Today Aging2.0 announces the launch of the Aging2.0 Academy (https://www.aging2.com/academy-landing/), a new year-long program for the top startups in aging and long-term care globally. The program, which is accepting applications through October 6, 2014, provides structured support, introductions and mentorship to help companies scale into the exploding aging and long-term care markets.
Next week is Active Aging Week 2014. According to the International Council on Active Aging, there are 3000 events (all over the place) to celebrate beginning tomorrow -- there are "never more reasons to get off the couch." So now there are 43 million people age 65+ in the US. (Remember when it was 39 million, back in 2012?) Today there are many reasons for older adults to get up and get moving. Seniors are saddled with ever-lengthening life expectancies (one in four of today's 65-year-olds will live to 90! They are stuck in their awkward and costly houses, with questionable health status and a propensity to be overweight. Meanwhile, more than half of those aged 65+ rely on Social Security -- with its average payment of $1294/month -- for more than half of their income.
New, newer, and newest startups to help older adults. Typically it has made sense on this site to not discuss companies until they are in the market, in production, with customers and funding. But crowdfunding has changed that paradigm. Some startups chose to surface through crowd-sourcing campaigns, gaining visibility and ideally some funding. If all goes well, they gain some funding, credibility and even bug-fixes. And as one executive from Lively observed prior to its launch, they get feet on the street and customers. In this post, check out a few of these companies that have launched or recently moved onto media and funding notifications. As always, press releases -- with actual text! -- might help, as do notifications through Indigogo, Kickstarter or other funders. One more thing If any new, newer, or newest startups plan to be at the AARP Ideas @50+ event in San Diego in 2 weeks, let's get together!
Baby boomers and seniors age 50+ comprise an enormous cohort. But they do not represent a market segment that can be divided neatly by age. This amorphous population of 100 million people confounds innovators with widely different needs, budgets and marketing channels. But entrepreneurs can learn from prospective customers, experts from specific sub-segments and market niches, and from the learnings of those who have done well.
