Key Takeaways
- • Onward FX will convene more than 30 venture capital firms managing $7 billion in assets at a two-day event in Bentonville, Arkansas on April 20-21, 2026, to facilitate founder-investor meetings and capital deployment.
- • Founders nationwide can apply through February 23 for one-on-one investor conversations; all applicants are automatically added to a venture deal database accessible to more than 200 investors nationwide, expanding deal flow beyond event attendees.
- • The program has demonstrated measurable traction since its 2024 launch: more than 500 founder-investor meetings facilitated, over 25% of participating companies securing term sheets, and $22 million in aggregate investment capital raised by portfolio companies.
- • Participating venture capital firms include established multi-sector investors (Legendary Ventures, Precursor Ventures, Upfront Ventures, S3 Ventures) with expertise spanning healthcare, retail, industrial, and technology verticals.
- • The initiative, led by the Northwest Arkansas Council and Arkansas Economic Development Commission, aims to strengthen the state's innovation ecosystem and has already influenced several startups to establish or expand operations in Arkansas.
Summary
Onward FX, a venture capital connectivity platform, will host its spring 2026 edition April 20-21 in Bentonville, Arkansas, bringing together more than 30 venture capital firms managing a combined $7 billion in assets to meet with early-stage founders seeking growth capital. The two-day event continues the program's mission to bridge the geographic and informational gap between founders and institutional investors while catalyzing venture capital deployment into the region.
Founders have until February 23, 2026 to apply for one-on-one investor meetings at the event. A critical operational feature expands the program's reach beyond in-person attendees: all applicants are automatically entered into a venture deal database that is shared with more than 200 investors nationwide, creating deal flow opportunities that extend well beyond the Bentonville convening. This database model converts event participation into a broader capital access infrastructure.
The participating venture capital cohort includes established multi-sector investors such as Legendary Ventures, Precursor Ventures, Hustle Fund, MaC Venture Capital, Upfront Ventures, Mercury, Ingeborg, Flyover Capital, S3 Ventures, Run Ventures, Perot Jain, and Wildwood Ventures—representing significant dry powder concentrated in healthcare, retail, industrial, and technology sectors.
Since launching in 2024, Onward FX has facilitated over 500 founder-investor meetings and demonstrated measurable outcomes: more than 25% of participating companies have secured term sheets, and participating companies have collectively raised more than $22 million in investment capital. Beyond capital deployment, the program has influenced strategic site decisions, with several startups choosing to establish or expand operations in Arkansas, indicating that the initiative is generating secondary economic benefits to the state's innovation ecosystem. The program is jointly managed by the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Founders have until February 23, 2026 to apply for one-on-one investor meetings at the event. A critical operational feature expands the program's reach beyond in-person attendees: all applicants are automatically entered into a venture deal database that is shared with more than 200 investors nationwide, creating deal flow opportunities that extend well beyond the Bentonville convening. This database model converts event participation into a broader capital access infrastructure.
The participating venture capital cohort includes established multi-sector investors such as Legendary Ventures, Precursor Ventures, Hustle Fund, MaC Venture Capital, Upfront Ventures, Mercury, Ingeborg, Flyover Capital, S3 Ventures, Run Ventures, Perot Jain, and Wildwood Ventures—representing significant dry powder concentrated in healthcare, retail, industrial, and technology sectors.
Since launching in 2024, Onward FX has facilitated over 500 founder-investor meetings and demonstrated measurable outcomes: more than 25% of participating companies have secured term sheets, and participating companies have collectively raised more than $22 million in investment capital. Beyond capital deployment, the program has influenced strategic site decisions, with several startups choosing to establish or expand operations in Arkansas, indicating that the initiative is generating secondary economic benefits to the state's innovation ecosystem. The program is jointly managed by the Northwest Arkansas Council and the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Go deeper than the headline
Research every firm in this story, track the ones that matter and get the daily briefing — free for 7 days.