IU Founders and Funders Network Fireside Chat with Matt Gacek

Event Description

Matt Gacek is a first-generation entrepreneur and a junior at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University. As a sophomore, Gacek created Theia, an AI-driven therapy and personal growth app designed to encourage more men and marginalized groups to seek mental health and self-care treatment. The app uses responsive AI to gather information, track mood shifts, and recognize patterns in users' communication styles, stated goals, and daily ups and downs to create uplifting, individualized recommendations.

Gacek's entrepreneurial journey began with his involvement in Luddy's Shoebox incubation program (now known as the Sparklab incubation program under IU Innovates), which provided him with the resources and support to develop his business idea. Despite having no prior business connections, Gacek successfully launched Theia in August 2023 and sold the app to Miri, a San Francisco-based AI-driven health and wellness platform, just three months later for an undisclosed amount.

Gacek's success and innovative approach to AI therapy earned him the prestigious TechPoint Mira Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Free