ONSCREEN at AARP AgeTech After Dark 2024: A Huge Win and What It Means for Us

Hey everyone,

I've just returned from an exhilarating experience at CES 2024, and I can't wait to share the news with our ONSCREEN community.

Some of you might know that we were invited to participate in the AARP AgeTech After Dark pitch competition. It was a remarkable event, full of innovative ideas and inspiring people all working towards improving the lives of older adults. I'd first like to highlight all the pitch companies and their amazing work:

Soliddd - Developing a cure for vision loss based on macular degeneration.

MapHabit - Step by step guides to bring independence to those living with dementia.

Bairitone - Reduced cost sleep apnea analysis and solutions

Storii - Record your older loved one's life memoirs through simple scheduled and automated phone calls

But, despite amazing pitches all around, ONSCREEN clenched the top spot of this pitch competition, and with it all of the amazing benefits of being the AARP AgeTech After Dark pitch competition winner.

This moment feels like validation of the vision we've all been working towards at ONSCREEN. When I say 'we,' I mean our incredible team, our supportive families, and of course, you - our community who has believed in our mission from the start.

Unfortunately, I haven't had time to reconnect with the judges and hear from them exactly why they chose us. But I want to bring forward why I thought that ONSCREEN was an incredibly qualified company to win this award:

1. We focus on an incredibly big and important problem facing older adults -- loneliness and isolation. To put it simply, studies show that this problem costs Medicare about $7B per year and affects about 24% of the senior population. Here's another way to put it: The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared loneliness to be a pressing global health threat, with the US surgeon general saying that its mortality effects are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
   
   
2. We deliver technology solutions in a way that doesn't require any technical experience. We automate everything for the older adult, not requiring them to do a single thing to stay connected to their family and healthcare. Calls are answered automatically, and our AI companion Joy is a proactive solution that "visits" the older adult on a set schedule. We remove all technical barriers to supporting older adults with technology.
   
   
3. We are bringing AI to older adults in a really meaningful way... as a friendly, empathetic companion that's there when needed, and also proactive. We're starting to focus in on a vision where every older adult can have their on 24/7 virtual caregiver and companion, accessible through the technology they are most comfortable with, the TV. This powerful vision can bring relief to the massive caregiver shortage that our nation is facing, and bring the support that's needed as we age.
   
   
4. We're thinking about the enterprise and data. I shared with our audience that we believe we can reduce risks and improve outcomes for value-based care, and we can improve resident experiences and reduce staff burnout in senior living. This is accomplished through our evolving B2B Enterprise Management tools that keep a constant connection with the older adult, and provide the enterprise with up-to-date data on how they're doing.

But let's not forget, this is just one step in our journey. There's so much more we want to do, and this win has only added to our excitement and determination. I'm excited about the opportunity to partner with the AARP AgeTech Collaborative to further drive awareness about our solutions. I'm also very much looking forward to following up on the many conversations that were started at CES, and to realize their full potential.

I also want to give a massive thank you to the AARP AgeTech Collaborative for putting on this incredible event, and their amazing work in the space. You are the tide that lifts all boats, and the AgeTech industry and community would not be where it is without your efforts -- thank you!

And as always, we love hearing from you -- our community. Drop us a comment, send us a message, let us know what you think!

Here's to many more adventures,

Costin and the ONSCREEN Team