Foundation.<\/p>\n
The selected companies are: Aerobag is developing next-generation crash protection for cyclists that is built directly into performance apparel. Its technology detects crash events and deploys protection in milliseconds without compromising comfort or speed.<\/p>\n 2- Aeroscale (France) \u2013 www.wastedwatts.com<\/a><\/p>\n Aeroscale is helping cyclists make faster decisions by measuring aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance in real-world conditions. Its technology delivers actionable performance data directly on the road.<\/p>\n 3- BikeFolder (Norway) \u2013 www.bikefolder.com<\/a><\/p>\n BikeFolder is building digital infrastructure for the bicycle industry by giving every bike a digital passport. Its platform connects owners, dealers, and brands to streamline data, improve service, and support the full bike lifecycle.<\/p>\n 4- CONVOY (UK) \u2013 www.ridewithconvoy.com<\/a><\/p>\n CONVOY is building a family-focused mobility solution designed to replace short car trips with bicycles. Its smart e-trailer helps turn everyday bikes into safer, more practical transportation for families.<\/p>\n 5- eBikeLabs (France) \u2013 www.ebikelabs.com<\/a><\/p>\n eBikeLabs provides software that helps brands, manufacturers, and \ufb02eet operators design, manage, and optimize innovative e-bike drive systems. Its platform supports performance, maintenance, and lifecycle management at scale<\/p>\n 6- hDrop Technologies Inc. (USA) \u2013 www.hdroptech.com<\/a><\/p>\n hDrop Technologies is advancing personalized hydration with a wearable sweat sensor that measures sweat and sodium loss. Its platform helps endurance athletes make smarter \ufb02uid and electrolyte decisions for training and racing.<\/p>\n 7- KAV (USA) \u2013 www.kavhelmets.com<\/a><\/p>\n KAV is rethinking protective equipment through advanced materials, software, and additive manufacturing. Its \ufb02agship custom-\ufb01t helmet combines aerodynamic performance, high safety standards, and U.S.-based production.<\/p>\n 8- LLume (USA) \u2013 www.llume.io<\/a><\/p>\n LLume is developing wearable sensing technology that brings lab-quality respiratory insights into real-world training. Its \ufb01rst product helps cyclists and endurance athletes track breathing and physiological effort in real time without bulky lab equipment.<\/p>\n 9- MyVeloFit (Canada) \u2013 www.myvelo\ufb01t.com<\/a><\/p>\n MyVeloFit is an online bike \ufb01tting platform that makes professional-level \ufb01t guidance more accessible to cyclists. Using video and simple measurements, it helps riders improve comfort, e\ufb03ciency, and control with clear, practical adjustments.<\/p>\n 10- Trailytic (USA) \u2013 www.trailytic.com<\/a><\/p>\n Trailytic is developing a data-driven trail maintenance system for mountain biking. Using on-bike sensors and proprietary analytics, it helps trail organizations improve safety, \ufb02ow, and long-term sustainability.<\/p>\n Find more information on the accelerator program at www.cyclingaccelerator.com.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ten ventures from across Europe, US to ParticipateBENTONVILLE, Ark. \u2014 The Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator (AGCA) announced the selection of 10 companies for its 2026 cohort. The selected companies come from Belgium,Canada, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The program is designed to help tech-enabled companies in the cycling industry explore businessopportunities […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4930,"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-4928","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\/4928","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=4928"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5053,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4928\/revisions\/5053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/startupjunkie.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4928"}],"curies":[{"name":"gracias","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
1- AEROBAG (Belgium) \u2013 www.aerobag.eu<\/a><\/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
\r\n \t
Advanced Subject Matter Expert (SME) Network<\/h4>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n
\r\n \t
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