Member Spotlight: Frank Giaoui, Founder & President of Optimalex

Interview of Frank Giaoui, Founder and President of Optimalex

This month, we are thrilled to spotlight Frank Giaoui, Founder and President of Optimalex, a pioneering AI-driven company transforming the complex world of casualty insurance claims.

Frank’s career spans international consulting, academic research, and entrepreneurship. In this interview, he shares his remarkable personal and professional journey—one shaped by an innovative spirit, intellectual rigor, and business acumen.

Have you or someone you know ever been involved in an insurance claim, only to find the process frustratingly inefficient, inconsistent, and unfair? Optimalex was founded to address exactly this problem. Drawing on advanced predictive analytics, it helps insurers, attorneys, and medical professionals estimate the fair value of claims.

Its award-winning platform, Agatha, leverages vast insurance, legal, and medical datasets and cutting-edge AI technology to improve timeliness, consistency, and efficiency in risk scoring, insurance underwriting, claims management, and dispute resolution.

1. Frank, how would you define yourself?

If I had to describe myself in one word, it would be “international.” I am a French citizen and have been living in the U.S. for many years now, but my background is far more diverse.

I was born and grew up in Tunisia, moved to France for my higher education, and over the course of my career, I have lived and worked in several countries—including Italy, the U.K., Japan, and the U.S.

2. Can you share more about your career—or shall I say, careers?

My professional life spans three main chapters: consulting, academic research, and entrepreneurship.

I started my career at Bain & Company, where I spent about a decade in consulting before founding and leading my own boutique corporate advisory firm, Hera Finance, which specialized in cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

About 15 years ago, I made a bold pivot. While keeping my business, I went back to university to study law. I earned a Ph.D. from La Sorbonne in Paris, and then a J.S.D. from Columbia Law School in New York—an academic journey that brought me back to the U.S.

Most recently, I have become an entrepreneur in the AI space, almost naturally. I have always worked with and in technology, even during my consulting and academic years. Today, I lead Optimalex, a tech startup that I founded five years ago and that sits at the intersection of law, insurance, and health.

3. What attracted you to the U.S. and brought you to Arizona?

I have always had the American dream since I was a teenager. But for a long time, personal circumstances kept me rooted in Europe. The opportunity finally came through a doctoral mobility program from La Sorbonne to Columbia Law School—that was the opening I had been waiting for.

The move from New York to Arizona was far less planned. I was invited to speak at a conference in Scottsdale. My partner and I decided to rent an Airbnb for two weeks to explore the area. We fell in love with Arizona—and 18 months later, we are still in the same apartment, now on a long-term lease.

We have found a unique mix of nature and culture that truly suits us.

4. How have you navigated major challenges in your career, and what are you most proud of?

I have learned a lot through setbacks—they have been some of the most powerful learning moments in my life and often turning points in my career.

One came when I was let go from a job. That became an opportunity to launch Hera Finance, which grew into a successful advisory firm.

Another turning point occurred after a serious accident that was devastating professionally. I was not a lawyer at the time. When I sought compensation through the legal system, I discovered that the law did not support my claim, even though it felt morally justified.

That experience triggered a major pivot: going back to university to study law. I learned that damage compensation is a matter of fact, not of law—it is left to the discretion of judges. That insight led me to research how data could bring more consistency and fairness into damage compensation.

What began as a personal loss was transformed into an intellectual challenge (my Ph.D.) and eventually became a growing business—Optimalex.

5. Can you tell us more about Optimalex and your vision for the company?

Optimalex is an insurtech startup that uses AI and large-scale data to support casualty insurance claims—think bodily injury or pain and suffering, which are notoriously difficult to quantify.

Our tools increase consistency, reduce risk, and improve the efficiency of damages claims and recoveries. They help reduce extreme outcomes where people are either under- or over-compensated.

My long-term vision is for Optimalex to become the market reference for timely, fair, and consistent damage compensation. Today, we focus on casualty insurance in the U.S., but we plan to expand into adjacent areas such as healthcare and eventually grow internationally.

It is still early, but our business model is working: we have built the technology, gathered the data, secured multi-year client contracts, and our users are already seeing meaningful operational results.

6. How do you think AI is changing—or will change—your industry?

AI is transforming how professionals in traditional industries such as law, insurance, and healthcare work—and how they work together.

The technology allows people without deep expertise in different fields to access highly specialized knowledge. That is incredibly powerful.

I am especially excited about how AI enables cross-disciplinary collaboration. It breaks down silos between industries and departments. In my own work, I collaborate with lawyers, doctors, insurers, and data scientists—people who would not traditionally work together. This kind of integration is new and truly transformative.

That said, we must be cautious. There is a risk of losing critical thinking skills, especially for younger professionals. AI should support, not replace, human judgment. I often compare it to aviation: commercial planes could have flown autonomously decades ago, yet we chose to keep pilots. We should apply the same thinking to AI in other industries.

7. What advice would you give to someone considering entrepreneurship?

My advice to entrepreneurs is this: do not follow anyone’s advice.

It may sound counter-intuitive, but entrepreneurship is deeply personal. Everyone’s path is different. Had I followed all the advice I received, I likely would not have done anything. I was told my research question was not legal, that I would never get the data, and that I would not find clients. I am glad I did not listen.

What I wish I had known earlier is how long everything takes. If there is one piece of advice I do stand by, it is this: be prepared for a long journey. Time management—both personal and professional—is critical. Believe in your long-term vision, take it one step at a time, and enjoy the process.

8. Is there anything else you would like to share with the community?

Everything I have accomplished has been driven by the people around me. I have been fortunate to work with incredibly smart and motivated individuals. Early in my career, I learned from others; today, I enjoy watching younger team members grow and thrive. That human connection keeps me going.

I am also grateful for the French-American business community. When I arrived in New York, I knew no one, but I quickly built a network through that community. Since moving to Arizona, I have felt that same warmth through the French-American Chamber of Commerce. I am always happy to give back and support others.

Arizona’s tech ecosystem is evolving rapidly. While long associated with semiconductors, the region is now expanding into AI and data science. I would be delighted to help bring together tech experts, business owners, and users to explore how AI is reshaping the way we work and collaborate.

9. How can people reach out to you?

People can visit our website:https://www.optimalexsolutions.com/