Born In Silicon Valley

AI That Saves Lives: Optimizing Healthcare administration

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kira Radinsky, a remarkable AI pioneer whose journey from escaping the USSR as a child to predicting global crises is absolutely fascinating. Kira tells me how she successfully predicted the first cholera outbreak in Cuba in 130 years using AI, helping save countless lives by getting clean water there in time.
We dive deep into her current company, Diagnostic Robotics, which has raised $70 million and is tackling a massive healthcare crisis - by 2030, nearly 4 billion people won't have access to primary care. Her AI system now serves 28 million patients and has reduced hospital visits by 25% through predictive care coordination.What really blew me away was learning about her latest venture, Monobio, where she's using AI to create "spaceships" for mRNA delivery - essentially learning from viruses to target specific organs in the body for revolutionary treatments.
Throughout our conversation, Kira shares her philosophy of "jumping off the cliff" when it comes to innovation, insights on building AI companies in healthcare, and why she believes we need to think bigger about using AI to solve climate change and create new materials. Her story of resilience, scientific brilliance, and determination to use technology to save lives is truly inspiring.
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Mike Conover: How Brightwave's AI Reads Entire Deal Rooms in Minutes

I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Mike Conover, co-founder and CEO of BrightWave. Here's what we cover:
Mike's Background:- From studying complex systems to creating Dolly at Databricks- His journey into AI-powered investment tools
The Problem:- Investment pros drowning in 600-800 page data rooms- Traditional due diligence hitting human limits
BrightWave's Solution:- AI that reads entire documents simultaneously, not snippets- Customer feedback: "Identified risks I wish I'd seen originally"- $21M raised to revolutionize investment research
Leadership Insights:- Hiring for mindset over skills- Why humility is his secret weapon as a leader- Building high-performance teams in the AI era
The Future:- How BrightWave plans to transform investment research forever
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley https://www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey. If you are growing AI Startup or have a great story, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Solving Food Service's $1 Trillion Waste Problem with AI Kitchen Intelligence

In this episode, I sit down with Page Schult, co-founder and CEO of Topanga, who's tackling one of the food industry's biggest problems: massive waste and inefficiency. What started as a sustainable packaging company has evolved into an AI-powered kitchen intelligence platform that's helping colleges, hotels, and healthcare systems save millions by automating food waste tracking.
Page walks me through her fascinating pivot from launching movies at Fox Film Studios to building technology that uses smart scales and image recognition to solve food service's data nightmare. She opens up about the unique dynamics of co-founding a company with her husband, the challenges of scaling from 15 to 30 employees, and why she believes decisiveness is everything in startup success.
What really struck me was how they're not replacing kitchen workers - they're freeing them from spending 20+ hours a week in spreadsheets so they can actually cook. With food service representing 8% of US GDP, the opportunity here is massive, and Paige's team is just getting started.
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Unilever Exec to AI Founder: Stan Sthanunathan Disrupts Consumer Insights

In this episode, host Jake Aaron Villarreal sits down with Stan Sthanunathan, co-founder and CEO of iGenie.ai. The conversation explores Stan’s fascinating journey, from his extensive career in consumer insights to his bold leap into entrepreneurship. Stan shares the critical role consumer insights play in driving brand success and how technology is revolutionizing the insights industry. He opens up about the challenges faced moving from a corporate world to running a startup, reflecting on his time at Coca-Cola. The discussion covers the importance of building relationships, crafting effective marketing strategies, and the game-changing impact of AI on insights. Stan also reveals his exciting vision for the future of iGenie.ai, leaving listeners inspired by his passion and forward-thinking approach.
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

NYC Apartment to Series D Unicorn: Redpanda Infrastructure Powering AI & Real-Time Apps

In an engaging episode, Alex Gajiego, Redpanda’s founder and CEO, recounts his path from a curious builder in Colombia, dismantling motorcycle engines, to spearheading a tech company revolutionizing real-time data streaming. He shares insights on creating Redpanda to address unmet needs in high-performance data systems, highlighting its impact on mission-critical applications for major global companies. Gajiego explores the vital role of data streaming in powering AI applications, emphasizing low latency and scalability. He also delves into Redpanda’s culture, rooted in customer obsession, being a good human, and winning as a team, while stressing the importance of bidirectional feedback to foster trust. Looking ahead, Gajiego is excited about Redpanda’s partnerships with leading AI firms, positioning the company at the forefront of technological innovation.
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Startup Founder Darryl Hicks on Transforming FinTech: How FlexPay Uses AI to Save Subscriptions

Join us for an inspiring episode with Darryl Hicks, the founder of FlexPay, who traces his journey from a childhood shadowed by bullying to becoming a leader in the payments industry. He dives into the critical need for trust and transparency in the payments ecosystem, spotlighting the challenges businesses face with failed payments, especially in subscription-based models. Hicks highlights how recovering these payments can significantly boost customer lifetime value and tackles the issue of false declines, urging merchants to better understand payment complexities. He emphasizes the transformative role of AI and machine learning in crafting smarter payment solutions. Beyond tech, Hicks reflects on how past experiences fueled his entrepreneurial drive, shares lessons on personal growth, and explores the evolving demands of leadership in the tech sector. He also opens up about the hurdles of carving out a new category in the payment industry and offers sharp insights into effective fundraising strategies, painting a bold vision for a modern payment stack rooted in transparency and trust.
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

Pylon’s Marty Kausas: Supercharging B2B Support with AI and Omnichannel Innovation

In this conversation, Marty Kausas, co-founder and CEO of Pylon, shares his journey from working at Airbnb to founding his own startup. He discusses the challenges he faced in identifying market needs, the evolution of Pylon, and the strategies he employed to raise capital and build a strong company culture. Marty emphasizes the importance of product development and the need for a dedicated sales team to drive customer acquisition. He also reflects on his growth as a leader and the future vision for Pylon.
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

GenAI Risks: How Opsin Stops Oversharing in Copilot & Gemini

James Pham, Opsin’s co-founder and CEO, recounts his journey from Vietnam to Silicon Valley, honed by his MIT experience, as he dives into the world of generative AI data security. Leading Opsin, James champions a bold approach to safeguarding enterprise data, prioritizing privacy and governance. Facing fierce market challenges, James leans on a relentless growth mindset and masterful storytelling to steer his startup forward.
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com

AI Personas at Work: Suman Kanuganti on Scaling Human Expertise with Personal AI

Join Jake Aaron Villarreal as he chats with Suman Kanuganti, CEO of Personal AI. They explore Suman’s background in tech and robotics, and how Personal AI addresses the challenge of scaling human expertise. Suman explains their approach to creating tailored AI models for industries like legal and finance, enabling digital twins to enhance productivity. He covers rapid deployment, cost-effectiveness, and standing out in the AI market, while touching on persona managers and navigating industry changes. Listen in for insights on boosting human potential with AI!
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com  

AI for Good: AI helps games offer a safer experience to all

In this episode, we interviewed Mike Pappas, co-founder and CEO of Modulate, an AI-driven voice moderation company for online gaming. Mike discusses his path from MIT to founding Modulate, the challenges of raising capital, and the need to address toxicity in gaming communities. He explains how Modulate’s technology improves player experiences, supports mental health, and strengthens digital communities. Mike also covers applications in call centers, AI’s role in brand safety, and startup challenges like prioritization and growth.
 
Host: Jake Aaron Villarreal, leads the top AI Recruitment Firm in Silicon Valley www.matchrelevant.com, uncovering stories of funded startups and goes behinds to scenes to tell their founders journey.  If you are growing AI Startup or have a great storytelling, email us at: jake.villarreal@matchrelevant.com