AI Tackling the Caregiver Crisis with Raphael Rubens of MemoMate
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.
Relevant Links
🤖 MemoMate (https://memomate.app/)
🔗 LinkedIn: Rafael Rubens (https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelrubens/)
🔗 LinkedIn: Arjé Cahn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjecahn/)
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.
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
Relevant Links
🤖 MemoMate (https://memomate.app/)
🔗 LinkedIn: Rafael Rubens (https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaelrubens/)
🔗 LinkedIn: Arjé Cahn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjecahn/)
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.
Creators and Guests
Host
Arje Cahn
Former Silicon Valley unicorn CPO turned Dutch forest ranger, Arjé Cahn hosts candid conversations with tech founders about building solutions for people and planet. From his 15-hectare woodland in the Netherlands, he challenges guests to think deeply about tech's role in creating a sustainable future – all while sitting around a real campfire. 🌲🔥
Composer
Allerd van den Bremen
Allerd van den Bremen is a Dutch composer, musician, and music educator known for his involvement in creating innovative and intimate musical theater performances. He collaborates frequently with the theater writer Renée van Marissing in a project called Rode Rozen (Red Roses). Together, they craft performances that combine music and text, often inspired by visual art or literature, such as James Baldwin’s Another Country. Some of their work has been showcased in venues like the Van Gogh Museum . In addition to composing, van den Bremen works as a music teacher and a community musician, particularly engaging with elderly populations, including those with dementia. He also explores electronic music as a solo artist and in collaboration with others.
