Category Visionaries

Ofer Ronen, CEO & Co-Founder of Tomato.ai: $12 Million Raised to Build the Accent Softening Category

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Ofer Ronen, CEO & Co-Founder of Tomato.ai, an accent softening platform that's raised $12 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
AI in contact centers: Ofer has built three startups focusing on contact center AI, seeing the potential for AI to solve language processing problems and improve customer service experiences.
Large-scale deals take patience: Closing large contracts, like the $300 million call center deals Ofer managed, typically involves 18 months of navigating gatekeepers, pilots, and bake-offs.
Human empowerment, not replacement: Unlike many AI initiatives aimed at automation, Tomato.ai focuses on enhancing human agents with AI, particularly through accent softening to improve customer interactions.
Accent softening for global agents: Tomato.ai uses AI to modify agents’ speech in real-time, reducing accents to help agents communicate more clearly, reduce repeat explanations, and improve the customer experience.
Focusing on a niche for success: Ofer stresses the importance of focusing on a narrow problem—starting with Filipino and Indian accents—and perfecting it before expanding.
Creating a new market: Accent softening AI is a nascent category, and Ofer is positioning Tomato.ai to be a leader in a potentially multi-billion-dollar industry as demand for AI-enhanced communication grows globally.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 
 

Martha Dreiling, Co-Founder & COO of Reserv: $28 Million Raised to Build the Future of AI-Powered Insurance Claims

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Martha Dreiling, Co-Founder & COO of Reserv, an AI-powered insurtech company that has raised $28 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
AI-Driven Claims Processing: Reserv is the first AI-powered third-party administrator (TPA) focused on insurance claims, providing both claims handling and deep data insights for underwriters.
Venture Incubation Start: Reserv was born from dissatisfaction with legacy claims processing systems, launching through a partnership between Bain Capital Ventures and Altai Ventures.
Fast Growth and Impact: Founded in May 2022, Reserv processed its first claim just five months later, showcasing their ability to scale quickly while leveraging modern SaaS platforms and AI.
Climate Change’s Impact on Insurance: The rising importance of claims handling due to climate change and a tightening insurance market has increased the demand for more seamless, data-driven processes.
Empowering, Not Replacing, Adjusters: Reserv’s technology focuses on empowering claims adjusters with AI, automating mundane tasks while maintaining the essential human element of empathy in high-stakes claim situations.
Go-To-Market Complexity: The go-to-market strategy includes handling a complex network of stakeholders—MGA’s, insurance carriers, and policyholders—ensuring that every part of the value chain is well-serviced.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 

Brad Kittredge, CEO & Co-Founder of Brightside: $150 Million Raised to Build the Future of Mental Healthcare

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Brad Kittredge, CEO & Co-Founder of Brightside, a virtual mental health care platform that's raised nearly $150 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Brightside’s Comprehensive Mental Health Platform: Brad explains how Brightside offers a wide range of services, from psychiatry and therapy to suicide prevention, covering over 130 million Americans through partnerships with health insurance companies.
Shifting Perceptions of Mental Health: Since Brightside's founding in 2017, cultural attitudes toward mental health have shifted dramatically. The pandemic accelerated the normalization of mental health conversations, reducing stigma and making virtual care more acceptable.
Proving the Viability of Telemedicine: Initially, investors and consumers were skeptical about the adoption of remote mental health care, but the pandemic acted as a forcing function. Brightside saw telemedicine claims remain high post-pandemic, especially for mental health services.
Navigating Complex Regulatory Challenges: Brad highlights how Brightside has been proactive in navigating healthcare regulations, especially around controlled substances. By choosing not to prescribe them, they mitigated certain regulatory risks, while focusing on influencing policy for the broader benefit of telemedicine.
Brightside’s Focus on Hard-to-Treat Cases: By launching their Crisis Care Program, which targets suicide prevention, Brightside doubled down on treating the most challenging and high-cost mental health cases, further differentiating themselves from competitors.
Rapid Product Development and Go-to-Market Success: Brad and his team launched Brightside’s alpha in just five months, achieving their first revenue within a week. Their ability to focus on product-market fit and leverage early consumer interest in telehealth drove fast early success.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 

