New accelerator launches to help consumer packaged goods companies

The newest accelerator in Northwest Arkansas will focus on the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry and is designed to help companies improve their product offerings, prepare for placement in large retail stores, and build sustainable, scalable businesses.

The Ozarks Retail Accelerator will start this spring and include up to 10 Arkansas-based companies offering a range of products, said Shawn Baldwin, managing director of Act-II Capital Holdings, a Bentonville-based strategy and innovation firm.

“The accelerator is looking for companies across all CPG categories, including food, beverage, health and wellness, beauty, pets and baby care,” Baldwin said. “The program is geared toward founders who have achieved early sales success and are ready to scale into a larger retail environment.”

Act-II Capital Holdings received $200,000 from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) to develop and operate the accelerator. The AEDC awarded $2 million to 12 accelerators in early December, and Act-II Capital Holdings was one of the recipients. The company will work with the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and Benedict Enterprises to ensure the accelerator provides value to participants.

The 12-week hybrid program comprises digital programs and in-person events at the start and end of the cohort. Participants will have access to retail operators, former buyers, and category leaders who have built, scaled, and launched supplier brands within some of the largest retailers. The program’s core team includes former merchants and suppliers with more than 150 years of combined retail experience.

Those interested in participating in the accelerator can apply until Feb. 15. The program begins March 31 and runs through June 17. It will end with a public Demo Day event. The in-person events will take place in Northwest Arkansas at a location yet to be determined. Link here to apply.

Ideal candidates are Arkansas-based or Arkansas-committed companies with an established product in the market, sales traction and an interest in scaling. Companies accepted into the cohort will learn about retail operations, merchandising, supply chain management and digital readiness.

“We’re looking to help companies prepare for the significant and complex step of working with a national retailer,” said Phil Shellhammer, executive director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, a unit of the Sam M. Walton College of Business. “That includes preparing to meet with buyers, understanding packaging requirements, managing supply chains and supporting the additional operational demands these retailers expect from their suppliers.”