The Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator (AGCA) has unveiled its inaugural cohort, featuring ten innovative startups from across the globe. Based in Bentonville, Arkansas, this program aims to propel pre-Series A companies specializing in cycling components and tech-enabled solutions by providing mentorship, industry connections, and resources.
Blubrake (Milan, Italy): Specializing in advanced braking systems, Blubrake enhances e-bike safety with its anti-lock brake technology, offering riders a more secure and confident experience.
BrakeAce (Rotorua, New Zealand): Pioneering braking analytics, BrakeAce delivers data-driven insights to elevate mountain biking performance and safety, revolutionizing how riders approach braking.
Hightag (Bentonville, Arkansas): Integrating smart camera systems into action sports venues, Hightag enables athletes to automatically capture and relive their cycling adventures through seamless video technology.
Kino Bikes (Lyon, France): Addressing urban mobility, Kino Bikes transforms standard bicycles into versatile e-cargo bikes, promoting sustainable commuting solutions for daily use.
Link My Ride (United Kingdom): This mobile and web platform fosters cycling communities by providing tools that help riders connect and build real-life relationships, enhancing the social aspect of cycling.
Lockstop (Bentonville, Arkansas): Offering a patent-pending Smart Lock system, Lockstop attaches to existing bike racks, ensuring secure parking while generating mobility data to assist cities in optimizing infrastructure and promoting active transportation.
NOCA Mobility (Berlin, Germany): Serving the cycling industry, NOCA Mobility provides a connected master data platform that streamlines data management and sharing across teams and supply chain partners, enhancing operational efficiency.
Posedla (Varnsdorf, Czech Republic): Enhancing rider comfort, Posedla offers custom 3D-printed saddles tailored to individual specifications, setting a new standard in personalized cycling equipment.
Skarper (London, England): Introducing an innovative e-bike drive system, Skarper allows cyclists to effortlessly convert standard bikes into e-bikes and revert them back with a single click, providing flexibility and convenience.
TrailPilot (Bentonville, Arkansas): Enhancing trail exploration, TrailPilot offers an app that delivers GPS-guided audio tours for mountain biking trails, complete with turn-by-turn navigation and local insights, enriching the riding experience.
According to The Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator website, AGCA provides a comprehensive program designed to propel cycling companies into the U.S. market. Participants benefit from expert-led workshops focusing on cycling innovations, gaining insights from industry veterans to accelerate product development and understand market trends. The program facilitates strategic introductions to key decision-makers from leading cycling brands, manufacturers, and retailers, fostering valuable partnerships and investment opportunities. Additionally, participants immerse themselves in Northwest Arkansas’s thriving cycling community, leveraging the region’s world-class trails, established cycling brands, and dynamic startup ecosystem for product testing, early adopter engagement, and scalable growth.
The AGCA program commences with virtual sessions in March, culminating in a two-week in-person residency in Bentonville. The initiative will conclude with a public Demo Night on May 20 at The Ledger, coinciding with Bentonville’s annual mountain bike festival, where these startups will showcase their innovations.
Martial Trigeaud, founder and cohort advisor of AGCA, emphasized the strategic importance of the selected companies, stating, “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 AGCA is supported by a $125,000 grant from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, with matching funds from the Walton Family Foundation. PeopleForBikes and the Morgridge Family Foundation are sponsoring the Demo Night event.
For more information about the Arkansas Global Cycling Accelerator and its 2025 cohort, visit their official website.
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