By Holt Hackney
It is hard enough raising money for your business in today’s lending environment. Try doing it when your business is related to “psychedelic” drugs.
That was the predicament faced by Olivia MacDonell and her business TAP Integration, ( an Austin-based technology company that helps people successfully integrate their measured experiences with psychedelic drugs into their lives.
Despite the aforementioned challenge, TAP has been able to raise capital from two Austin-based angel investors, Andrew Weisse and John Del Bello, thanks in large part to the fact that she has implemented artificial intelligence into her platform. Weisse invested most recently, bringing a wealth of expertise to TAP on the technology and industry side. Regarding the latter, Weisse publishes the highly respected https://thepsychedelicblog.substack.com/.
Now TAP is off and running, seeking to impact the lives of millions of people around the world. To learn more about TAP and the role of AI, we reached out to MacDonell for the following interview.
Question: Why is artificial intelligence technology important for TAP?
Answer: AI is central to TAP because it’s the key to providing personalized and scalable support for users as they navigate their psychedelic integration journeys. Each individual’s experience is unique, and AI allows us to meet them where they are by offering tailored guidance that adapts in real-time to their progress and needs. This level of personalization is something that would be impossible to achieve manually at scale. AI also empowers TAP to optimize the user experience—helping people stay engaged and offering recommendations that are highly relevant to them, all while making the platform more efficient. It’s about automating the grunt work so we can focus on the deep, meaningful work of supporting our users in their healing and growth. And while AI is powerful, we’re not replacing the incredibly talented and gifted facilitators and therapists who are at the heart of the integration process. Instead, we’re enabling them to use their unique voice and integration skills to reach many more people, expanding their impact. Plus, as we gather more data, AI will help us understand patterns and behaviors, allowing us to constantly refine our approach and improve outcomes.
Q: How is the company currently using AI?
A: Right now, we’re using AI to power the TAP Activation Guide. It’s a personalized integration plan that adapts to the specific needs and progress of each user. By analyzing a person’s behavior, interactions, and preferences, the AI can recommend tailored exercises, reflections, and integration tools that are designed to help them make lasting shifts. This AI-powered guide creates a dynamic feedback loop, allowing users to feel supported and motivated as they engage with the platform. We’re also exploring how AI can assist in curating content—bringing the right articles, videos, and exercises to the forefront based on each user’s journey. Essentially, AI is acting as both a guide and a curator, constantly learning from the user’s interactions to ensure they’re getting what they need at the right time. This makes the whole experience much more intuitive and responsive. It’s not static—it evolves with the user, which is one of the most powerful aspects of AI.
Q: What have been the challenges?
A: The biggest challenge with integrating AI into TAP is making sure Psychedelic integration is deeply personal, and each person’s needs can change over time. We need the AI to be sensitive to these fluctuations and respond accordingly, which can be tricky. For instance, what works for one user at a certain stage in their process may not work for another, and the AI needs to recognize these nuances. We’re also constantly refining how we balance personalization with user privacy. Because the content on TAP is so sensitive, we’re committed to ensuring that our AI respects privacy while still delivering the right insights and guidance. And then there’s the challenge of keeping everything simple and user-friendly. We want AI to be a tool that enhances the user experience, not one that complicates it. It’s an ongoing process of balancing all these elements, but it’s a challenge we’re excited to work through.
Q: What is your vision for an AI-infused TAP?
A: My vision for TAP with AI is to create a platform that feels deeply personal and responsive—one that doesn’t just give users a static experience but evolves with them. As AI continues to learn from each user’s journey, I want TAP to become smarter, more intuitive, and even more connected to the community. The ultimate goal is to help users integrate their psychedelic experiences in a way that sticks. That means supporting neuroplasticity, helping them rewire old thought patterns, and giving them tools to make those changes last. I see AI as the key to turning TAP into something truly transformational. It will not only help guide users through their own journeys, but it will also contribute to building a supportive community where the platform learns from the collective experiences of all its users. This kind of AI-infused model will allow us to offer a truly customized and ever-evolving integration process, one that meets people where they are and helps them move toward lasting healing and growth.