Health Tech Founders: The Future of Care Is Personalized, Proactive—and AI-Powered

What happens when AI meets the most personal parts of our lives—our minds and our bodies? In this episode, a16z's Bryan Kim is joined by Jonathan Swerdlin (Function Health) and Daniel Cahn (Slingshot AI / Ash) to explore how founders are reimagining healthcare and mental health from the ground up using AI. They discuss: - Why the most impactful AI experiences start with real human context—not just digital behavior - Building trust in consumer health products outside of traditional systems - Creating AI that supports—not replaces—doctors and therapists - What “hourly active use” looks like when AI truly helps From biomarker-driven health insights to AI-powered therapy, this conversation dives into how founders are reshaping care for a more accessible, continuous, and deeply personal future. Timecodes: 0:00 Introduction & The Human Experience of AI 0:50 Personal Stories: Founders' Health Journeys 3:40 The State of Mental Health & AI's Role 5:08 Surprising Insights from Building in Health Tech 6:05 Rethinking User Experience in AI Health Products 08:52 Trust, Momentum, and Building for Impact 12:15 Engagement, Retention, and Product Usage Patterns 17:00 The Power and Limits of AI in Health & Therapy 21:10 Human Connection vs. AI: Augmentation, Not Replacement 27:00 Ethics, Autonomy, and the Human Element Resources: Find Jonathan on X: https://x.com/swerdlin Find Daniel on X: https://x.com/danielreidcahn Find Bryan on X: https://x.com/kirbyman01 Stay Updated: Let us know what you think: https://ratethispodcast.com/a16z Find a16z on Twitter: https://twitter.com/a16z Find a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16z Subscribe on your favorite podcast app: https://a16z.simplecast.com/ Follow our host: https://x.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors