Shawn Shivdat

Yo, so Shawn Shivdat? Dude’s the real deal in healthcare tech. Born from a mix of hardcore healthcare hustle and mad AI smarts. Started out helping his mom run her private medical practice – that’s where he got the inside scoop on how messy and slow healthcare systems can be. No cap, that kinda stuff sticks with you. It’s what probably lit his fire to fix those pain points.

Then, he went all in on tech, studying Computational Neuroscience at Harvard – not just some random degree, he’s digging into how brains work, how AI can mimic human stuff. Built healthcare software at Mass General, so he’s been in the trenches, understands the pain points firsthand, not just some outsider throwing ideas around.

Fast forward, he co-founded Somn, an AI receptionist company for clinics. Think human-like AI that handles front-desk chaos – scheduling, answering calls, the whole nine yards. That startup crushed it, got big enough to catch Y Combinator’s eye. Now he’s back with Penciled, a YC W24 batch startup, but this time, he’s focusing on physical therapy clinics. His goal? Make their front offices way more fast. Penciled’s AI hooks into all the clinic’s existing systems – EHRs, fax, phone – and automates all the repetitive bullshit like scheduling calls, follow-ups, reminders. Basically, he’s trying to save time, reduce errors, and make patients feel like they’re actually cared for, not just processed.

What’s crazy is, Shawn’s process shows he’s all about fixing real problems, not just building tech for tech’s sake. His background – from helping his mom run her practice, to studying brain stuff, to building healthcare software – all that adds up to someone who genuinely cares about making healthcare less bullshit. He’s not just chasing the money; he’s trying to change the game from the inside out.

Dude’s the kind of founder who’s been in the trenches, knows the pain, and jumps into the chaos to fix it. That’s why he’s so important. He’s not just building cool AI – he’s building the tools that actually make healthcare better for everyone. And honestly, that’s the kinda person we need more of in this space.