AgeTech Collaborative Black History Month Startup Feature

As we celebrate Black History Month, our focus turns to the remarkable Black-led startups within the AgeTech Collaborative? from AARP community. This month is a powerful reminder to honor the profound contributions that Black innovators have made to both our society and industries across the board.

Currently, there is a growing recognition of the Black experience and a concerted effort to commemorate the historical and present contributions of Black leaders. In the realms of entrepreneurship and technology, this recognition is manifesting through an increased number of Black-led venture funds and a heightened emphasis on providing resources to Black entrepreneurs. The narrative is indeed changing, reflecting a broader commitment to progress and equity.

Reflecting on the words of Maya Angelou, "In diversity there is beauty and there is strength," we are reminded of the immense value that Black innovators bring to the table. Their ventures are not just businesses; they are beacons of innovation, diversity, and resilience that benefit our entire society.

Throughout this month, we will be showcasing these groundbreaking startups. It's more than just acknowledgment; it's a celebration of the diverse perspectives and innovative solutions that these teams bring to the AgeTech sector.

We will be updating this series of interviews in the coming weeks. Join us in this journey of celebration and discovery, as we share the stories of these visionary Black-led startups during Black History Month.

Carlisha Gentles, PharmD, BCPS, CDCES: Co-Founder, Salveo Innovations

Salveo Innovations, LLC, is a health tech company based in Southeast DC, dedicated to building patient-centered solutions that improve health literacy and reduce barriers to accessing important health information. Our flagship product, Tyrone, is an mhealth application designed to empower patients with critical health information using AI and adaptive language technology.

Briefly, who or what inspired you to start your business?

Our inspiration to start our business stemmed from personal, lived experiences, professional observations, and a deep desire to address the challenges faced by our community members, particularly older adults. Growing up in rural and urban areas of the South, we witnessed systemic racism in both education and healthcare. Kesha's grandmother's distrust of healthcare, stemming from the Tuskegee experiment having been born and raised in Alabama, was particularly influential. These experiences aligned with an amazing opportunity to dream big with initial funding from John Hopkins University Medicine - Ward Infinity Program led to the creation of Tyrone. In the Ward Infinity program, we were able to utilize a human-design centered approach to conduct field testing (including focus groups and one-on-one interviews) in the Ward 8 community of Washington, D.C. This community is 99% African American and reflects many of the national indicators often negatively impacting black people around the United States such as transportation/infrastructure challenges, lack of access to healthy food (Ward 8 is a food desert, lack of access to maternal and primary care in general), low literacy, high obesity among other challenges led to the creation of Tyrone. The resounding want and need for a solution like Tyrone was very loud and clear, giving us the confirmation to push full speed ahead. We envision a world where everyone, regardless of background, has access to effective healthcare communication and tools. One where no one has barriers to accessing health information needed to make critical decisions regarding their health and that of their loved ones. Our passion for empowering older adults and addressing healthcare disparities drives Tyrone's development, aiming to give individuals and families a greater sense of agency and control over their health.

Can you share some standout successes your startup has experienced recently?

Salveo Innovations has recently achieved significant milestones, showcasing its impact in the AgeTech sector. Our innovative technology, exemplified by Tyrone's user-friendly interface and advanced algorithms, will revolutionize seniors' health management. Collaborations with renowned healthcare institutions have expanded our reach and enhanced our offerings. Moreover, our groundbreaking approach has earned us numerous awards and accolades, including recognition in the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge, selection in the Top 10 for the Pink and Black Honors competition as well as being highlighted as a semi-finalist in Hitlab’s Breakthrough Alliance Fall 2023 Innovators Challenge... Forming key partnerships with organizations like the WNBA NY Liberty Team, Walmart, and Community of Hope further highlights our recent achievements, helping to solidify our position as a rising industry leader. Additionally, our inclusion in the AARP AgeTech Collaborative underscores our commitment to driving positive change in the lives of older adults.

What future developments in the AgeTech sector particularly inspire you as a Black founder?

As Black founders in the AgeTech sector, we find inspiration in the potential for technology to bridge healthcare disparities and empower underrepresented communities. We envision a future where AgeTech solutions are designed with diverse needs and perspectives in mind, ensuring that no one is left behind. Advanced data analytics can personalize care plans, leading to more effective interventions and improved outcomes. AgeTech innovations prioritizing affordability make cutting-edge solutions accessible to all demographics. At Salveo, we firmly believe that if we design for the margin, everyone will benefit.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the transformation of our industry over the next decade?

