Summary
What happens when a mentor gets more out of an accelerator than the founders do?
Zak Morris joined the Fuel accelerator as a subject matter expert in AI — but quickly realized he was learning just as much as the companies he was advising. In this episode, Zak breaks down how working with startups across cybersecurity, AML, and healthcare sharpened his own thinking, why Bentonville’s density of world-class talent is an underrated advantage, and how one early conversation with a founder led to a permanent board seat.
Whether you’re a founder, a seasoned professional sitting on the sidelines, or someone who’s never thought of themselves as a mentor — this one’s for you.
🎙️ Startup Junkies is a podcast celebrating the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas and beyond. Subscribe for more!
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Chapters
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Introduction – AI in Healthcare Documentation
00:18 What Brought Zak to the Fuel Accelerator
01:10 Learning the Language of Startups
01:55 The Two-Way Value of Mentorship
02:33 Standout Moment: The Cybersecurity Cohort
03:18 From Mentor to Board Member
04:28 Why Bentonville Is a Rare Ecosystem
05:20 Connecting Talent, Interns & Local Networks
06:31 The Flywheel Effect: Keeping Talent in Arkansas
07:40 A Call to Action for Potential Mentors
08:45 What Mentors Get Out of It
09:10 How to Get Involved with Fuel
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