In this episode of Mind the Machine, Cheryl sits down with Andy Ballester, co-founder of GoFundMe and now the founder of EyePop.ai, a platform bringing computer vision to the edge. Andy shares the origin story of GoFundMe, the startup lessons that still hold true, and how his latest venture is solving real-world problems—from underwater infrastructure inspections to medical courier QA—using AI-powered vision models. They explore the mindset needed to build enduring companies in fast-moving tech spaces, how to stay grounded amid the chaos of AI innovation, and why asking for help is one of the hardest—and most human—things we can do.
00:00 – Welcome to Mind the Machine
00:34 – The Origin of GoFundMe
05:00 – Lessons in Startup Longevity
08:24 – Pivoting During Crises Like COVID
12:05 – Building iPop: Making Computer Vision Accessible
16:02 – Why Edge AI Matters (Privacy, Speed, and Cost)
21:00 – Collaborating with Qualcomm’s AI Hub
25:01 – Staying Grounded in the AI Hype Cycle
29:44 – Real-World Use Cases: Water Mains, Lab Samples, and Logistics
36:35 – How AI Can Help People Ask for Help
43:39 – Training the Next Generation in an AI-Powered World
48:12 – What Founders Need Most in 2025
51:20 – Final Reflections from Andy: “What Should We Build Today?”
Where to find Andy Ballester and iPop AI:
🌐 Website: https://eyepop.ai
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewballester/
Follow Cheryl:
🌍 Website: https://findgood.tech
📱 Instagram: / findgood.tech
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ckgoodman/
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.