Looking for practical AI applications that actually make a positive impact on the world, I ran into Raphael Rubens, MemoMate's CEO.

When Rafael realized his grandparents' Holocaust survival stories might be lost forever, he built an AI to interview his grandmother. He found out that interacting with an AI was quite comfortable for her. So he decided to dig into the world of AI applications for elderly care.

To truly understand his users, Raphael was so bold as to move into an American senior living community for two months. As a 20-something startup founder, he ate breakfast with 80-year-olds, attended their lectures, and lived their daily reality.

Through this experience, he uncovered a deeper issue than he'd initially set out to solve. Sure, people loved sharing their life stories with AI, but the real problem was something else: caregivers drowning in so much paperwork they barely had time for actual human connection. Here was a clear market problem to go solve.

By 2040, nearly one-third of our population will be over 65, but we'll have less than half the caregivers we need. That's not a distant problem - that's a crisis happening right now.

In this episode, Rafael shares how MemoMate evolved from a biography tool to an AI assistant that's tackling one of society's biggest challenges. This is exactly the kind of practical AI application we need - one that starts with the problem, not the solution.

• (00:00) - AI Tackling the Caregiver Crisis with Raphael Rubens of Memomate
• (02:13) - Personal story about grandparents and Holocaust survival
• (05:31) - Reflecting on Past Failures
• (05:41) - Facebook for dead people
• (06:49) - Grandmother's ChatGPT
• (12:13) - Living in a Senior Community
• (12:49) - Moving there
• (13:57) - Living in the Community for Research
• (16:19) - Exploring New Use Cases
• (20:19) - Surveys
• (21:49) - Transition to Phone-Based Surveys
• (23:44) - AI Integration and Compliance
• (26:08) - Work life balance of inhabitants and staff
• (27:05) - Double edged nature of tech
• (30:34) - Future Vision and Expansion
• (31:31) - Advice for Entrepreneurs

Connect With Us
🔥 Podcast Website (https://www.impactinnovators.com)

Note: This episode was recorded in February 2025. Regulations and market conditions discussed may have evolved since recording.

In this episode of Impact Innovators at the Fireside, we sit down with Chingiskhan Kazakhstan and Max Schalow, the determined founders of SELANA and Bondi. From their chance meeting over shared Chinese takeout as international students to becoming pioneers in sustainable urban mobility, they share their remarkable five-year journey to create the Netherlands' first legal e-scooter.

Around our campfire, we explore how these innovators persevered through shifting regulations, financial challenges, and multiple moments of near-defeat to transform urban transportation. They reveal how their vision extends beyond just selling e-scooters – they're building a future where shared, sustainable vehicles replace car dependency in cities worldwide.

The conversation dives into critical questions about safety concerns, battery recycling, and how to measure real environmental impact. We also discuss their bold vision for cities in 2040 – spaces with zero traffic deaths, autonomous transport, and vibrant, car-free public areas.

Join us for an authentic look at the intersection of environmental impact, regulatory innovation, and the resilient entrepreneurial spirit driving meaningful change in how we move through our cities.

• (00:00) - Disrupting Car Culture with Selana and the Bondi Boys
• (02:33) - Early Days
• (03:40) - Birth of the Mobility Idea
• (06:00) - Downsides of Car Ownership, Pollution
• (07:33) - Launching from The Netherlands
• (11:37) - Market Research and Competition
• (13:12) - From Bike Sharing to Estep Sharing
• (14:12) - Learning from the Competition
• (16:22) - Future Plans and Expansion
• (17:50) - Demo ride
• (19:09) - Product Tech
• (21:36) - Taking cars off the road
• (25:56) - Longevity and Sustainability
• (26:54) - Battery Replacement and Recycling
• (28:38) - Impact on Urban Mobility
• (29:48) - Oh Shit Moments
• (31:52) - Team Dynamics and Growth
• (33:39) - Production and Quality Control
• (34:15) - "That's What Makes us Keep Working"

• 🛴 SELANA Creating road-legal e-scooters and sustainable mobility solutions

Featured Guests

• 🔗 LinkedIn: Chinghiskhan Kazakhstan
• 🔗 LinkedIn: Max Schalow
• 🔗 LinkedIn: Arjé Cahn

Connect With Us

• 🔥 Podcast Website

Note: This episode was recorded in late 2024. Regulations and market conditions discussed may have evolved since recording.

Production credits and thanks yous:
Music by Allerd van den Bremen

What if we could harness AI's immense power not for profit maximization, but to solve humanity's greatest challenges? In this intimate fireside conversation, Buster Franken, founder of Fruitpunch AI, reveals how he's building a global community of 4,500 AI engineers dedicated to tackling critical world problems.

From developing facial recognition for seals to detect ecosystem health, to exposing industrial polluters through AI-powered monitoring, Buster's engineers are proving that technology can be a powerful force for good. But this isn't just another tech success story – it's about a fundamental shift in how we approach artificial intelligence and its role in society.

Recorded by the warmth of a wood stove in our forest cabin, this thoughtful discussion explores:

• How AI is being used to protect endangered species and monitor environmental violations
• The power of challenge-based learning in developing real-world AI solutions
• Why Buster believes we need 1 million AI engineers by 2030 to "change the course of humanity"
• The journey from non-profit to sustainable business model while maintaining impact

Whether you're an engineer looking to make a difference or simply curious about technology's potential to solve global challenges, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insights into how we can harness AI for the greater good.

Location: Recorded in a forest setting in The Netherlands

Chapters

🤝 Fruitpunch Community - Join 4,500+ AI engineers making an impact: https://www.fruitpunch.ai/

🤖 For Tech Leaders & CTO - Partner with Fruitpunch for impact-driven AI training: https://www.fruitpunch.ai/partners

🎯 Fruitpunch AI Challenges - Join upcoming challenges: https://app.fruitpunch.ai/challenges
🎓 UN Sustainable Development Goals - Learn about the goals driving their mission: sdgs.un.org/goals

📱 Follow Buster Franken on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/buster-franken/

📱 Follow Arjé Cahn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjecahn/

Note: This episode was recorded in late 2024. Regulations and market conditions discussed may have evolved since recording.

Production credits and thanks yous:
Music by Allerd van den Bremen
Production by Peter van Dijk, podcastvoorbedrijven.nl

Disclosure: Through Shamrock Ventures, the host has invested in some of the companies featured on this podcast, including Fruitpunch.ai.