The agetech innovators to watch in 2022

The age of the population is increasing; in 2016, just 18 per cent of people in the UK were aged 65 and over. By 2046, however, it’s expected that the figure will rise to 25 per cent of the UK’s population being 65 and over.

So it’s no wonder firms are leaping on the agetech bandwagon, with both startups and established businesses working on healthcare technology that specifically targets the older population. Here, Agetech World shares the industry innovators to look out for over the next 12 months…

Papa

Founded in 2017, Papa describes itself as “a hand to help, a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen” and connects volunteers with older adults in need in America.

Through its nationwide network of Papa Pals – volunteers who provide social support and everyday assistance, from transportation to technology lessons – the firm aims to achieve better health outcomes for its members.

Papa even effectively adapted its offering during the pandemic so users didn’t suffer, launching virtual visits through Papa Health and expanding to service 17 states.

Now, the firm’s founders have plans to expand to all 50 states by 2021 and grow its services after receiving $18 million dollars in a recent funding drive.

Cera

Award-winning startup Cera was founded in the UK in 2016.

2020 was a milestone year for the platform; it raised £54 million, launched its SmartCare technology nationwide and acquired care company Mears Care, a strategic move which boosted employee numbers to over 2,000.

Now, the company is continuing to look for new ways to grow, innovate and transform the world of agetech. In an interview with Sifted in 2020, discussing the future of the company and industry as a whole, co-founder and chief executive of Cera Ben Maruthappu said: “It’s allowing us to bend the model of care.

“It allows us to potentially reduce the amount of care a carer needs to do because you’ve got that 24/7 monitoring, which in turn makes care more sustainable because a carer can look after more older people in a neighbourhood or in a community.”

Institution Robotics

Despite only being founded in 2015, the company behind social robot ElliQ has revolutionised technology in the care sector.

Described as a “sidekick for happier ageing”, the world’s first social robot ElliQ helps older adults continue to live happily and safely in their own homes. The intelligent bot engages in conversation, offers tips and advice, and provides companionship in a bid to prevent loneliness and low mood, which are becoming more and more prevalent within ageing adults.

While there have been concerns raised around the ethical issues of mimicking human intimacy, co-founder and CEO of Institution Robotics Dor Skuler says: “We are looking to create an empathetic digital companion that joins them on the journey of life and tries to find opportunities to improve their quality of life.”

While its not readily available across the world just yet, the Institution Robotics is continuing to invite older adults to apply for early access to its Care Program and receive a free ElliQ – all it asks is that insights and feedback are given when requested to allow it to continue with its development, with a goal in mind to scale to commercial customers.

Adding another string to its bow, the firm has also expanded its product line to include tools for creating digital companion agents without code, automotive solutions and more features for its trailblazing robot, which will allow it to offer a more holistic experience.

Bold

One of the biggest challenges in ageing is falls. A common cause of injury, around one in three adults over 65 and half of people over 80 will have at least one fall a year, according to the NHS, potentially landing them in hospital and leading to further problems.

Which is where tech company Bold comes in. While the firm isn’t developing fall prevention technology as such, its online programme – which is designed to help older adults build and maintain muscle mass while trying different types of exercise in their own home – can go a long way to improving the strength of older people and lower their risk of falls.

The company was only founded in 2019 but is already making waves with its direct-to-consumer offering and has also launched a B2B platform geared towards healthcare providers.

Birdie

UK-based software startup Birdie describes itself as “your complete homecare software solution”, with a range of home systems designed to improve the confidence and independence of older people.

The firm’s visual, motion and sonar sensors can alert carers to events such as falls, and used by both care professionals and supporting family members. The platform also allows care workers to coordinate notes, ensuring vital information isn’t lost or misplaced.

With plans in place to use machine learning to look at caregiver reports and data from sensors to deduce behaviour patterns, potentially alerting to health worries or issues before they’ve even occurred, the firm has big plans to continue to assist the ageing population.

The industry is something Birdie CEO Max Parmentier feels passionately about; in a recent interview, he said: “It drives me nuts that we’re talking about self-driving cars and all these great technologies, and yet we’re regularly letting older people be left helpless on the bathroom floor for 48 hours because a simple technology is not used.”