Jun 29, 2026


Resumen

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 es un podcast que celebra el ecosistema emprendedor del noroeste de Arkansas y más allá. ¡Suscríbete para más contenido!

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Capítulos

⏱️ 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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