Born In Silicon Valley
Born In Silicon Valley is a podcast that features founders’ stories. Each episode highlights the journey of success, pivots, and what entrepreneurs have learned when building from the ground up. Host Jake Aaron Villarreal interviews founders, discussing their struggles, triumphs, and their progress along the way. Listeners will gain insight into leadership and the operations of a startup. This podcast is supported by Match Relevant, a company that helps startups find top talent to grow their businesses.
Episodes

Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
Tuesday Aug 05, 2025
In this episode, we sit down with Amy Brown, founder and CEO of Authenticx, to discuss how she’s transforming the healthcare industry by listening—at scale. With over 20 years of experience in public and private sector healthcare leadership, Amy shares how she leveraged her expertise to build a company that uses AI and real human conversations to generate actionable insights for healthcare organizations.
From her time as COO at Seven Corners and Centerfirst, to leading government health initiatives, Amy brings a deep understanding of health policy, operations, and strategy. We explore how those experiences inspired the launch of Authenticx, a platform dedicated to solving communication gaps and uncovering transformational opportunities in healthcare.
We also dive into her entrepreneurial journey, including founding NOLAbles and her passion for improving the human experience in medical systems. Amy explains how Authenticx's AI technology is helping payers and pharma understand the voice of the customer, influence decision-making, and ultimately deliver better care.
If you’re a startup founder, healthcare leader, or AI enthusiast, you won’t want to miss Amy’s insights on growth, leadership, and the future of healthcare 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

Thursday Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
In this episode, we sit down with Luke Arrigoni, CEO and Founder of Loti AI, to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of deepfake detection, content protection, and digital identity security.
Loti AI protects celebrities, public figures, and corporate intellectual property by locating and removing real and AI-generated content online. With tools like Loti Watchtower, they enable clients to remove unwanted and impersonated content within hours.
We discuss the rise of deepfake threats, how Loti’s technology works across the open web including social media and adult sites, and what the future holds for content authenticity and digital autonomy.
Luke shares insights on the company’s founding mission, their work with top-tier clients, and upcoming consumer tools aimed at empowering everyday creators to take control of their online presence.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in AI, cybersecurity, content moderation, and the future of identity on the internet.
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

Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
Tuesday Jul 29, 2025
In this episode of the Match Relevant podcast, we sit down with Jesse Chen, Co-Founder & CEO of CoPilot AI — a Vancouver-based tech company transforming how sales teams connect with prospects using AI-powered tools. With over 20 years in the software industry, Jesse shares insights from his journey, including his early days as a software engineer on EA’s FIFA team to now leading one of the most innovative companies in AI-driven social selling.
Jesse dives deep into how CoPilot AI is changing the sales enablement landscape by blending artificial intelligence with human authenticity. From lead generation to meaningful engagement, discover how CoPilot AI helps recruiters, agencies, and sales professionals book more meetings, faster — all while building real connections.
If you’ve ever struggled with cold outreach, lead quality, or scaling a sales team, this episode is packed with valuable lessons. Learn about the power of prediction tools, personality insights, and the importance of aligning your values with your go-to-market strategy.
Tune in to hear Jesse’s take on:
- What makes AI-powered selling successful- The future of sales and human connection- Key strategies for consistent revenue growth- The bold moves that helped scale CoPilot AI
For more on CoPilot AI, visit: www.copilotai.com
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

Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
Tuesday Jul 22, 2025
In this episode, we sit down with Mark Doble, CEO of Alexi, to dive deep into how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the legal industry. Mark shares how Alexi is empowering law firms to work smarter, faster, and more effectively through AI-driven solutions that prioritize privacy, control, and performance.
We explore the current and future impact of AI on legal research, workflow automation, and how Alexi's platform is helping firms gain a competitive edge. Whether you're a legal professional, technologist, or just curious about the intersection of AI and law, this conversation delivers critical insights into one of the most important transformations happening today.
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

Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
In this episode, we interview Greg Selkoe, the co-founder and CEO of XSET, a gaming lifestyle brand. Greg shares his journey from urban planning to the gaming industry, explaining how XSET is redefining gaming culture by blending it with lifestyle and media. We discuss XSET's unique approach compared to traditional e-sports teams, the importance of authentic cultural connections, and insights into their business model and partnerships. Greg also opens up about the challenges and breakthroughs in building a gaming-focused company and his vision for XSET's future.
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

Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
In this conversation, William Chan, CEO and co-founder of Iodine, shares his journey from Malaysia to becoming an entrepreneur in the healthcare technology space. He discusses the challenges faced in the healthcare industry, particularly regarding efficiency and profit margins, and how Iodine aims to address these issues through AI-driven solutions. The conversation also touches on leadership evolution, company culture, and the future roadmap for Iodine as they continue to innovate and integrate AI into their processes.
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

Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
Tuesday Jul 01, 2025
I sat down with Mark Straub, co-founder and CEO of SmileID, for an eye-opening conversation about his journey from Silicon Valley VC to building identity verification technology across Africa.Mark walked me through the unique challenges of operating in Africa's diverse markets and how digital infrastructure is driving economic development across the continent. What really struck me was his emphasis on localized strategies rather than one-size-fits-all approaches, and the massive growth potential he sees in these emerging markets.
The conversation got personal when Mark opened up about his evolution as a leader - transitioning from venture capitalist to founder, learning the importance of empathy in management, and how team dynamics make or break scaling efforts. His honest reflections on founder mental health and sustaining long-term success while maintaining personal balance were particularly refreshing.We wrapped up discussing SmileID's latest innovations in biometric authentication and their focus on building user trust in digital transactions. Mark's insights revealed both the practical realities of building tech in Africa and the transformative potential of what they're creating.
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

Friday Jun 27, 2025
Friday Jun 27, 2025
I had an incredible conversation with Enrique Perezalonso, founder and CEO of Palla, a fintech startup that just closed their Series A funding round. We dove deep into his company's remarkable growth trajectory and what it's really like building a fintech company in today's market.
Enrique opened up about their hiring strategies and how they're scaling their team, plus he walked me through their entire fundraising journey - the highs, the lows, and everything in between. What really caught my attention was how they're integrating AI into their operations and the tangible impact it's having on their business.We explored the unique challenges and opportunities he's seeing in the fintech space right now, and I was fascinated by his approach to building company culture. We also spent time discussing the evolution of remote work and how his team has adapted to this new landscape.
This conversation really showcased the fast-moving, ever-changing world of startups and why being adaptable isn't just helpful - it's absolutely critical for survival and success in today's business environment.
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

Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
Tuesday Jun 24, 2025
I'm excited to bring you my conversation with Vernon O'Donnell, CEO of Voxel AI, where we dive deep into how AI is revolutionizing workplace safety. Vernon shares his incredible journey from military service in Iraq to leading a company that's tackling a $175 billion problem - workplace injuries and deaths that are largely preventable. What fascinated me most was learning how Voxel transforms existing security cameras into intelligent safety monitors, catching dangerous violations in real-time and literally saving lives. Vernon opens up about the shocking incidents their AI has detected, from workers bypassing safety protocols in the middle of the night to systemic process failures creating cascading safety risks.We also explore the business side - how they've landed 13 Fortune 500 customers including four Fortune 50 companies, their approach to scaling culture while growing 150% year-over-year, and Vernon's hard-earned lessons on hiring the right talent. Whether you're interested in AI applications, workplace safety, or scaling a high-growth company, this conversation delivers insights you won't want to miss.
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

Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
Tuesday Jun 17, 2025
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








