Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator Launches in Bentonville

Mountain bikers can take on hundreds of miles of trails in northwest Arkansas. (Photo provided)

Startup Junkie Foundation of Fayetteville, in collaboration with the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation’s Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program, announced Tuesday the launch of the Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator in Bentonville.

The initiative will be led by cycling industry veterans and entrepreneurs, and hopes to attract a cohort of 10 startups from North America, Europe and Asia. The accelerator will offer a 10-week hybrid program designed to support cycling-related technology innovation, provide access to key investors and mentors, and build strategic partnerships with leading brands in the industry.

The accelerator’s mission aligns with Arkansas’ ongoing investment in cycling infrastructure, aiming to help tech-enabled solutions for cycling test and scale. It will focus on both business growth and cutting-edge technology, as well as fostering long-term cycling industry growth in Arkansas.

A news release from the accelerator said Arkansas has a dense cycling community and “world-class infrastructure,” which provides the “perfect backdrop for this ambitious project.”

The program is specifically aimed at pre-Series A startups building innovative cycling components and tech-enabled cycling solutions. It will connect program participants with industry mentors, networks and resources to help scale growth during Spring 2025.

“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,” Caleb Talley, executive director of the Startup Junkie Foundation said in the release.

The program was sponsored by a $125,000 grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and a funding match from the Walton Family Foundation.