Summary
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Matthew Ward, the Director of Fuel Accelerator, an enterprise-ready accelerator that matches growth-stage startups with key enterprise partners. Along with his role as Director at Fuel, Matthew is also a Senior Associate at Cadron Capital Partners and a Consultant for Startup Junkie. Throughout the episode, James and Matthew discuss how Fuel’s accelerator model differs from others and why Bentonville is such a great area for people to plant their startups.
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Show Notes
(1:00) Introduction to Matthew
(5:03) Why Fuel Was Started
(9:22) What Fuel Is Doing Differently
(12:02) Others Involved in Fuel
(17:50) Why Bentonville Is an Ideal Place for Startups
(20:26) Fuel Success Stories
(24:28) The Criteria for Working with Fuel
(31:38) What’s Next for Fuel
(32:21) Closing Questions
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‍Links
JAMES BELL‍‍
‍BENTONVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT‍
MATTHEW WARD
FUEL ACCELERATOR
CADRON CAPITAL PARTNERS
STARTUP JUNKIE
CHARU THOMAS
GARY VERNON
JIGESH VORA
JOSH KYLES
MARY BEST
MICHAEL ISEMAN
MICHAEL PALADINO
TOM DOUGLASS
VANCE REAVIE
ACRETRADER
ARKANSAS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION (AEDC)
ATENTO CAPITAL
BLU FISH HOUSE
FR8RELAY
JUNCTION AI
LEDGER
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS COUNCIL | LIFE WORKS HERE
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS STARTUP CRAWL
OX
REVUNIT
SIMPORTER
SUPPLYPIKE
SUSHI HOUSE
SWIFTGO
TAVOLA TRATTORIA
WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
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Quotes
“At the end of the day, what we are trying to do is have companies from around the world come to Bentonville and experience it and say, ‘I want to put down some roots here. I want to create jobs and bring in talent because that’s good for the ecosystem.’” – Matthew Ward, (11:04)

“As a whole with Bentonville, people want to help you out. And also you have a lot of diversity here with people coming to work for Walmart. So you have collaboration, hospitality, and a different view. To me that’s a really good combination.” – Matthew Ward, (19:11)

“One, their solution has to be able to have a chance of selling into the enterprises here…and the second piece is someone who’s willing to make that commitment and sacrifice to be here and make connections.” – Matthew Ward, (24:29)

“…they don’t want to be average, they want to be the best. You can experience a lot of exceptional things (in Bentonville), and alongside doing business with world-class companies, you have the chance to enjoy yourself in the off time with cycling or food.” – Matthew Ward, (27:32)‍‍
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Accelerating Bentonville’s Startup Scene with Matthew Ward of Fuel‍
On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Matthew Ward, the Director of Fuel Accelerator, an enterprise-ready accelerator that matches growth-stage startups with key enterprise partners. Along with his role as Director at Fuel, Matthew is also a Senior Associate at Cadron Capital Partners and a Consultant for Startup Junkie. Throughout the episode, James and Matthew discuss how Fuel’s accelerator model differs from others and why Bentonville is such a great area for people to plant their startups.
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The Difference in Fuel’s Approach
Most often, accelerators share a common focus: preparing their cohorts to pitch. They teach companies how to obtain money from investors, not how to make money. This model works if a company is in the early stages of creating its brand and is looking to raise capital. However, Fuel sets itself apart by working with startups that already have a product or solution that they are looking to scale. With this model, Fuel is focused on more than merely helping companies obtain funding—it prioritizes teaching startups how to sell to larger enterprises like Walmart.
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Fuel’s approach is simple yet effective: introduce its participants to mentors, most of whom are experts and business leaders from larger enterprises. Throughout the program, participants meet with several mentors, gaining important insights into enterprise-level business models. Alongside these meetings, the cohort participates in enterprise-ready sessions where business leaders that have previously sold to larger enterprises share their experience. When entrepreneurs complete Fuel’s accelerator program, they leave with better connections and more knowledge than they began with.

“At the end of the day, what we are trying to do is have companies from around the world come to Bentonville and experience it and say, ‘I want to put down some roots here. I want to create jobs and bring in talent because that’s good for the ecosystem.’” – Matthew Ward, (11:04)

The Uniqueness of Bentonville’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
“As a whole with Bentonville, people want to help you out. And also you have a lot of diversity here with people coming to work for Walmart. So you have collaboration, hospitality, and a different view. To me that’s a really good combination.” – Matthew Ward, (19:11)

One of the reasons Bentonville is such an ideal place for startups to establish is because of the number of enterprises and vendors located here. Having all these potential targets in one place strengthens the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Furthermore, a unique characteristic of Bentonville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem is that it’s not about competition—it’s about collaboration. People are willing to help each other because the community understands that it will be able to achieve more if everyone works together rather than against each other.

Another distinctive trait of the ecosystem here is that it functions at a more manageable and adjustable pace. Meaning, people work hard to get their work done, then they go out with their coworkers, friends, or family to enjoy the amazing food and experiences that Bentonville has to offer.

“…they don’t want to be average, they want to be the best. You can experience a lot of exceptional things (in Bentonville), and alongside doing business with world-class companies, you have the chance to enjoy yourself in the off time with cycling or food.” – Matthew Ward, (27:32)
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Get Connected!
‍Thanks for tuning in to this episode of The Bentonville Beacon! Join us weekly for more stories from entrepreneurs and business leaders who are making a positive impact on Bentonville’s culture, community, and lifestyle. Don’t forget, Bentonville is a place where you can have more of what you want and less of what you don’t!