The AgeTech Podcast - by TheGerontechnologist

"Housing stability is not binary." In this episode, Keren Etkin welcomes back Jake Rothstein, Founder and CEO of Upside , to discuss how his company is bridging the gap between the housing and healthcare industries. Jake shares the "story arc" of Upside - from helping his grandmother find a rental to building a national network of 33,000+ vetted apartment communities that serve...

Why should getting dressed be a 20-minute struggle? In this episode of the AgeTech Podcast, Keren Etkin sits down with Jimmy Zollo , co-founder and CEO of Joe & Bella , to explore the intersection of empathy and the fashion industry. Jimmy shares the deeply personal origin story of his brand- witnessing his grandmother’s painful daily routine- and how that led him to pivot from consumer insigh...

When Mara Perlmutter’s mother refused to wear the standard "white unattractive plastic" medical alert devices available on the market, she asked Mara to create something beautiful instead. In this episode, Keren is joined by Mara Perlmutter, founder and CEO of Trelawear, to discuss how thoughtful design can de-stigmatize aging and improve safety for women. Mara discusses her transition from over 2...

Did you know that family caregivers can get paid to care for their loved ones through Medicare, not just Medicaid? In this episode, Keren sits down with Julie Kennedy, Co-Founder and CEO of RubyWell, to discuss how her company is turning family caregivers into certified Home Health Aides11. Julie shares her personal journey caring for her best friend, which inspired her to build a solution for the...

How and why does a tech startup acquire a global franchise giant? Seth Sternberg joins the show to discuss Honor's acquisition of Home Instead and the strategy behind combining high-tech platforms with high-touch care. Seth shares why he chose to leave the world of big tech to build a company that solves problems for millions of older adults. We dive deep into the operational challenges of the hom...

What makes a successful founder in the digital entertainment & consumer software decide to invest in the aging population? In this episode, I sit down with Ivan Yuen , founder of Elder Ventures , to explore why he views aging as one of the biggest opportunities of our time. After spending 15 years in consumer software, Ivan started Elder Ventures to bring a fresh, consumer-first lens to the Ag...

Is recording a grandmother's life story just a sentimental hobby, or is it actually a form of therapy? In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast, Keren Etkin is joined by  Beth Sanders , Founder and CEO of  LifeBio . What started in a backyard "grandma suite" with a tape recorder has evolved into an AI-powered platform used by major healthcare organizations to deliver person-centered care. Beth share...

What happens when an AgeTech founder crosses over into one of the largest home care networks in the world? In this episode, Bailey Paxton from Right at Home shares what he’s learning inside their 600-location franchise system - and what founders need to know if they want to sell into home care or raise funding from their new venture arm. We talk about the real operational pain points, how preferre...

We talk a lot about living longer - but what if we’re missing the real goal? In this inspiring conversation, gerontologist and author Dr. Kerry Burnight joins Keren Etkin on The AgeTech Podcast to explore the science of JoySpan - how to not only extend your lifespan and healthspan, but your joyspan . Dr. Burnight shares her “JoySpan Matrix” - four powerful daily practices that help us grow, connec...

What happens when a toy company decides to focus it's energies on making robotic pets for older adults? In this episode, Keren Etkin talks to Ted Fischer, co-founder and CEO of Ageless Innovation - the company behind Joy for All companion pets for older adults. Ted shares how his team built robotic cats and dogs that bring comfort, connection, and joy to hundreds of thousands of older adults,...

When hedge fund manager Neal Shah became a full-time caregiver for his wife and grandfather, he saw firsthand how broken the care system really was. So he left Wall Street to build CareYaya - one of the fastest-growing AgeTech startups in the U.S. - connecting families with compassionate student caregivers and reshaping how America thinks about care. In this episode, Neal joins host Keren Etkin to...

What if retirement was just the halfway point of your life? In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast, Keren Etkin sits down with Dr. Ira Sobel, founder of the Longevity Academy, to explore how we can prepare - financially and otherwise - for a 100-year life. They discuss why traditional financial planning no longer fits today’s longer lifespans, the rise of “Chief Longevity Officers,” and how organi...

