Marlene
This is our interview part of the week—my favorite part! Today joining us is Kevin, CEO of Leaping AI. Hi Kevin.

Kevin
Thank you so much for having me.

Marlene
As I’m not a tech person, could you introduce yourself and your project?

Kevin
Sure! I’m the CEO of Leaping AI. We build digital workers for call centers—AI agents that handle calls, answer repetitive customer service requests, schedule appointments, and qualify leads. We mainly work with mid-sized and large companies to automate their call centers.

The Tech Behind AI Voice Agents

Marlene
How is your product different from chatbots?

Kevin
The chatbot concept is familiar, but voice bots are new. Recent advances now allow AI to sound human and truly understand spoken language. Often, customers mistake our AI agents for humans.

Marlene
So I call a center and talk to AI—what should I expect?

Kevin
Exactly. Instead of a human, an AI voice agent picks up and interacts as a staff member would. The big advantages? They cost less, offer unlimited scalability, operate 24/7—even weekends—and can serve multiple languages.

Real-World Applications and Impact

Marlene
That 24/7 part is great—waiting on hold is never fun. How is this working for real clients?

Kevin
We’re serving travel, home services, retail, and insurance sectors. For a global travel booking site, we automate half of booking-related calls—rescheduling, cancellations, claims, refunds—without human involvement.

Inspiration & Automation Concerns

Marlene
What inspired you to start Leaping AI?

Kevin
I studied computer science and worked as a consultant. But while living in Colombia, I noticed many locals disliked repetitive, poorly paid call center work. That sparked my interest in automating this industry.

Marlene
How do you address fears about AI taking jobs?

Kevin
AI can’t handle every call yet. Humans must still be available, especially for complex requests. We see AI as adding value—handling simple, repetitive requests so humans focus on harder tasks.

Personal Background & Binational Perspective

Marlene
Tell us about your connection to Germany.

Kevin
I was born in Canada but grew up in Germany—Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin. Now I split my time between Berlin and San Francisco.

Marlene
As an expat, what’s your take on Germany vs. the US for tech startups?

Kevin
Germany is prosperous but lacks the US’s growth mindset. In the US, there’s more early-stage investment and enthusiasm for new ideas, which benefits entrepreneurs.

Adapting to Local Differences

Marlene
There’s a stereotype of German customer service being unfriendly. Does your AI address this?

Kevin
Yes—digital workers maintain consistent tone and follow instructions. We can even train them to mimic the best human agents’ mannerisms.

Marlene
Do you adapt your AI for German vs. US customers?

Kevin
Definitely. In Germany, regulations are stricter: we host data in Europe and always ask if calls can be recorded, unlike in the US.

Startup Culture: Germany vs. USA

Marlene
What could help startups in Germany?

Kevin
Easier access to early-stage capital and a more promotional culture. In Germany, you need proof to get funding; in the US, people invest in founders and ideas aggressively, which accelerates growth.

Looking Ahead for Leaping AI

Marlene
What’s next for Leaping AI?

Kevin
We’re partnering with companies that need round-the-clock call center support—recently, a German hospital group to handle thousands of weekly appointment calls they couldn’t manage before. Our goal: help more companies streamline operations and improve customer service.

Marlene
Where can listeners find you?

Kevin
Reach out on LinkedIn or at leapingAI.com to connect or book a demo.

Marlene
Thanks so much for joining us!

Kevin
Thank you for the interview.