Russell Spitler, CEO & Co-Founder of Nudge Security: $17 Million Raised to Build the Future of SaaS Security

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Russell Spitler, CEO & Co-Founder of Nudge Security, a SaaS security platform that's raised $17 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
The Growing SaaS Management Challenge: With employees adopting numerous SaaS tools, security risks escalate. Nudge Security addresses these risks by helping organizations understand what SaaS accounts are in use and managing them proactively.
The Founding Insight: Russell was inspired by a personal data breach involving a company he’d never interacted with. This spurred his focus on how to manage and secure SaaS accounts effectively, leading to the creation of Nudge Security.
Customer Validation Through 200 Conversations: Before diving into product development, Russell and his co-founder spoke with 200 industry professionals to validate the need for a solution like Nudge, confirming a clear pain point around unmanaged SaaS tools and data security.
PLG in Cybersecurity: Russell emphasized a product-led growth (PLG) approach, uncommon in cybersecurity. He believes the key to PLG success is delivering immediate value to users, reducing the time-to-value to under two hours.
Content Marketing as an Educational Tool: Nudge's marketing strategy prioritizes education over traditional product pitches. By providing valuable insights, they build trust and long-term relationships with potential customers.
The Future Vision: Nudge aims to become the go-to platform for managing all SaaS-related technology and integrations, streamlining security, identity management, and data sharing across organizations.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 
 

Jason Park, CEO & Co-Founder of Coldcart: $6.5 Million Raised to Build the Future of Perishable e-Commerce Fulfillment

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Jason Park, CEO & Co-Founder of Coldcart, a perishable e-commerce fulfillment platform that's raised $6.5 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Solving the Last Frontier of Perishable Shipping: Coldcart focuses on orchestrating and optimizing the delivery of frozen and refrigerated goods, solving the dual challenge of balancing cost and spoilage.
Massive Market Opportunity: With 3 billion perishable parcels shipped in the U.S. last year, projected to reach 9 billion by 2032, Coldcart addresses a booming market with significant unmet needs.
Significant Cost Reductions: By analyzing variables like temperature, shipping routes, and insulation in real time, Coldcart reduces shipping costs by 15%-50% and cuts late deliveries by 40%-60%.
Customer Lifetime Value at Stake: Jason emphasized the high stakes of perishable shipping, as even one late or spoiled delivery can result in the loss of future customer orders, impacting customer lifetime value by 3 to 7 future orders.
Impact Beyond D2C Food: Coldcart's platform spans various industries, including pharmaceuticals and industrials, with the perishable e-commerce market growing steadily by 18% each year, driven by generational and demographic shifts.
Strategic Go-to-Market Patience: Jason revealed that Coldcart's most critical GTM decision was to initially limit growth and focus on perfecting the product, ensuring it was enterprise-grade before scaling rapidly.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 

Rafid Fadul, CEO and Co-Founder of Zivian Health: $3 Million Raised to Power the Future of Compliant Healthcare Collaborations

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Rafid Fadul, Co-Founder & CEO of Zivian Health, a healthcare technology company that's raised $3 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Healthcare workforce shortage: Rafid explains how the shortage of physicians, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic, led to the founding of Zivian Health. The company focuses on solving the growing gap between healthcare demand and the diminishing supply of doctors, nurses, and physician assistants.
Evolution of the healthcare workforce: The conversation reveals that, while the number of doctors is dwindling, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are growing, but the infrastructure to support this shift in the workforce is lacking.
The decision to raise venture capital: Rafid discusses why Zivian Health chose a venture-backed approach after two bootstrapped exits, emphasizing the need to accelerate SaaS development and bring in specialized talent.
Building a three-sided marketplace: Zivian Health operates as both a marketplace and a SaaS platform, serving enterprises, physicians, and advanced practice providers. The focus is on making the experience seamless for all stakeholders.
Addressing compliance challenges: A key differentiator for Zivian Health is its platform that manages complex compliance requirements for NPs and PAs across different states, enabling them to practice legally and safely.
Creating a trusted network: Zivian’s ability to scale its physician network to over 8,000 licenses is driven by its focus on trust, verification, and ensuring a high-quality experience for all participants.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 
 

