Capital Factory Launches STATION NWA to Power Supply-Chain & Advanced Manufacturing Innovation in Bentonville

BENTONVILLE, Ark.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Capital Factory is proud to announce the launch of STATION NWA, a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit hub dedicated to anchoring supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing innovation in Northwest Arkansas. Thanks to a $1.5 million grant from the Walton Family Foundation, STATION NWA will begin building leadership, programming, and strategic connections — linking Arkansas to major VC and innovation hubs, starting with Texas and Washington, D.C. This is the second STATION launched by Capital Factory.

“With STATION NWA, we’re helping Northwest Arkansas plug directly into the national innovation grid,” said Joshua Baer, CEO of Capital Factory. “This region knows supply chain and manufacturing better than almost anywhere in the country. Our job is to bring the network, the mentorship, and the deal flow that helps founders and executives turn that strength into new companies and new technologies.”

STATION NWA will recruit a founding Executive Director this winter. The new leader will drive the development of a dedicated physical hub in Bentonville, while building an integrated digital community to support entrepreneurs working on dual-use supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing technologies. Core planned activities include startup mentorship, educational academies, investor engagement, and national-level event programming.

“STATION NWA’s founding team brings deep expertise in building strong entrepreneurial ecosystems,” said Tom Walton, Chair of the Walton Family Foundation’s Home Region Program Committee. “Their network of investors and mentors will be a valuable asset to the region and help drive the next generation of innovation.”

STATION NWA will:

• Establish a cadence of high-impact programming and community-building across Northwest Arkansas
• Connect Northwest Arkansas founders and operators to Capital Factory’s national network, including venture capitalists, frontier-technology founders, and key policy and industry leaders in Texas and Washington, D.C.
• Host signature events, including Made in America, a summit focused on advancing supply-chain, manufacturing, and logistics technologies
• Deliver free, best-in-class educational programming for the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem, including Founders Academy, Fundraising Academy, Angel Academy, and Dual-Use Academy.

About Capital Factory

Capital Factory is the most active early-stage investor in Texas and a nationally recognized engine for entrepreneurial growth. With boots on the ground in Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, Bentonville, and Washington DC, Capital Factory brings together founders, talent, investors, government, and industry leaders to make the introductions that matter most. Capital Factory’s long history of backing first-time founders, delivering top-tier returns, and connecting innovation hubs enables world-changing entrepreneurs to turn early ideas into scalable companies and jobs.

About STATION DC

STATION DC is a nonprofit innovation hub founded to accelerate frontier-technology entrepreneurship and bridge the gap between technology, policy, and capital in Washington, D.C. It unites founders, investors, policymakers, military, and industry leaders through curated events, mentorship, and strategic programming. In partnership with Capital Factory, STATION DC is building the platform where innovators shaping space, defense, energy, autonomy, biotech, and other frontier sectors can connect, collaborate, and influence decision-making at the nation’s center of power.

About STATION NWA

STATION NWA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded to accelerate entrepreneurship and innovation in the supply-chain, manufacturing, and logistics sectors in Northwest Arkansas. In partnership with Capital Factory, STATION NWA brings a critical mass of national-level resources, mentorship, and investor networks to Northwest Arkansas — providing a launchpad for founders and companies with ambitions in dual-use manufacturing, advanced logistics, and frontier technologies.