Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News:
Enthusiasm and ingenious inventions at the NYC Aging2.0 Global Startup Pitch Event
Perhaps, like me, you’ve heard of Aging2.0 but hadn’t had the opportunity to attend one of their events. When I discovered that they were holding a pitch session a subway ride away from my home, I jumped at the chance to be there. I was curious to see if any of the startups were promoting products to benefit elders in long-term care.
Here’s what I learned:
What’s Aging2.0?
According to their website, “Aging2.0 is a global innovation network on a mission to accelerate innovation to improve the lives of older adults around the world.” Moving beyond the development of medical products for seniors, Aging2.0 seeks to facilitate collaborations between senior care providers and entrepreneurs to create products and services that can be integrated into their businesses.
The scene
The event was held at the modern, tech-oriented community space of SeniorPlanet.org in Manhattan. (The tagline for SeniorPlanet.org is “Aging with Attitude.” One of their recent articles is titled, “Is it time for #OscarsSoYoung?”)
The large, windowed, ground floor room on West 25th Street was filled with the animated clamor of innovators munching on crudité and discussing products to better the lives of elders. The youngest attendees appeared to be twenty-somethings and the oldest participant was octogenarian and aging activist Muriel Beach, Chief Elder Officer and a judge for the event.
The format
Each inventor had several minutes to pitch their product and take questions from the four judges, who also included the CEO of 1-800-Wheelchair Joseph Piekarski, HealthTech Angel Investor Sacha Levy, and AARP’s Director of Market Innovation Jeffrey Makowka.
Aging2.0’s host Crispin Baynes kept things moving along swiftly and explained that the winner of the event would receive cash, mentorship and an international spotlight, going on to pitch at Aging2.0’s inaugural Americas Summit in Toronto on June 21, 2017.
The inventions
Nine people pitched their products, which were designed to assist elders with a wide variety of challenges.
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Enthusiasm and ingenious inventions at the NYC Aging2.0 Global Startup Pitch Event