Jennifer Dulski, CEO & Founder of Rising Team: $11 Million Raised to Build the Future of Team Performance

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Jennifer Dulski, CEO & Founder of Rising Team, a team performance platform that has raised $11 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Early Career at Yahoo and Facebook: Jennifer’s early roles at Yahoo and Facebook gave her first-hand experience in high-growth tech environments. She highlighted the importance of building strong professional networks and working with passionate, talented teams that don’t require external motivation to maintain a sense of urgency.
Rising Team’s Platform for Team Performance: Rising Team is a platform designed to help leaders build more connected, high-performing teams. It provides a combination of DIY interactive workshops and AI-powered personalized coaching, allowing teams to run sessions without the need for expensive external facilitators.
Founded During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Although Jennifer conceived the idea for Rising Team before COVID-19, the pandemic accelerated the demand for tools that foster team connection in remote work settings. The platform’s value became even more apparent as companies struggled to maintain engagement with dispersed teams.
Evolution from 1:1 Manager Tools to Team Workshops: The original version of Rising Team was designed for one-on-one coaching between managers and employees, but the product evolved to focus on team-wide workshops. This shift helped managers save time and meet the growing demand for deeper team connections, especially in remote and hybrid environments.
Defining a New Market Category: Rising Team is positioned in a new category called "team performance platform," blending elements from learning management, team building, and engagement tools. This strategic positioning allows the company to stand out from competitors in more established categories.
Importance of Data-Driven Pilots for Growth: Jennifer stressed the value of well-structured pilots that involve enough users and run for a long enough period to generate meaningful data. This approach helps demonstrate clear ROI to clients and supports long-term relationships with larger companies.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 

Mark Lehmkuhle, CEO & Founder of Epitel: $20 Million Raised to Build the Future of Brain Health Monitoring

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Mark Lehmkuhle, CEO & Founder of Epitel, a brain health technology platform that has raised over $20 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Simplifying EEG Monitoring: Epitel has developed a wearable EEG sensor that makes brainwave monitoring easier for patients. Unlike traditional EEGs, which require extensive equipment and specialist interpretation, Epitel’s sensor offers a streamlined approach to detecting central nervous system disorders, especially seizures.
Seizures vs. Epilepsy: While seizures are common, with 1 in 10 people experiencing one in their lifetime, not all seizures indicate epilepsy. Epitel focuses on seizure detection, addressing a broader spectrum of neurological conditions, not just epilepsy.
Bootstrapping and Perseverance: Mark shared how the company started in 2008 with a small team and minimal resources, operating out of an artist colony with limited heating and air conditioning. The journey took years of grant funding and regulatory hurdles before reaching commercialization.
Regulatory Pathway: Despite being a medical device, Epitel’s technology sits on the lower end of the FDA's regulatory spectrum, allowing them to move relatively quickly compared to more complex devices. They achieved FDA clearance with non-dilutive funding, a strategic milestone that paved the way for institutional investment.
Data Collection Challenges: To train their AI, Epitel had to develop their own clean EEG dataset because hospitals typically delete such data post-diagnosis. This created a significant technical hurdle but also underscored the uniqueness of their solution.
Future Vision: Mark envisions Epitel expanding beyond seizure monitoring into broader brain health applications. Long-term goals include creating a system for continuous brain health tracking, similar to continuous glucose monitors, potentially detecting early signs of conditions like Alzheimer’s or even alerting to stroke risks.
 
