E492 | Zack Weisfeld, Ignite Deep Tech: Reinventing Corporate Venture

In this episode, Andreas Munk Holm and Jeppe Høier sit down with Zack Weisfeld, the founding force behind Intel Ignite (now Ignite Deep Tech), to explore the evolution of one of the most respected deep tech accelerators in the world. From reinventing how corporates engage with startups to pioneering a "co-founder as a service" model, Zack shares what it takes to build real bridges between enterprise and entrepreneurship.Here’s what’s covered:03:10 Why Intel Chose to Spin It Out—And How the Ecosystem Reacted06:15 The Three Pillars: Seed, Pre-Seed, and Ideation Programs08:00 What Most Corporate Accelerators Get Wrong11:40 Co-Founder as a Service: A New Model of Acceleration13:25 Why Corporate Mentorship Works When Done Right19:40 Lessons from 14 Years of Building Accelerators26:20 How Mentorship Creates Internal Champions30:15 Aligning Startup Success with Corporate Transformation35:10 Why Mental Health Support for Founders Is a Strategic Imperative