‘I think there are those alive today who will live to be 200 years old’ – Professor Stuart Kim, Stanford University
Are you looking forward to getting old? Scientists and researchers are working hard on extending our life span, but statically the future is not so bright: from the age of 80, 20% of us will suffer from a form of dementia, 25% will suffer from vision problems, and 80% from hearing loss. There is also loneliness, considered by some researchers to be a bigger threat than obesity. More than 10% of people over 65 in the UK alone expressed loneliness, which is linked to deterioration in mental health and mobility. Considering that the number of Americans over 65 will double by 2060, according to a report by the Population Research Bureau, so this is a huge, and growing market.
Technology can play a role in supporting the elderly in retaining independence, monitor their health conditions and liver a longer, less lonely life. Much of this technology already exists and costs are going down. That said, there are many challenges in catering to this audience. One of the challenges entrepreneurs face in the elderly space is usability, as these users are not always tech savvy or early adopters. The second, major challenge is awareness of the solutions and willingness (or ability) to pay. In a special report, “New technology for old age“, The Economist argues that the barrier for adoption lies in two types of companies that can cover the costs and reap the benefits through subscription services (telcos and mobile carriers) and prevention (insurers and HMOs). Finally, there’s the privacy issue. As mentioned by the FT in “Here’s looking at you gran, the rise of elder tech“:
One of the key issues is to ensure that older people — the opposite end of the spectrum to “digital natives” who have grown up with the internet and social media — are comfortable with new forms of technology. Concerns remain, however, over whether older people will feel that the tech in their home is less there for their assistance, but more for their children to spy on them. Privacy is a concern, says Panasonic, but “once the elderly participants in the testing were familiar with the technology, many found it comforting – even saying it was like having a friend in the house with them”.
There are more than 85 startups in Israel addressing the elderly, nearly half of them are funded. Below is a selection of promising an novel Israeli startups addressing the needs of seniors.
Robots / Home Assistants – answer questions, read the news, phone relatives and control other smart devices
Intuition Robotics – creators of ElliQ, a proactive social robot that helps older adults stay active and engaged. ElliQ learns the user’s tastes, preferences and habits to make proactive suggestions for consuming appealing digital content (such as music or videos) or engaging in physical activities The company raised over $22M in venture capital funding.
UpnRide Robotics – a novel mobility device designed to enable wheelchair users to become mobile while in a standing position.
Temi – a $1,500 machine that follows its owner from room to room, placing video calls, controlling smart-home devices and other tasks.
Wearables / IOT / Smart Home – sensors, cameras, tablets/watches (Alexa, Apple Watch etc, are also in this category).
Uniper Care – 
Android-based set-top box enabling senior care facilities and hospitals to offer recorded and live community interactions, education through online classes, accessibility to caregivers via phone and video calls. The device aims to address loneliness, and connects the TV with WhatsApp groups and other social networks to enable seniors who struggle with their smartphone better communicate with their families.
Kytera – 
a remote monitoring system for seniors living at home that automatically detects emergency and distress situations as they occur. The system consists of a wristband and easy-to-install sensors, which learn the routine of the elderly user and report on deviations and emergency situations.
Orcam – 
led by Ziv Aviram, co-founder of Mobileye, Orcam develops smart glasses for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have reading or other disabilities. Orcam’s MyEye communicates visual information by utilizing a small, intuitive smart camera that is mounted on the wearer’s eyeglass frames and connects to a pocket-sized computer. Valued at over $1 billion, the company raised over $87M in venture capital funding.
Vayyar –
Originally developed for breast cancer screening, Vayyar has developed RF-based 3D imaging sensors that can monitor daily activity patterns and deteriorations, as well as monitor vital signs during sleep. The company was named a cool vendor in “Cool Vendors in the Connected Home, 2018” by Gartner.
Hip-Hope – 
a wearable designed to prevent hip fractures, designed as a fanny-pack worn around the waist. It opens airbags that absorb 90% of the impact in the event of a fall and includes remote alerts. FDA approved.
Digital health – Telehealth, medical adherence, monitor health conditions
Medisafe – 
Medisafe’s system supplies patients with tools, support, and information designed to help them take their medications correctly and make it easier to adhere to complicated medication schedules. Based in Boston and Israel, recently named “Cool Vendor in Life Sciences, 2018” by Gartner and raised $21.5m in venture funding.
Earlysense – 
The EarlySense system provides continuous touch-free monitoring of a patient’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and movement, enabling clinical teams to detect and address early signs of deterioration, including falls and pressure ulcers. EarlySense can be used by hospitals, healthcare systems, integrated delivery networks, and rehabilitation centers. Founded in 2004, Earlysense raised $106M in venture capital funding.
ContinUse Biometrics – 
based on nanotechnology that detects molecular vibration, ContinUse Biometrics sensor performs active, continuous biometrics, scanning a distance of up to several hundred meters. remote, contactless biometrics tracking. It requires no physical contact with the user and can simultaneously monitor over 20 biomedical parameters remotely, including vital signs (including blood pressure and cardiographs), auscultation of heart and lung sounds, muscle activity, and even biochemical screens. Founded in 2015, the company raised $27M in venture funding.
On demand services -While not specifically designed for the elderly, these can be life changing for many. Order cars, grocery deliveries, handymen and concierge doctors at the swipe of a smartphone.
Gett – 
taxi hailing app.
Missbeez –
order a variety of beauty services, such as manicures, pedicures, hair removal, makeup, and hair blowouts to your home at the push of a button. Founded in 2012, raised $5.2M in VC funding.
Puls – 
Same-day iPhone repair, TV mounting & smart home installation at your door
I'm a former general partner at google ventures, head of Google for Entrepreneurs in Europe and founding head of Campus London, Google's first physical hub for startups.
I'm also the founder of Techbikers, a non-profit bringing together the startup ecosystem on cycling challenges in support of Room to Read. Since inception in 2012 we've built 11 schools and 50 libraries in the developing world.
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