{"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":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":632,"description":"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! ---🔗 Connect with Zak Morris:https://www.linkedin.com/in/zakmorris/🔗 Connect with Startup Junkiehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-koonce-3a446a21b/https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-talley-25189211b/https://startupjunkie.org/---⏱️ Chapters00:00 Introduction – AI in Healthcare Documentation00:18 What Brought Zak to the Fuel Accelerator01:10 Learning the Language of Startups01:55 The Two-Way Value of Mentorship02:33 Standout Moment: The Cybersecurity Cohort03:18 From Mentor to Board Member04:28 Why Bentonville Is a Rare Ecosystem05:20 Connecting Talent, Interns & Local Networks06:31 The Flywheel Effect: Keeping Talent in Arkansas07:40 A Call to Action for Potential Mentors08:45 What Mentors Get Out of It09:10 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}