How can artificial intelligence truly help people? In this episode of Channel Insider: Partner POV, host Katie Bavoso sits down with Hans Mize, President and Founder of Data41, to explore how his company evolved from a traditional VAR into an AI-powered independent software vendor driving real-world impact.
Hans shares Data41’s nearly 20-year journey, including pivotal acquisitions, strategic pivots, and how AI opened the door to life sciences and social services innovation. From accelerating donor eligibility decisions in tissue banks to helping clinicians spend more time with at-risk youth, this conversation highlights AI use cases that go far beyond automation — and into saving time, resources, and lives.
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Topics & Time Codes
00:00 – Welcome & Episode Overview Introduction to Data41 and how AI is helping humans, not replacing them
01:18 – Founding Data41 (2006) Why Hans started the company and early challenges as a VAR
03:16 – From VAR to ISV How market shifts and AI led to a new business model
07:20 – Building an AI Practice Hiring Data41’s first AI engineer and early experimentation
09:19 – AI in Social Services Partnering with McKinley Children’s Center to help at-risk youth
10:55 – Entering Life Sciences Developing AI for tissue banks and donor eligibility workflows
13:57 – Commercializing AI Software Turning a custom project into a scalable product
16:35 – The Human Impact of AI Why accuracy and speed matter when lives are involved
17:31 – Reducing Clinician Burnout Using AI to cut paperwork and increase face time with children
22:53 – How AI Customer Conversations Have Evolved Moving from “Can you help us with AI?” to outcome-driven strategy
25:57 – Current AI Roadblocks Trust, training data, niche industries, and adoption challenges
29:18 – Data41’s AI Focus Going Into 2026 Life sciences, social services, and selective custom projects
32:03 – Partner Ecosystem Value The role of IBM, Ingram Micro, and Microsoft in Data41’s growth
37:38 – Advice for Aspiring Founders Lessons learned from nearly two decades in business
40:07 – Where to Learn More About Data41 How to connect with Hans and the Data41 team