Looking ahead, we anticipate a seamless integration of technology, healthcare providers, and caregiving networks, enhancing care delivery through interconnected ecosystems. Furthermore, AgeTech solutions will not only focus on physical health but also on cognitive and emotional well-being, promoting holistic wellness among older adults. We foresee seniors having greater control over their health decisions, fostering a sense of independence and dignity through empowerment and autonomy.

In what ways does your cultural identity play a role in your entrepreneurial journey and vision?

Our cultural identity as Black founders significantly influences our entrepreneurial journey and vision. Drawing strength from our heritage, we use it as a lens to identify unmet needs and create solutions that resonate with diverse communities. Our unique perspective and lived experiences enable us to develop solutions that deeply resonate with marginalized communities, fueling our passion for social impact. Cultural sensitivity informs our approach to business, prioritizing inclusivity, equity, and an essential component of community engagement. We ensure our solutions are accessible and relevant to diverse demographics, centering the voices of those most affected by inequities. Ultimately, our cultural identity guides us to challenge the status quo, advocate for change, and create a more equitable future. And as a Black female founder, we feel compelled to share the following tips that have helped and continue to help us along our journey:

1. Take your time, but hurry. Time is of the essence but going fast without focusing on your offering, value proposition and the community you are designing for will lead to more challenges down the line. Building agile systems will be an asset in the short, near, and long term.

2. Listen deeply and trust your instincts. It can be incredibly difficult to walk away from funding considering the current landscape for entrepreneurs and especially considering the challenges we as women and minority founders face. However, remember that ‘No’ is a complete sentence. We’ve encountered many predatory programs and lending vehicles that have been incredibly discouraging. Hold steady to your integrity, use the experience to learn/gain additional insight, and walk away when things don’t feel right.

3. Finally, embrace partnerships and seek counsel. Not everyone will get your vision but work hard to build a team of support grounded in authentic and trusting relationships. One of the things that all entrepreneurs must do is learn how to cede power and trust the gifts of your team. Our success is very much a team effort and we’re incredibly grateful to our team. They’ve been with us from the beginning helping us to build systems, partnerships and plan long-term. So, we’d advise any founder to identify your key experts, trust the talents and expertise they bring to the table, and then get out of their way.

Tanya Perkins: COO, Tembo Health

Tembo Health helps those living with dementia and their families get the care and support they deserve.

Briefly, who or what inspired you to start your business?

I decided to help bootstrap Tembo because the things we do today and the technology we build have the potential to help equalize access to healthcare. When I jumped in full-time back in 2019, telemedicine was still a growing concept, and most of my friends were skeptical of us focusing on seniors, let alone on skilled nursing facilities in rural areas. But I knew we were doing big things by focusing on where the need was greatest. Today, as we focus on dementia care with the hope of helping those with dementia stay at home as long as possible, we know we can make a big difference for families of all economic levels.

Can you share some standout successes your startup has experienced recently?

When we first decided to launch dementia care services for those living at home, we spoke with a lot of people living with dementia and their families about what they needed and learned that we were on the right track. As we've been rolling out parts of the service over the last few months, it's been amazing to hear the positive reactions of the community and see the impact of our work.

What future developments in the AgeTech sector particularly inspire you as a Black founder?

I'm excited by the insights that our smartphones will continue to bring us and, because of the ubiquity of these devices, they may also be a big catalyst for bringing about equity in healthcare access as well as real-world research.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the transformation of our industry over the next decade?

BIG DATA! Individuals are creating so many data points that, if looked at properly, would probably give so much insight into an individual's current health, risk for future conditions, and probabilities about whether a treatment or diet is going to work. I'm excited for anyone who wants to do the handwork and make any of the "million" discoveries that will have to happen for this future to come about.

In what ways does your cultural identity play a role in your entrepreneurial journey and vision?

I want to listen to the individual and make them feel seen. I've had so many cringeworthy moments where I felt that someone wasn't listening to my health needs and instead put me in a box. Most of the time, the result is minor. But there have been those scary times when someone didn't listen to me and I ended up being misdiagnosed, given the wrong medications, and ending up a lot more ill and in discomfort than necessary. Needless to say, experiences like that are disheartening. That said, I know the value of giving someone your full attention and making them feel seen; it changes what we do on the care side and how the patient feels.

Sanna Gaspard, PhD: CEO, Rubitection

Rubitection’s AI-enabled skin health and care management system provides data-driven, reliable early detection, assessment, and care management of chronic wounds and dermatological conditions addressing a $36 billion market where manual unreliable tools make prevention difficult.

Briefly, who or what inspired you to start your business?

