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Back in early September, we announced that nine new startups had completed AARP Innovation Labs’ intensive, 8-week accelerator program and were graduating into the AgeTech Collaborative™ (ATC). Recently, the ATC community marked and celebrated this achievement with a virtual Demo Day: a chance for these startups to meet their fellow ATC members, pitch their products and services, answer questions, and network in search of new opportunities to collaborate with other ATC participants.  

Here are some highlights from each startup’s presentation on the ATC “virtual stage.” 

Miri Berger, co-founder and CEO of 6degrees, showcased the company’s flagship product, a wearable called MyMove, a “digital hand” for people with disabilities that impact their dexterity. The device learns each person’s movements, then turns those movements into finger-based commands that enable the person to zoom, swipe and otherwise interact with smartphones, tablets and other digital technologies, which in turn increases their independence and connection to the world. 6degrees is looking to enrich their technology and to hire a product marketing officer to grow the company’s partnerships, marketing and sales. 

Careteam Technologies’ chief revenue officer, Meena Sandhu, highlighted the company’s platform, which is designed to simplify the complexities of health care and deliver better health care outcomes by getting patients, family and care providers alike on the same page, sharing the same information and working as a team. The platform’s analytics and AI empower providers to make data-driven decisions. Careteam Technologies’ next steps include closing their first health care provider deals in the U.S., and they are hiring across departments, including marketing, sales, product and engineering. 

“Everyone loves a great story,” said Amy Stapleton, CEO and co-founder of Chatables, while highlighting the company’s signature offering, Storyteller Café. Designed to combat loneliness and isolation in seniors, Storyteller Café includes interactive voice technology that is integrated with Amazon Alexa. It features four virtual friends who engage seniors in fun conversations about topics ranging from history to celebrities, as well as interactive adventures. Stapleton said that Chatables is seeking opportunities for pilot studies and partnerships with senior living facilities. 

iGuard Home Solutions provides seniors who are aging in place with a cost-efficient solution for preventing fires before they start. CEO Ken Deering highlighted the role that cognitive memory issues play in causing these fires, and he showcased how the iGuardStove uses proximity detectors to shut stoves off when it detects no motion in the kitchen for several minutes — all without using cameras that could compromise seniors’ privacy. Deering outlined the company’s next steps into 2023: completing a series A fundraising round, developing a second-generation device, and looking for home care providers and affordable living communities to partner with. 

Robert Felgar, co-owner and CEO of RAZ Mobility, highlighted the company’s flagship offerings: the RAZ Memory cell phone and the RAZ Care app. The phone is designed for seniors with cognitive decline and is ultra-simple to use: There are no apps or settings, just a single screen with photos and associated names. Seniors need only tap a photo to initiate a call with that loved one. But the app allows caregivers, no matter where they’re located, to administer the phone by blocking scammers, getting low-battery notifications, and more. RAZ Mobility is currently seeking new sales channels and looking to partner with home care companies and assisted-living facilities. 

Co-founder and CEO Chrissy Glover shared how her startup, Imago Rehab, focuses on helping stroke survivors recover the use of their hands through a device-assisted virtual clinic. After a virtual meeting with an occupational therapist, clients receive a robotic glove that facilitates daily, high-repetition hand rehabilitation exercises at home to achieve a level of recovery not often attainable in typical clinical settings. Glover said the next phase for Imago Rehab is to identify opportunities for pilot programs, forming partnerships, and working with testbeds to fine-tune their solutions to ensure they are meeting stroke survivors’ needs. 

Manifest co-founder Anuraag Tripathi noted that Americans, on average, have three retirement accounts from previous jobs that they largely neglect. Manifest does the heavy lifting on behalf of clients, working with employers to identify such accounts, then shepherding clients through the consolidation process, drastically cutting the time commitment required from clients. Manifest plans to identify more employers to partner with, wants to leverage their benefits to include retirement account providers, and is looking for research to include in a white paper on how retirement account consolidation affects the aging population. 

GaitBetter’s co-founder and CEO, Hilik Harari, explained how a person’s gait depends not just on motor skills, but also on cognitive resources. GaitBetter offers a VR simulation that attaches to any treadmill and provides motor-cognitive therapy by causing clients to negotiate obstacles, make decisions and sharpen their attention — all to help prevent or recover from falls. GaitBetter’s next steps include securing a series A fundraising round, launching a wellness edition of their device, and releasing a functionality that can help predict neurodegenerative diseases. They are also looking to connect with research partners, clients and investors. 

Nataly Youssef, CEO of Reclaim, showcased her company’s service helping Americans — especially those entering Medicare — save money by identifying and signing up for the healthcare insurance plans that best meet their individual needs. Their platform uses AI to analyze clients’ likely out-of-pocket expenses for the upcoming year, and uses “proactive financial advocacy” to identify and challenge possible overcharges. Reclaim looks forward to establishing strategic and investing partnerships to expand their advocacy to an additional half-million families in 2023. 

If you're interested in learning more about any of these new AgeTech Collaborative™ startups and their offerings, you can reach out to them directly. Need contact information? You can locate them in the Collaborative’s company directory.

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