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 Reacted
06:15 The Three Pillars: Seed, Pre-Seed, and Ideation Programs
08:00 What Most Corporate Accelerators Get Wrong
11:40 Co-Founder as a Service: A New Model of Acceleration
13:25 Why Corporate Mentorship Works When Done Right
19:40 Lessons from 14 Years of Building Accelerators
26:20 How Mentorship Creates Internal Champions
30:15 Aligning Startup Success with Corporate Transformation
35:10 Why Mental Health Support for Founders Is a Strategic Imperative

CVC | E492 | Zack Weisfeld on Ignite Deep Tech & Reinventing Corporate Venture

EUVC

CVC | E492 | Zack Weisfeld on Ignite Deep Tech & Reinventing Corporate Venture