FOMO Sapiens with Patrick J. McGinnis S13 E18 Casper Co-Founder Neil Parikh on Building AI for Mental Well-being
May 22, 2025
Neil Parikh, co-founder and president of Slingshot AI and former Casper co-founder, shares his inspiring journey from revolutionizing the mattress industry to addressing mental health with AI. He discusses resilience gained from personal challenges and scaling businesses, offers insights on the lessons learned from Casper's success and public debut, and explores AI's potential to transform therapy using real human interactions. Their engaging dialogue tackles skepticism about AI in mental health while envisioning a future where mental well-being is more accessible.
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Resilience Through Adversity
- Neil Parikh learned that he is resilient through deeply challenging times.
- He trusts he can overcome despair and keep moving forward.
From Med School to Mattress Startup
- Neil left medical school for entrepreneurship and met his co-founder in a coworking space.
- They chose to disrupt the mattress industry inspired by his medical background and market opportunity.
Casper's Early Success and Struggles
- Casper's first month achieved $1 million in sales, proving demand for direct-to-consumer mattresses.
- Supply chain problems frustrated customers, leading to compensations like sending airbeds and hotel stays.