Improving access to care and equity in health care, health care employment

Can you share some standout successes your startup has experienced recently?

1) Presented at ACE Panama to government officials to explore partnership opportunities, 2) Selected for the Deloitte Scale Up program, 3) MedTech color pediatric finalist 2024

What future developments in the AgeTech sector particularly inspire you as a Black founder?

Equitable access to health providers, services, and technology including AI, med devices, and remote monitoring

Looking ahead, how do you envision the transformation of our industry over the next decade?

I think AI will revolutionize healthcare access, quality, and treatment effectiveness through remote monitoring and big data analytics

In what ways does your cultural identity play a role in your entrepreneurial journey and vision?

As a black female immigrant founder, I am dedicated to making sure my solution gets to the global market where it can help improve care for all patients, especially for people of color where skin color masks diagnostic indicators.

Alyse Dunn: Founder and CEO, CareCopilot

CareCopilot takes the stress out of caring for aging loved ones by providing families with local caregiving experts who help interview in-home care aides, visit senior communities, and anything else associated with caring for aging loved ones.

Briefly, who or what inspired you to start your business?

My sister and I took care of both of our aging parents, one right after the other, for a total of 8 years before they both passed away. In the course of those 8 years, we never found anything that helped us in our caregiving journey in any substantive way. So, I started CareCopilot to ensure that other people caring for their aging loved ones have an easier time at it than we did.

Can you share some standout successes your startup has experienced recently?

CareCopilot has been fortunate enough to have received various awards, investments, and news spotlights in the last several months, but we consider our biggest successes to be the wins that we achieve for our clients. Quote from one client: "Care Copilot was such a help! I really don’t know what I would have done when we needed help and I really didn’t know where to turn. What you’re building is absolutely necessary."

What future developments in the AgeTech sector particularly inspire you as a Black founder?

I'm certainly biased given what we do at CareCopilot, but I get particularly excited about comprehensive AgeTech solutions that help with multiple challenges associated with caring for aging loved ones. Today, we have lots of great 'point solutions'. A Place for Mom helps families find the right senior community. Care.com helps families connect with great in-home care aides. The list goes on. Unfortunately, we don't have a lot of great solutions that are comprehensive and help families with more than one challenge as a sort of 'one-stop-shop' experience. That's exactly what we do at CareCopilot, but honestly, I'd love to see more competition. Millions of families need that comprehensive help. Particularly families of color who have to do an extra level of filtering when looking for options, i.e. an eldercare attorney who speaks Spanish, or a senior community that's Black-friendly. I do see a few comprehensive solutions popping up, though, which definitely inspires me.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the transformation of our industry over the next decade?

Over the next decade, I envision that solutions for seniors and their families will become:

- More culturally competent. Families will become more and more diverse in the next decade. My prediction is that only solutions that lean into this and ensure that families of color have the resources that we need will succeed.

- More personalized. We're moving into an era where very little is 'off the shelf' and unpersonalized now. We can get diet plans that are customized for our age and body type. We can get hair products customized for our lifestyle and hair type. I definitely see the AgeTech industry leaning into that same personalization in the next decade.

In what ways does your cultural identity play a role in your entrepreneurial journey and vision?

Being a Black, female entrepreneur can certainly make the entrepreneurial journey more challenging. Bias puts me in a position where I have to go above and beyond to prove myself to investors, partners, and others. That said, when it comes to working with actual clients/families, I consider my cultural identity a superpower, especially in a diverse city like New York City, where CareCopilot is headquartered. Being Black helps me ask the questions that individuals with different cultural identities might not know to ask. I know to ask a family about their immigration status so that I can connect them with special resources for immigrants that they might not know about. I know to ask a family about the religious background of their aging loved one, so that I can connect them with in-home care aides who can support them in their religious practice. These are the 'small' things that can make the final years of an aging senior's life comfortable. These are the small things that my cultural identity helps me keep in mind for every family that I support through CareCopilot.

David Charlot: CEO, AuraSense? Tech Corporation

Today, neurology assessments require over 5 hours of care providers' time to collect data from patients for adequate decision-making. AuraSense?'s breakthrough solution, HapticsHealth?, streamlines the data capture into a single, 10-minute exercise, giving neurologists quantitative insights and precious time to deliver accurate diagnoses and treatment.

Briefly, who or what inspired you to start your business?