In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast , we explore a side of the 50+ demographic that most startup founders overlook: their content consumption habits. From TikTok to YouTube, older adults are more active and more influential online than you might think. Tune in as Jeff Weiss and I unpack what this means for AgeTech startups, why it’s time to rethink your content strategy, and how to reach the pe...

Japan is the world’s oldest society - and one of the toughest, yet most rewarding markets for AgeTech founders to enter. In this episode, Keren Etkin talks with Dominic Carter, CEO of Carter JMRN, about what makes Japan unique: from cultural attitudes toward aging and technology to the critical role of trust, language, and local partnerships. Discover what AgeTech founders can learn from Japan’s “...

What happens when an everyday frustration sparks a breakthrough? Dhaval Patel, founder of Lotus and former Apple engineer, shares how a late-night struggle with the light switch led him to create a wearable ring that gives people with mobility challenges new independence. In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast , Dhaval and I talk about: Why users call the Lotus ring a superpower The surprising way...

Tracy Chadwell has seen the AgeTech ecosystem evolve from it's infancy - as the founding partner of 1843 Capital, one of the earliest funds focused on the intersection of aging and innovation. In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast , we talk about: The shift from strictly AgeTech to AgeTech AND Longevity investing Why startups keep missing product-market fit in this space The myth of “older adults...

Why is Canada’s AgeTech ecosystem at a turning point - and what’s next? In this episode, Dr. Alex Mihailidis, Founding Scientific Director of AgeWell, joins Keren to reflect on 15 years of building AgeTech infrastructure, supporting startup founders, and driving real-world innovation. They discuss what happens when government support disappears, how Canada’s new Innovation Studio is opening doors...

What if retirement didn’t mean slowing down—but starting something new? In this episode, Neeraj Sagar, founder of Wisdom Circle, shares how his startup is helping older adults find purpose-driven work after retirement. We talk about ageism in hiring, designing jobs for the wisdom generation, and why experienced professionals are an untapped goldmine of talent. If you’re building in the AgeTech spa...

AI is everywhere - but can it truly solve senior living’s toughest challenges? In this episode, Steve Moran, founder of Senior Living Foresight , shares his insights on where technology is making a real difference, where it’s falling short, and the big gaps innovators should be tackling next. We cover everything from AI adoption and fall prevention to the importance of human connection, workplace...

What if your tech tutor texted you back like a grandkid would? In this episode, Keren Etkin talks with Stefano Selorio , founder of Carevocacy and creator of Apo AI - an SMS-based, AI-powered tech tutor that’s reshaping how older adults learn to use technology. Stefano shares his personal journey as a caregiver, how he scaled a service into a startup, why SMS beats apps for digital literacy, and w...

Matt Cooley, founder of My AgeTech Lab, joins the AgeTech Podcast to share how he’s tackling one of the ecosystem’s toughest challenges - product discovery and distribution. From curated, hands-on lab experiences in New Jersey to platforming services for startups, Matt is creating new ways for older adults and caregivers to try AgeTech solutions before they buy. We talk about why so many AgeTech s...

What if a simple timer or an iPad could save you from burnout? In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast , caregiver advocate Elizabeth Miller from Happy Healthy Caregiver shares the practical, everyday tech tools that helped her survive- and thrive- while caring for aging parents. From low-tech hacks to mindset shifts, Elizabeth reveals how caregivers can use technology to reduce stress, stay connec...

In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast , I sit down with Lyne Landry of AgeTech Capital to explore how investing in our longer lives is evolving - from AI-powered care solutions to financial wellbeing tools for older adults. We dive into AgeTech Capital’s dual model of venture investing and their partnership with AARP to close the seed-stage funding gap. You’ll hear about: The biggest unmet needs...

What if your iPhone or Alexa could turn into a life-changing tool for an aging loved one-without buying anything new? In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast , I’m joined by Frank Engelman from Frank’s Easy Tech Corner. A retired Intel engineer turned tech educator, Frank shares his DIY approach to transforming off-the-shelf devices - like iPhones, Alexa, and Apple Watches - into powerful accessibi...

What happens when entrepreneurs move into senior living communities to co-create the future of aging? In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast , I sit down with Mike Hughes and Linda Dailey from United Church Homes to explore their groundbreaking Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program - a bold initiative that’s not only helping entrepreneurs validate their ideas but also advancing innovation across...