Empowering startups to become enterprise ready
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Previous Accelerators
51
Portfolio Companies
94
Enterprise Pilots/Contracts Secured
About The Program
Fuel is a 10-week enterprise-ready accelerator run by Startup Junkie that matches seed and growth-stage tech startups with key enterprise partners to accelerate the adoption of tangible technology solutions.
This accelerator is an in-person program focusing on operational value training, not just VC coaching.
Fuel accepts 8 to 10 high-growth startups per cohort. We have two program tracts; HealthTech & AI/ML. Accepted startups receive access to enterprises, access to funding opportunities, and 12 weeks of mentorship-driven programming.
Fuel HealthTech Accelerator
Join us for a transformative journey in the heart of Bentonville, Arkansas with our 10-week in-person HealthTech accelerator program. Tailored for startups pioneering breakthroughs in healthcare, this intensive program offers strategic mentorship, networking opportunities, and resources to propel your innovation to new heights. Immerse yourself in a collaborative ecosystem, leveraging the vibrant health and technology community of Bentonville, as you refine your product, scale your business, and forge lasting connections.
Join us in shaping the future of HealthTech innovation.
Fuel Cybersecurity Accelerator
Elevate the landscape of cybersecurity innovation in Bentonville, Arkansas through our dynamic 10-week, in-person accelerator program. Designed exclusively for trailblazing startups in the realm of cybersecurity, this immersive initiative provides targeted mentorship, fosters collaborative networking, and grants access to cutting-edge resources. Dive into an intensive experience that empowers you to fine-tune your cybersecurity solutions, scale your venture strategically, and cultivate invaluable connections within a thriving tech ecosystem.
Join us in building towards a secure and resilient future in the realm of cybersecurity.
Fuel AI/ML Accelerator
Ignite the future of AI/ML innovation in Bentonville, Arkansas with our immersive 10-week in-person accelerator program. Tailored for startups pioneering artificial intelligence and machine learning, this intensive program offers strategic mentorship, collaborative networking, and access to state-of-the-art resources. Seize the opportunity to refine your product, scale your business, and establish meaningful connections within a vibrant tech community.
Join us to accelerate your AI/ML startup to unprecedented heights.
Strategic Connections
We make highly relevant and impactful connections to corporate partners, investors and experienced mentors to help you scale your impact. Build relationships within large enterprises and the community of mentors.
Focused Support & Mentorship
We accept 8-12 startups per cohort. Maintaining a small cohort helps to focus our time, energy, and connections on your company. Twelve weeks of specialized coaching and mentorship from the Fuel team and mentor network during afternoon sessions.
No Equity, No Cost
Fuel is a grant funded program to support entrepreneurship, innovation, and growth for the state of Arkansas.
One-on-One Meetings
One-on-one meetings with 100+ connections including serial entrepreneurs, enterprise decision makers, business resource experts, industry experts and investors.
Collaborative, Not Competitive
We do not accept more than one startup in a competing space. This creates a collaborative environment where startups expand their networks globally.
Exposure
Gain opportunities to showcase your company through mentor mixers, 1 Million Cups, podcasts, demo day and more.
What We Look For
Fuel believes that everyone deserves opportunities and support. We accept startups across HealthTech, Cybersecurity, and AI/ML industries and B2B business models. We are always exploring additional industry focuses and continue to grow.
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We welcome applications from ventures with truly disruptive technology, showcasing innovation, scalability, and a transformative edge in their respective industries.
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We accept startups that have the opportunity for significant and scalable economic impact. If you are generating revenue and have raised a round of capital, we encourage you to apply.
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We look for the founders and teams with diverse backgrounds and experiences who have a reason for solving the problem they address.
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Based on our expertise in enterprise adoption, we select startups that are primed for growth. If you are at a point where our network, resources and expertise can scale to enterprises, please consider applying.
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We accept companies from across the globe. With startups ranging from over 15 different countries, we have global reach with key partnerships in USA, Canada, UK, Israel, Singapore, South Korea, and more.
“The Fuel Accelerator program is nothing short of amazing. The content, the people, and the organization have given us the opportunity to build, grow, and engage with enterprises. The opportunity to literally engage with the decision makers, I’ve never seen anything like it.” Andrew Bart
CEO & Founder, Algoface
“Fuel was absolutely transformative for our business, Ox. I learned an immense amount as a first-time founder, and even more than that, I met some of the most impactful people while making lifelong friendships. We met our first investor and first customer. Since Fuel, we’ve deployed our tech with multiple Fortune 100’s and have raised over $15M.”Charu Thomas
CEO & Founder, Ox
“One of the biggest benefits of Fuel is the focus on how to plan, execute, and succeed in winning enterprise business. It's not just the advantages of the NWA business environment featuring many major companies, but also the vast network of service providers located here already integrated and looking for innovative partners. Fuel equips you with the tools you need to understand enterprise gatekeepers, the language, and approaches to winning the contract. It delivers strategic assistance to get you in the door and the tactical playbook on how to execute. The Fuel team, mentors, and local community are incredible. You will set yourself up in a sustainable way to win and grow, with an advantage that no other accelerator can offer.”Vance Reavie
CEO & Founder, Junction AI
Meet The Team
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Darian Harris
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Darian is a multi-exit founder across several verticals including marketing services, education, and sports tech. His passion is helping entrepreneurs take their business to the next level and connect the dots for scalable ventures. Prior to joining Fuel, Darian worked at Walmart as a Merchant, Account Manager at The Harvest Group and as a serial entrepreneur. He is a former student-athlete at Creighton University and Oral Roberts University where he received his M.B.A.
