1166: TRANSFORMING elder care and solving loneliness for people we care about w/ Daniel Hungerford

What happens when deep leadership experience, a marketing mindset, and cutting-edge AI collide? You get EverFriends.ai—a tech platform with heart. In this episode, Dan Hungerford shares how he built a revolutionary AI-powered companion app designed to support older adults experiencing loneliness or cognitive decline. But this isn't just a tech story—it's a mission-driven journey rooted in family, legacy, and solving real human problems.

Dan opens up about his evolution as a serial entrepreneur, his personal inspiration for EverFriends, and the profound impact it's having on users and caregivers alike. Whether you're tech-savvy or just mission-curious, this conversation will spark ideas, challenge your thinking, and show you the power of building with purpose.

💡 What You’ll Take Away For YOUR Business

• 🚀 How to turn personal family experiences into a scalable tech solution
• 🤖 What it takes to build human-first AI that simulates connection, not just conversation
• 💰 The challenges (and benefits!) of launching in a market that doesn’t yet exist
• 🧠 Why entrepreneurial maturity means letting go of control to grow
• 🧩 How Dan approached product-market fit in an untested niche
• 📲 Why user simplicity and realism were non-negotiables for this AI product
• 🧘 How to build for both the end user AND the silent buyer (aka the caregiver)

📝 About the Guest

Dan Hungerford is a consultant and entrepreneur based in Grand Rapids, MI. With years of experience training under the legendary John Maxwell, Dan has developed a distinct vision for harnessing the transformative power of AI. His journey has taken him from unraveling the complexities of human behavior to pioneering cutting-edge AI solutions that reshape industries.

🎯 Dan’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs

“Once you decide, see it through.”

Key Takeaways from Dan’s Advice:
✔️ Your idea is only as strong as your persistence
✔️ Being “weird” or different is often your biggest advantage
✔️ Don’t let imposter syndrome stop you—fight for your dream

📢 Memorable Quotes

“We prepare today for the opportunities of tomorrow.” – Dan Hungerford

“If you're going to build something sustainable, you have to become the kind of person who can lead it.” – Dan Hungerford

“We’re not trying to replace human connection—we’re trying to simulate it in a way that’s meaningful.” – Dan Hungerford

💡 Actionable Takeaways

✅ Build your business from a real human need, not just a market trend
✅ Validate your idea with real user stories and emotional proof
✅ Embrace focus groups and early user testing—even with non-tech-savvy audiences
✅ If you’re building something brand new, be prepared to create the market yourself
✅ Let your why fuel your resilience on the hard days

🔗 Links & Resources

• Visit EverFriends.ai
• Download EverFriends.ai on the App Store
• Get EverFriends.ai on Google Play
• Connect with Dan on LinkedIn