Nick Myers recently sold his Madison-based AI startup RedFox AI to recovery.com, where he now serves as Director of AI Innovation. In this episode, Nick shares the complete journey from founding his healthcare AI company to successfully exiting after five years.

RedFox AI tackled one of the most critical challenges in artificial intelligence: preventing hallucinations when AI systems guide patients through medical processes. Nick's personal experience as a childhood leukemia survivor drove his mission to make healthcare more accessible through conversational AI that could walk people through home lab tests and medical devices.

Key Topics Covered

→ Building AI systems that don't hallucinate in healthcare settings
→ The technical architecture of constrained RAG systems
→ Navigating accessibility challenges for elderly and first-time tech users
→ How proximity and relationships drive startup success in Wisconsin
→ The acquisition process and knowing when to "get out of your own way"
→ AI's potential impact on the labor market and policy implications
→ Resources for Wisconsin startup founders and mentorship programs

Segments

00:00 - Introduction
00:27 - The RedFox AI Story: Making Healthcare Accessible
02:25 - Technical Deep Dive: Preventing AI Hallucinations
06:08 - Building for Accessibility: Elderly Users and Language Barriers
09:02 - The Exit Strategy: Building to Be Acquired
12:28 - How Proximity Led to Acquisition at StartingBlock
19:12 - Wisconsin Startup Ecosystem and Networking Advice
28:28 - Mentorship Resources and Programs in Wisconsin
32:26 - Life After Exit: Director of AI Innovation Role
39:14 - The Future of Work: AI's Impact on Jobs

About Nick Myers:

Nick Myers is the Director of AI Innovation at recovery.com and former cofounder/CEO of RedFox AI. He's been working in conversational AI since 2016 and has spoken globally about AI technology and policy. Nick is also an advocate for AI regulation and has worked with lawmakers on Wisconsin startup funding initiatives.

Connect with Nick on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-myers-0794/

About Recovery.com:

Recovery.com (formerly Rehab Path) is a behavioral health platform that connects patients with treatment resources. The company helps hundreds of thousands of people find addiction and mental health treatment options.
https://recovery.com/

Resources Mentioned

StartingBlock Madison: https://www.startingblockmadison.org/
Merlin Mentors Program: https://merlinmentors.org/
Wisconsin Technology Council: https://wisconsintechnologycouncil.com/
UW Small Business Development Clinic: https://business.wisconsin.edu/initiatives/small-business-clinics/
Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic: https://law.wisc.edu/uwle/

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Startup Wisconsin's mission is to connect, educate, inspire, and grow tech startup communities across the state, not just during events, but year-round. This podcast is part of that vision, creating deeper connections and sharing the knowledge that helps Wisconsin's startup ecosystem thrive.