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Tom Douglass
ENTREPRENEUR IN RESIDENCE
Tom is considered an expert in identifying and implementing emerging technologies within the world’s largest enterprise. He is the former Director of Emerging Technology at Walmart vetting hundreds of technologies annually and pulls on his experience and network to help startups succeed. He is also the founder of Catapult Consulting where he works with startups to elevate their business with fractional C-level leadership where needed, long and short-term strategy development, emerging tech assessment and demo validation, coaching and educational programs and access to our extensive network in a variety of disciplines.
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Grace Gill
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Grace is a University of Arkansas alum. Grace has previous experience in non-profit and marketing from working at Mary R. Koch Arts Center, as well as other not-for-profit organizations throughout her college career. Additionally, Grace is a championed competitive powerlifter, being a 2x world record holder (IPL), Arkansas' 2022 Best Female Powerlifter, 7x state record holder (USPA), and 2023 American Pro competitor.
Fuel is run by the Startup Junkie Foundation. Mentorship is provided by experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and subject matter experts from several of the largest enterprises in the world.
Startup Junkie Foundation has facilitated 15 previous accelerator programs with over 150 alumni companies. They engage thousands of entrepreneurs in the Northwest Arkansas region through a vibrant startup culture. Their clients have raised $664.2 million in private investment capital and scaled to a collective $924 million in annual revenue.
As an entrepreneurial support organization, Startup Junkie Foundation is the drumbeat for activity in the local startup ecosystem. Specifically, Startup Junkie Foundation helps entrepreneurs start and grow ventures through 1:1 consultation, events, workshops, and programs like this accelerator.
Startup Junkie Foundation knows what it takes to be a small team going after multi-million dollar enterprise contracts. Backed by the Walton Family Foundation and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, Startup Junkie Foundation has been awarded long-term funding to provide high-quality services at no cost to the entrepreneurs they serve.
Meet Our Partners
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Catapult Consulting is led by founder and CEO, Tom Douglass. Tom uses his unique experiences in small business, Fortune 500 Enterprises, and deep domain experience in business strategy to bring companies and ideas to the forefront and create the next generation of disruptive businesses.
As a result, Catapult Consulting launches companies to the next level. Tom works with them to elevate their business with fractional C-level leadership, long and short-term strategy development, emerging tech assessment and demo validation, coaching and educational programs and access to his extensive network in a variety of disciplines and enterprises.
Prior to founding Catapult Consulting, Tom was the Director of Emerging Technology at Walmart Stores Inc., where his team acted as a Technology Transfer Office and had an impact in a variety of areas including, but not limited to, in-store robotics, wireless power, RFID, and in-store IoT. His ability to manage this team and spot technology relevant to the enterprise earned him the 2014 Strategic Services Leader of the Year Award. This experience and associated network gave Fuel a competitive advantage and exponential success while Tom served as the Entrepreneur in Residence since 2019.
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We Help Companies Develop Worldwide Strategic Partnerships
Working with the world’s largest companies is the key to your strategic advantage in the marketplace. These potential strategic partners already have the distribution channels, brand recognition, engineering/support infrastructure and geographic coverage that can help you achieve global market leadership with unparalleled speed.
With over 25 years experience as a strategic partnership consultant and commercialization expert we have built an extensive network of key decision makers and can connect you with the partners you need to accelerate revenue and investment and drive success.
Led by Albert Behr. Albert is an innovator and leader focused on technology commercialization. Born in Winnipeg, Behr has been in the technology industry for more than three decades. His experience spans high-level marketing, operational, and financing roles across leading technology companies and startups around the globe.
While based in the U.S. and Asia, Behr held executive leadership roles with technology giants such as AT&T, Fujitsu, and Symantec. While in Canada, he served as Chief Strategy Officer for BorderWare Technologies, COO of NRG Group, Senior VP for Platform Computing and most recently CEO of BehrTech.
For the past 25 years, Behr has been at the helm of the technology commercialization consultancy he founded, advising more than 1,100 tech companies. During that time, he led numerous large-scale strategic partnerships and funding efforts for some of the most promising IT, clean tech, and material sciences firms in North America and Europe. In early 2017, he began devoting time to speaking engagements around the globe and curriculum development for one of Canada’s top universities, where he is a professor in the faculty of engineering and teaches a course focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology commercialization strategies.
Ledger Bentonville
Ledger is a world-class 230,000 sq. ft. space and the world’s first fully bike-able building. Fuel’s office is located inside the Ledger and cohort members receive full membership access for the duration of the program.
Thank You To Our Sponsors
Fuel Accelerator is proudly a grant funded program supported by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and the Walton Family Foundation.
FAQs
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Startups who are passionate about the problem they are solving, have raised capital and/or have revenue traction, and are willing to relocate for the duration of the program. We are NOT an idea stage accelerator or VC funding accelerator. We are an operational, revenue based accelerator.
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There is no-cost and no-equity taken to participate in Fuel. Startups are responsible for travel and accommodations. The program is sponsored by the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Walton Family Foundation, and Startup Junkie Foundation in order to foster more activity and innovation around the future of technology in Northwest Arkansas.
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Startups must participate in-person. No exceptions will be made.
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Fuel is based in Northwest Arkansas, home to four Fortune 500 companies and 1700 support enterprises. Each company will be provided access to our office at the Ledger in the heart of Bentonville, AR.