I've spent many years working as a robotics automation engineer in the healthcare space making rapid diagnostic tests and compound testing tools for novel drug discovery targeting cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological disease. During the pandemic, I learned of challenges related to my young child's neurological health. Navigating our local and regional health systems, I saw firsthand the challenge many people face in getting access to a specialist and that, when seen, there isn't a lot of time to get adequately measured to have an appropriate diagnosis. Clinical providers just don't have the time. It's even worse if you have a complicated case, like my child. This experience drove me to create AuraSense to help give neurology-focused clinical providers the time they need to accurately diagnose and treat their patients. I'm no medical doctor, but I am an experienced toolmaker. Seeing the challenges of being able to easily capture useful data was my inspiration to help address this critical issue.

Can you share some standout successes your startup has experienced recently?

Raising capital is hard, securing IP is hard, getting a customer willing to try your solution is hard, and most of all, understanding the market forces that cause healthcare delivery challenges is hard. We've had some recent wins on these 4 fronts that are helping us continue to de-risk our company. We have 2 upcoming validation studies that will allow us to demonstrate the benefit of using our data capture solution for remote patient monitoring of treatment efficacy in multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic stroke.

What future developments in the AgeTech sector particularly inspire you as a Black founder?

A major development in AgeTech that is super inspiring to me as a Black Founder is finally the recognition of inclusion and usage of quantitative data for decision-making. As a scientist, I know that genetic and phenotypic expression does not recognize age, ethnicity, culture, or skin tone. Unfortunately, there still exists in medical textbooks completely wrong logic about disease burden, symptoms, and presentation that relies on bad cultural beliefs. With inclusion, we can finally break these false beliefs and begin to have non-biased, data-driven decision-making. A bright future for wellness and health as we use bias-free, data-driven decision-making. It has already been demonstrated to work in other industries.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the transformation of our industry over the next decade?

I envision system thinking becoming the norm to focus on health and wellness as a vital component of all other measures of a person's life. This systems thinking can help us create appropriate infrastructure and lifestyles that integrate health and wellness from the cradle to positively influence outcomes as a person ages. It is all related. Purposefully acting accordingly will lead to better outcomes.

In what ways does your cultural identity play a role in your entrepreneurial journey and vision?

I grew up as a military brat with a Haitian / Southern Black American culture. Because of my parent's job, the biggest thing I remember being taught is that we should treat one another's health as wealth for the benefit of the nation. As a child of a military service member in, the US Air Force, I learned about the world from the lens of living "on base." Fun activities at the youth center, exercising at the base gym, and receiving medical care at the base hospital were my world. It was only after graduating from college and going to "off-base" hospitals that I learned that the type of care I received was based on my skin tone and what type of insurance I had. This is not right. Skin tone nor economic status should have a bearing on the type of care a person should receive. I believe only a healthy nation can do great things, and we should all be healthy and given the chance to be healthy if we are unwell. These varied off-base hospital experiences got me to pursue biomedical engineering and novel health technology development. I know that technology can help remove implicit bias and other barriers hindering access to care.

Daphney Vick: Founder & CEO, Carefluent, Inc.

Carefluent fosters tech-enabled connections, curating culturally and socially compatible matches to empower lives and elevate well-being of both care recipients and caregivers.

Briefly, who or what inspired you to start your business?

The inspiration behind founding Carefluent was deeply personal, stemming from my family's experiences with my father's battle with Lewy Body Dementia. As a culturally rich, multilingual family from the Caribbean living across different states, we faced significant challenges in finding a caregiver for my parents. Despite exploring various avenues, including online marketplaces and traditional home health agencies, we consistently encountered obstacles in finding a caregiver who could meet our specific needs and make our family feel at ease. This journey highlighted a glaring gap in the caregiving market for families like ours, which motivated me to start Carefluent. Our mission is to ensure that no other family has to go through the same struggles we did by providing a platform that matches families with caregivers who are not only skilled but also culturally, socially, and linguistically compatible.

Can you share some standout successes your startup has experienced recently?

A recent highlight for our startup was being selected as one of only 10 startups for the Techstars 2023 Future of Longevity Accelerator program. This recognition not only validated our mission but also fast-tracked our growth by connecting us with an invaluable network and deepening our insights into the venture capital landscape. Additionally, our involvement with the AgeTech Collaborative by AARP has been equally transformative. It has opened doors to strategic partnerships and provided us with the opportunity to showcase our solutions at the prestigious HLTH conference. These experiences are now translating into solid collaborations on grants and boosting our customer acquisition efforts.

What future developments in the AgeTech sector particularly inspire you as a Black founder?

