Coffee with a Founder Podcast: Danny Freed, Blueprint

17- Jul-2025

On today's episode, Beck Bamberger sits down with Danny Freed, Founder and CEO of Blueprint. Danny shares how the loss of a close friend struggling with bipolar disorder sparked his mental health journey. This experience led him to uncover the outdated, cumbersome software therapists are forced to use, and ultimately inspired him to create Blueprint, which Danny calls software with a soul.

He discusses the promise and pitfalls of AI in mental health, the importance of data privacy, and how to protect your own well-being amidst the whirlwind of entrepreneurship.

show notes:

01:26 – Personal loss sparks Blueprint

04:19 – Outdated tools in therapy and the need for modern tech

07:48 – Therapists and AI: Hope and hesitation

09:47 – Therapist is the pilot, AI is the assistant

13:08 – The future of therapy: Making work easier, raising standards

19:43 – The pressure to move faster

Read More About The Episode:

01:26 – Personal loss sparks Blueprint
Danny shares the deeply personal story of losing his best friend to bipolar disorder, despite his friend having access to mental healthcare. This heartbreaking experience ultimately inspired him to start Blueprint, six years later, in pursuit of improving mental health outcomes.

04:19 – Outdated tools in therapy and the need for modern tech
Danny describes his realization that therapists were using severely outdated software, especially compared to what he’d seen in retail with Trunk Club. This moment of “not being able to unsee” the gap propelled him to develop modern tools to better support therapists in their work.

07:48 – Therapists and AI: Hope and hesitation
The conversation examines the growing influence of AI on mental health care. Danny discusses the split among therapists: some are excited about AI’s potential to streamline their work, while others fear that automation threatens their roles and patient privacy.

09:47 – Therapist is the pilot, AI is the assistant
Danny explains Blueprint’s philosophy: AI should be a supportive assistant, not a replacement for human therapists. Their focus is on letting clinicians stay in control while providing tools that handle tedious admin tasks, improving work-life balance without compromising care.

13:08 – The future of therapy: Making work easier, raising standards
Looking ahead, Danny envisions a future where therapists focus solely on patient care while being fairly compensated, thanks to AI-driven efficiency in billing, scheduling, and documentation. He also discusses broader industry impacts, such as insurance and the potential premium on human care.

19:43 – The pressure to move faster
Danny reflects on the restless urgency common to startup founders—always pushing for faster progress and deeper impact. He shares how this drive, while exhilarating, can also keep him up at night, as he remains focused on scaling Blueprint’s reach and supporting more therapists.