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 

Kristen Valdes, CEO & Founder of B.well: $100 Million Raised to Reimagine the Healthcare Experience

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Kristen Valdes, CEO & Founder of B.well, a digital health platform that's raised over $100 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
The Founding Story: Kristen’s personal healthcare struggle with her daughter, who suffered a near-fatal incident due to fragmented medical records, inspired her to build B.well. This experience exposed how broken the system was for consumers, leading her to create a platform that empowers families with tools to manage their own healthcare.
System Design Flaws: Kristen believes the healthcare system isn’t "broken" but designed poorly, prioritizing "sick care" over preventative, holistic health. She emphasizes that the system operates as intended, driven by fee-for-service payments, which incentivizes more procedures rather than better outcomes.
Value-Based Care: Transitioning to value-based care is critical for improving healthcare outcomes, but it's a slow and challenging process. Kristen estimates it could take another 10-15 years before value-based models dominate. Providers and hospitals need to trust the transition before they fully commit to abandoning fee-for-service models.
Consumer Experience Platforms: B.well is a "consumer health experience platform" that focuses on solving the fragmentation of healthcare data. The platform allows users to manage their medical records, receive personalized health insights, and access care across different providers—all through a single mobile interface.
Fragmentation and Transparency: Kristen emphasizes that the real challenge in healthcare today is the fragmentation of data. B.well has worked on government initiatives aimed at increasing transparency, from medical records to pricing, in order to drive more innovation and competition in healthcare.
Marketing and Category Creation: Kristen shared insights into B.well’s journey in creating a new category—Healthcare Consumer Experience Platforms. Despite the long and difficult process, persistence, thought leadership, and industry collaboration helped B.well succeed in defining this space and gaining analyst recognition from Forrester and Gartner.
 
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co
 
 
 

Matthew Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion: $150 Million Raised to Build the Future of Quantum Technology

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech's most innovative B2B founders. In today's episode, we're speaking with Matthew Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, a quantum technology company that's raised over $150 Million in funding.
Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:
Quantum technology’s roots at CU Boulder: Infleqtion's journey started with foundational research from Nobel Prize-winning physicists at CU Boulder. They developed ways to control atoms using lasers, which unlocked the ability to isolate and exploit quantum properties for next-gen tech applications.
The unexpected career shift: Matthew spent nearly two decades as an investor, never planning to run a company. His deep dive into quantum technology in 2017 led him to invest in Infleqtion, and ultimately to step in as CEO, driven by the technology’s potential to be transformative for humanity and national security.
Explaining quantum to grandma: When simplifying quantum technology, Matthew compares it to Newtonian physics but highlights that quantum operates with its own set of bizarre rules, where everything is governed by probabilities, and phenomena like superposition and entanglement defy everyday logic.
Commercializing quantum tech: Infleqtion is already selling products like their quantum optical clock, which keeps time 1,000 times more accurately than anything currently available. This tech has wide-reaching implications, from improving GPS accuracy to enabling future quantum computers.
The race to quantum supremacy: Quantum computing is still a few years away from reaching "quantum advantage," but Matthew believes that within five years, we’ll see quantum computers outperform classical computers in specific tasks. Meanwhile, quantum sensors and clocks are already delivering commercial value today.
Navigating government contracts: Matthew shares that breaking into government procurement is complex and involves building relationships through programs like SBIR grants. Success in this space can be transformative, with multi-year contracts that provide a consistent revenue stream.
 
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Sponsors:
Front Lines — We help B2B tech companies launch, manage, and grow podcasts that drive demand, awareness, and thought leadership.
www.FrontLines.io
The Global Talent Co. — We help tech startups find, vet, hire, pay, and retain amazing marketing talent that costs 50-70% less than the US & Europe. 
www.GlobalTalent.co