Why You’ll Choose an AI Doctor (feat. Fred Almeida and Max Weiss) | E2239
January 23, 2026
AI Summary
5 min read🎙️ The Speakers & Context
- The Format: Host-led panel discussion with investor feedback on live startup pitches.
- The Key Players:
- Host: Jason Calacanis, podcaster and investor, launching Founder University pre-accelerator in Tokyo; credible for ecosystem insights from investing in Uber, Robinhood.
- Guest 1: Max Weiss, VC at Pacific Bay's Capital; focuses on aerospace, defense, space, energy; credible for Japan deep tech thesis, emphasizing economic security via US-Japan partnerships.
- Guest 2: Fred Almade, CEO of American Medical; entrepreneur/investor in AI healthcare roll-ups; credible from prior robotics/self-driving startups in Japan, now building AI diagnostics platforms.
- The Vibe: Optimistic and candid; blends geopolitical reflection, technical deep dives, and brutal pitch feedback.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Max Weiss & Fred Almade**
- 2 (05:17) **AI Revolutionizing Healthcare & Diagnostics**
- 3 (12:32) **Max's Investment Thesis: Deep Tech for Japan's Resilience**
- 4 (17:04) **US-Japan Relations & Japan's Defense Shift**
- 5 (21:32) **Immigration, Automation & Japan's Labor Challenges**
- 6 (24:01) **Japanese Startup Culture & Company Building**
- 7 (32:15) **Founder University Pitches: First Round (Cascade, AltSource Global, Goalmochi)**
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
This Week In Startups is made possible by:
Hubspot - clickhubspot.com/twist2
Northwest Registered Agent - https://northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
Today’s show:
One day soon, you might consult an AI general practitioner about your health, and then the computer will recommend human specialists to take up your case.
On TWiST Tokyo, Jason chats with Fred Almeida — founder and CEO of American Medical Intelligence Inc. — and Maxwell Weiss, a partner at Pacific Bays Capital.
Together, they discuss the future of medicine, and the opportunities for individuals to take greater control over their health and preventative care strategies.
PLUS a look at how Japan has stayed at the forefront of technology despite NOT being a manufacturing hub, why so many Americans are willing to take a pay cut to move to Japan for work, and the concept of “genten shugi,” and how it prevents some Japanese people from communicating with English speakers, despite understanding the language.
THEN we hear pitches from some of our favorite Founder University x Japan companies, and Fred, Jason, and Max pick their favorites!
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing today’s big guests: founder Fred Almeida and investor Max Weiss!
(5:43) Why Fred thinks one day soon, an AI will be your general practitioner
(8:26) The power of getting self-directed medical diagnostics
(13:27) Max says Japan has moved into Decade 2 in its venture capital journey
(14:37) Sentry - New users can get $240 in free credits when they go to sentry.io/twist and use the code TWIST
(16:05) Max and Jason had wagyu barbecue the other night
(17:10) Japan doesn’t OFFICIALLY have a standing army…
(21:37) Why the line between talking startups and politics is blurring
(23:05) Hubspot - Check out the guide “Advanced ChatGPT Prompt Engineering: From Basic to Expert in 7 Days.” Download it for free at clickhubspot.com/twist2.
(24:59) Japan doesn’t make a lot of things, but it produces the underlying tech behind a lot of things
(25:52) Understanding Genten Shugi: Why some in Japan still have an “English allergy”
(29:42) Why some Americans will take a pay cut to come work in Japan
(33:28) Northwest Registered Agent - Get more when you start your business with Northwest. In 10 clicks and 10 minutes, you can form your company and walk away with a real business identity — Learn more at www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist
(34:10) PITCH #1: Cascade(36:10) PITCH #2: Altsource Global(38:10) PITCH #3: GoalMochi(40:25) Jason, Max, and Fred give
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