As a Black founder in the AgeTech sector, I'm particularly inspired by the potential for inclusive technology solutions that address the unique needs of diverse aging populations. The growing emphasis on culturally sensitive technologies and services is a significant development, offering the promise of more equitable access to care and support for older adults from various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Another inspiring development is the increasing focus on bridging the digital divide among the elderly, particularly in underserved communities. Initiatives aimed at enhancing digital literacy and access among older adults of color can significantly improve their quality of life and independence, leveraging technology to combat isolation, improve access to healthcare, and foster community engagement. The prospect of leveraging AgeTech to not only extend life but enhance its quality in a way that respects and celebrates diversity fills me with hope. It underscores the potential for technology to serve as a powerful tool for social change, ensuring that the benefits of innovation reach all corners of our society, including the most marginalized among us.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the transformation of our industry over the next decade?

Over the next decade, the technology industry will undergo a transformative shift towards creating solutions that are not only advanced and customizable but also deeply personalized, and inclusive across cultural, social, and linguistic lines. This evolution will be driven by the growing expectations of digital natives for transparency and convenience, alongside a significant focus on AI and machine learning to offer unprecedented personalization based on individual preferences. Moreover, a deliberate shift towards cultural and social inclusivity, linguistic responsiveness, and enhanced accessibility will ensure that technology reflects the diversity of the global population, dismantling communication barriers, and extending access to everyone, including those with disabilities and the elderly, making technology a more inclusive domain. I think we're steering towards a future where technology transcends its role as a disruptor, evolving instead to serve primarily as a mechanism for connection, knitting together the diverse strands of society into a more cohesive and inclusive whole.

In what ways does your cultural identity play a role in your entrepreneurial journey and vision?

My cultural background plays a huge role in my journey and vision as an entrepreneur, acting like a guiding light and a solid foundation. It brings a unique flavor to the way I approach innovation, using ideas and traditions from my heritage to come up with solutions. This background also lays down a strong ethical base for how I run my business, focusing on respect, integrity, and looking out for the community, which helps build trust and lasting relationships. It's made me really focus on making my business inclusive and accessible, ensuring what I offer is for everyone and reflects the diversity of society. Plus, seeing things through a cultural lens gives me a global perspective and forces me to think about the broader impact of my company. In short, my cultural identity isn't just a background story; it actively shapes my decisions, influences my business values, and guides me towards a future where success is about making a real difference in the diverse world we live in.

Laura Okafor: CEO & Founder, perry

perry: Your go-to perimenopause platform for community support and evidence-based education.

Briefly, who or what inspired you to start your business?

The inspiration to start my perimenopause platform business came from a blend of family experiences navigating this transitional phase and the desire to create a supportive community for women facing similar challenges. Additionally, witnessing the lack of easily accessible resources and information about perimenopause spurred me to take action and fill that gap.

Can you share some standout successes your startup has experienced recently?

Our perimenopause platform experienced remarkable successes, with notable increases in user engagement and membership growth. We're also thrilled to have received recognition from prestigious publications like Oprah Daily, labeling us the "perimenopause powerhouse" in the industry. Additionally, we secured partnerships with renowned health experts to provide exclusive content and resources, further enhancing the value we offer to our community.

What future developments in the AgeTech sector particularly inspire you as a Black founder?

While I'm encouraged by the growing attention to diversity and inclusion, it's clear that much more needs to be done. We must address systemic barriers and biases that limit access to healthcare solutions for marginalized communities. Especially in the menopause field, which is until now a pretty elitist conversation. It's imperative that future developments prioritize not just representation, but also actively work to dismantle inequalities in aging-related technologies and services.

Looking ahead, how do you envision the transformation of our industry over the next decade?

I envision a profound transformation in our industry over the next decade, characterized by unprecedented advancements in technology and a greater emphasis on personalized, holistic approaches to healthcare. We'll likely see the widespread integration of artificial intelligence, wearable devices, and telemedicine, empowering individuals to take proactive control of their health and well-being. Moreover, there will be a shift towards more inclusive and equitable practices, ensuring that healthcare innovations benefit all individuals, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. The democratization of healthcare will become increasingly prevalent, as technology enables greater access to information, resources, and services, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for communities worldwide.

In what ways does your cultural identity play a role in your entrepreneurial journey and vision?

My cultural identity is a cornerstone of my entrepreneurial journey and vision, imbuing it with a unique perspective and a critical lens on the status quo. It serves as a constant reminder of the systemic inequities and barriers faced by marginalized communities within the entrepreneurial landscape. This awareness fuels my commitment to challenging existing norms and actively working towards creating a more inclusive and equitable environment. Additionally, my cultural background serves as a wellspring of innovation, inspiring me to develop solutions that not only address market needs but also prioritize the advancement and empowerment of underrepresented groups.