Solo-pitched a minister with a curry stain on my $12 tee… and ended up in the national news.
Yesterday was a fever dream in a room full of tech optimists, ethicists and AI educators at NLB.
In the thick of it, I found myself:
- Sharing Maibel’s vision with Minister of State Mdm Rahayu (MDDI, MOH)
- Interviewed by a report and woke up on Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报
- Doubled our beta signups for Wave 2 in under 2 hours
But the real win? We’re finally having hard conversations out in the open.
As we edge closer to emotionally authentic AI, the ethical stakes grow.
During the panel on "Authenticity in the Age of AI", one question landed hard: “What happens when AI starts to feel so human… we begin to fall for it?”
As a builder, I don't believe in just shipping features.
I believe we have the power to shape the future of human connection.
For me, Maibel was never about replacing relationships.
It was (and will always be) about building tech that helps women reconnect with themselves.
Gentle check-ins. Patient nudges. A soft voice that remembers, reflects, and respects your pace.
15 years ago, I was 100lbs heavier, ghosting every app that made me feel like there was something wrong with me for being inconsistent.
Later, as a coach working with hundreds of women, I saw this loop repeated again and again:
Not because my community didn’t care… But because the tools didn’t.
They were served plans, not presence.
Data, not depth.
Streaks, not support.
So I built Maibel.ai: an emotionally intelligent AI wellness companion designed to journey with women. Softly, patiently, and without judgment.
And yes, I’ve designed guardrails.
Tone paths. Consent toggles. Clear disclosures.
Because emotional resonance should never come at the cost of emotional safety.
We don’t need AI that pretends to be human. We need AI that knows how to care without crossing the line.
I’m at a messy, magical part of my founder journey.
Bootstrapped booths. Rushed banners. Buggy betas.
But it’s real. It’s raw. And I’m learning fast.
Wave 2 of beta opens tomorrow.
If you’ve ever felt unseen by wellness apps...
If you want to help shape the future of women-first emotional AI...
Come pressure-test it with us. DM me, I’ll drop a private link 💖
Let’s build what should’ve always existed: for women, by women.
Huge thanks to Kevin Seet and the team for the kind invite to Catalyst: Trust on the Horizons of AI. Incredible turnout, thought-provoking panel...
Conversations I’ll be thinking about for a long time.
#Maibel #AIethics #femtech #emotionalUX #womenintech #founderjourney
Hi, I’m Mabel.
I’m the founder of Maibel. I write about emotional AI, women’s wellness and learning to build the things I wish existed.
More about me