Announcing the AgeTech NYC Living Lab

Author

Sarah Richard
September 20, 2024

In July, I wrote about the concept of a Living Lab. In August, I interviewed Sheri Rose at the Thrive Center, to learn about her living lab. Today, I’m thrilled to announce the first AgeTech NYC Living Lab.

Read on to learn about the Living Lab!

P.S. - If you’re looking for customer research with an older adult population, you may be interested in CABHI’s Leap program. They’re kindly gifting our living lab with focus groups, and I’ve been really impressed. Reply to this email if you’d like to learn more!

AgeTech NYC Living Lab

As a brief refresher, a living lab is an accelerator designed to support innovators in developing and testing new technologies “in the wild.” A living lab goes beyond traditional mentoring, offering a real-world testing ground to incubate and refine innovative solutions. Participants engage with end-users, experts, and communities to gather insights, refine products, and accelerate go-to-market strategies.

Meet the cohort

Our first cohort brings together 4 early stage AgeTech entrepreneurs (and their teams!). These innovative companies are working on solutions ranging from digital health platforms to social engagement tools for older adults.

Jeff McSpadden is building Composure. Sound Blanket™ by Composure is a research-backed, digital audio solution that improves sleep quality for older adults living with dementia. Designed for long term care settings, Sound Blanket™ uses networked speakers to deliver curated sound sequences that support the entire sleep cycle - from cuing bedtime, to providing a calming environment to fall asleep in, and covering distracting environmental noises through the night - on an individualized basis, without requiring care staff's time or attention.

Katie Joseff and Patrick Deegan are building TeddyBot, a voice-based conversational AI companion designed to enhance well-being and connection for older adults by transforming everyday objects into easy-to-use, personalized companions. Its Insight Dashboard offers families and caregivers valuable well-being data through sentiment and activity analysis.

Ivan Wicksteed is building Eve, a friendly AI companion for people who live alone and want someone to chat with. You talk to her on an ‘old school’ rotary phone, just like the ones you grew up with. She is available 24/7 to talk about whatever is on your mind. She also likes to play word games, talk about recipes, and reminisce about your life. The more you talk with Eve, the more your relationship grows, just like a friendship would. 

Sarah Richard is building the compliance copilot for senior living operators that will help change the risk profile of caregiving.

Meet the advisors

The cohort will benefit from the guidance of an incredible group of informal advisors, including:

  • Abby Miller Levy (Primetime Partners) – Venture capital investor focused on innovations that improve healthspan and wealthspan.

  • Dr. Alex Aksanov (Stay Active PT) – Expert in integrating digital health and MSK care for aging populations.

  • Anagha Kumar (Icahn School of Medicine) – Passionate about geriatric care and home healthcare innovations.

  • Bianca Stern, MSc. OT (Centre for Aging & Brain Health Innovation) – Specialist in innovation cultures and healthcare technology.

  • Brian Geyser (Maplewood Senior Living / Inspīr) – Focused on innovation and tech deployment in senior living.

  • David Dring (NYC Department for the Aging) – A change management leader with deep experience in community care.

  • MC Razaire (Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures) – Corporate venture capitalist investing nationally in early stage fintech, insurtech, wealthtech and digital health opportunities.

  • Rachel Curry, MPH (Pearl Health) – Specializing in women’s health, aging, and public health.

  • Serena Lipton, MMH, CSHIP (NIC) – Senior living real estate and operations expert.

  • Stephen Farber, JD, MBA (HealthHive) – Advocate for integrating health and social care management for older adults.

  • Susan Black (Wowzitude) – Strategy and partnerships expert in AgeTech marketing and community engagement.

  • Yaakov Stern, PhD (Columbia University) – A neuropsychology expert focused on cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s research.

Several of our advisors spoke on a panel on the future of AgeTech last week, very kindly hosted by Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures. We heard from ​David Dring (NYC Aging); Dr. Yaakov Stern, PhD (Columbia University Irving Medical Center); Brian Geyser (Maplewood Senior Living / Inspīr); and MC Razaire (Northwestern Mutual Future Ventures).

Learn about the Living Lab

The 6-week program will focus on key areas such as customer research, sales to senior living, go-to-market strategies, grant writing, and fundraising. Participants will benefit from weekly expert-led sessions:

  • Customer Research with Bianca Stern

  • Selling to Senior Living with Brian Geyser

  • Grant Writing with David Dring

  • Go-To-Market Strategies with Dr. Alex Aksanov

  • Fundraising with Abby Levy

Thanks to the generosity of our AgeTech NYC community, participants will have access to a variety of resources: coworking space (kindly sponsored by Civic Hall in Union Square); focus groups (kindly sponsored by Senior Planet and CABHI Leap); and other resources to further refine and validate their solutions.

Join us!

We are thrilled to foster innovation in the AgeTech sector with the support of such an incredible lineup of advisors, participants, and community partners. If you're interested in learning more or to express interest in future cohorts (supporting or joining), please email [email protected].

Together, let’s drive the future of aging and technology!

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