MentorCamp NWA 2026 officially kicked off June 25 in Bentonville, marking the program’s first return to Northwest Arkansas since 2015.
Hosted by Startup Junkie and its Fuel Accelerator program, the invite-only event runs through June 27 and brings together a select group of high-growth startup founders from Northwest Arkansas with experienced entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders from around the world. Mentors traveled from London, Halifax, Calgary and the Yukon to work directly with participating founders.
Originally launched in Halifax in 2011 by internationally recognized startup coach Permjot Valia, MentorCamp has expanded to cities across Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Turkey and the United States. Valia, who has invested in more than 50 companies worldwide, has also supported Arkansas startups, previously served as a Mentor-in-Residence at the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business and currently advises the Fuel Accelerator program.
“MentorCamp’s return to Northwest Arkansas is a long time coming, and the caliber of mentors making the trip says everything about the program Permjot has built up and how this region is being represented on the global stage,” said Caleb Talley, executive director of Startup Junkie. “These are operators and investors who could be anywhere in the world this week, and we’re so grateful that they’ve chosen to be here with us, experiencing Northwest Arkansas and engaging with our founders.”
MentorCamp NWA 2026 is supported by EY, ARise, Synapse Communications Consulting and Chambers Bank in collaboration with the University of Arkansas Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
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