{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Startup Junkies Podcast","title":"Why Bentonville's Startup Ecosystem Is More Powerful Than You Think | Zak Morris","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/56060546\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":632,"description":"What happens when a mentor gets more out of an accelerator than the founders do?\nZak 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.\nWhether 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.\n🎙️ Startup Junkies is a podcast celebrating the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Northwest Arkansas and beyond. Subscribe for more! \n---\n🔗 Connect with Zak Morris:\nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/zakmorris/\n🔗 Connect with Startup Junkie\nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-koonce-3a446a21b/\nhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-talley-25189211b/\nhttps://startupjunkie.org/\n---\n⏱️ Chapters\n00:00 Introduction – AI in Healthcare Documentation\n00:18 What Brought Zak to the Fuel Accelerator\n01:10 Learning the Language of Startups\n01:55 The Two-Way Value of Mentorship\n02:33 Standout Moment: The Cybersecurity Cohort\n03:18 From Mentor to Board Member\n04:28 Why Bentonville Is a Rare Ecosystem\n05:20 Connecting Talent, Interns & Local Networks\n06:31 The Flywheel Effect: Keeping Talent in Arkansas\n07:40 A Call to Action for Potential Mentors\n08:45 What Mentors Get Out of It\n09:10 How to Get Involved with Fuel","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/VIqyFnVoemaY16I1CQ_9OtsZkjBwg6MwfUeTfBb7LPw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hMTg0/ODVhOTk1ZmFiOTQ2/MWM3YTk4MTcxOTg3/NmY5Mi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}