These 3 teams represent Singapore’s new push for tech-based senior care

Teams Pillpresso and Altrue meet Access Health’s Dr. William Haseltine and NUS’ Professor Wong Poh Kam on stage to receive their awards. Photo provided by NUS Enterprise

When you think about business opportunities in tech, it’s safe to assume the elderly aren’t the first audience that comes to mind. And yet, with the median age rising in many countries throughout the world, seniors are quickly becoming a demographic that can’t be ignored. In Singapore, the median age of the population has risen from 34 in 2000 to 39.6 in 2015 according to the Singapore Department of Statistics.

So it makes sense for entrepreneurs to see how they can be of service to – and benefit from – this rising demographic, which has very specific needs. The Modern Aging program, run by the National University of Singapore’s entrepreneurship cluster, NUS Enterprise, and non-profit think tank and advisory group Access Health International, is all about getting enterprising minds to think about potential opportunities in the aging and healthcare space. Or, as Dr. William Haseltine, Access Health chairman and president put it during Friday’s event, “creating new businesses to meet new demands.”

The Modern Aging program works as a sort of accelerator for teams that want to tackle the needs of the elderly through tech, healthcare, and research with business potential. In September, 20 teams were selected through an idea submission process and started work at a bootcamp. The teams, many of which were formed for this purpose, met industry mentors and learned how to pitch their products to investors.

See: Singapore taps entrepreneurs to ensure elderly people aren’t left out of Smart Nation programSix teams emerged out of the 20, and at last night’s event, three of those teams walked away with seed investment. However, the other teams still had an opportunity to meet investors and present their work. The winners were chosen based on their idea’s value proposition, its market potential, monetization, and the team’s overall strength and entrepreneurial ability.

“The final event isn’t the end of it, it’s more the beginning,” Adrienne Mendenhall, Access Health country manager for Singapore, told Tech in Asia back when the program was first announced. “We’re not just interested in seeing 20 business plans – we want to see 20 businesses. We want them to take off.”

The winning teams

First place was shared by Altrue and Pillpresso. The two teams received seed funding to the tune of S$50,000 (US$35,800).

Altrue has created Silver Lining, a smart sensor used in adult diapers. It detects when the diaper has been soiled and alerts the patient’s caregiver. The caregiver first receives a buzz on their wearable. If there’s no reaction, an SMS is sent to their phone. Finally, they or the patient’s next of kin, or even the authorities, get a call. Quick action in this regard is key to helping prevent infections.

The Altrue team. Photo provided by NUS Enterprise

As unpleasant a thought as this might be, it’s a harsh reality for many patients who can’t take care of themselves – the team hopes this method will help improve their quality of life and restore some of their dignity in their process. The company will put the seed funding toward further research and development of the sensor, as well as marketing. It will also look to develop a version for baby diapers.

Altrue aims to release Silver Lining in 2017.

See: In Singapore, robots are now leading workouts for the elderlyPillpresso resembles a coffee machine you can find in most kitchens. But instead of sweet java, it dispenses pills. As seniors get older, the need to stick to their medication regime gets more pressing. Unfortunately, the risk of confusion increases as medication schemes grow more complex. Pillpresso’s dispenser has 10 medicine compartments. An alarm lets the patients know when it’s time to take their pills and the machine knows what pills to dispense at what time at the push of a button. Meanwhile, it talks to a mobile app that lets caregivers and relatives know that the machine has dispensed the right pills at the right times.