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 share how personal experience led to purpose, why product-led growth beats paid ads, and how empathy and AI together can transform the future of caregiving.
Perfect for founders, investors, and anyone curious about the intersection of aging, tech, and human connection.
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 organizations can adapt to an aging workforce. From gender gaps in wealth to the future of longevity education, this conversation offers a hopeful, forward-looking take on the new era of aging.
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 people who are actually watching.
🎧 Perfect for AgeTech founders, marketers, and product builders looking to connect with the real decision-makers in aging.
#AgeTech #LongevityEconomy #Startups
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 “super-aging” society, how to validate your product with Japanese users, and why the right approach can turn the world’s most mature market into your biggest growth opportunity.
For founders, innovators, and anyone curious about how technology is reshaping aging—this episode offers both insights and inspiration
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:
If you’re building in aging, caregiving, or accessibility- or just curious how small innovations can change lives—this conversation is packed with insights and inspiration.
🎧 Subscribe to The AgeTech Podcast for more conversations with the people shaping the future of aging and technology.
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 won’t pay”
What investors really want to see in early-stage startups
Exciting trends in preventive health, data, AI, and robotics
If you’re an AgeTech founder, investor, or just AgeTech-curious- this one’s for you.
🎧 Subscribe and follow for more deep dives with the people shaping the future of aging.
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 for the public and researchers, and why AgeTech has never been more urgent - or more full of opportunity.
Whether you’re a startup founder, researcher, policymaker, or just AgeTech-curious, this episode offers insight, optimism, and a front-row seat to where Canada goes from here.
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 space, thinking about life after retirement, or looking for fresh ideas about purposeful aging—this conversation is for you.
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 culture, and why families are often the “hidden” customers in senior care. Whether you’re a startup founder, an operator, or simply curious about the future of aging, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and spark new ideas.
Listen if you’re interested in:
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 what it means to build a product that becomes more than you imagined.
We also dive into his recent acceptance into the NIA Startup Challenge, and why storytelling, simplicity, and collaboration are the future of AgeTech.
Perfect for AgeTech founders, caregivers, health tech professionals, and anyone passionate about the future of aging and innovation.
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 startups struggle to reach their audience, how direct-to-consumer models can succeed in aging, and why Matt believes every community should have a local AgeTech lab.
Also available on our YouTube channel with footage from inside the lab!
https://www.youtube.com/@TheGerontechnologist
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 connected, and reclaim their well-being.
Whether you’re building AgeTech or living it, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.
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:
Whether you’re building in the space or just curious about the business of longevity, this episode is packed with actionable insights.
🎧 Subscribe so you never miss an episode!
#AgeTech #LongevityEconomy #Startups #Investing #FutureOfAging
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 accessibility tools.
We dive into:
Whether you’re a caregiver, family member, or an older adults using tech user yourself, this episode is packed with practical tips to make technology work better for you - starting today.
🎧 Tune in to learn how to turn everyday gadgets into assistive tech gold.
Link to Frank's youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Technology4Seniors
Link to Frank's blog: https://frankseasytechcorner.substack.com/
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 the entire AgeTech and senior living industries.
We talk about how the program works, lessons learned from embedding entrepreneurs in the community, and how this model could inspire the future of aging services everywhere.
Tune in to discover:
- How UCH is using human-centered design to transform aging
- Real-world stories born from the EIR experience
- Why brave leadership matters in the future of AgeTech
- How you can apply to the EIR Program
What do older adults really think about technology- and how do we know? In this episode of The AgeTech Podcast, host Keren Etkin sits down with Dr. Brittne Kakulla, Senior Insights Manager at AARP, to unpack 10 years of data from AARP’s groundbreaking tech research.
They dive into smartphone adoption, caregiving tech, smart homes, and the surprising rise of AI use among the 50+ demographic. Dr. Kakulla shares insights on designing for older adults, the importance of myth-busting in product development, and what startups often get wrong about this growing market.
If you’re an AgeTech founder, researcher, or just curious about the future of tech and aging - this episode is for you.
Resources:
Lifestages- https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/aging-experience/demographics/life-transitions/
CTA and Stylus report- https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/technology/internet-media-devices/aging-technology-agetech/
Age-friendly design app development primer - https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/health/prevention-wellness/health-app-users/
What do a robotic cat, AI companions, and statewide innovation have in common?
In this episode, Keren Etkin talks with Greg Olsen, Director of the New York State Office for the Aging, about how one Amazon purchase led to a groundbreaking statewide initiative using technology to support millions of older adults. From reducing loneliness to scaling smart public-private partnerships, Greg shares powerful lessons on how governments can embrace AgeTech to improve lives.
We also discuss:
If you’re a startup founder, policymaker, caregiver, or just curious about how tech can make aging better, this one’s for you.
Imagine cutting rehab time by a week with a robot, detecting heart failure days in advance, or helping a resident with advanced dementia sing again through VR. In this episode, Keren Etkin is joined by David Finkelstein, CIO of RiverSpring Living, to explore how his team is transforming elder care with groundbreaking technology- from AI companions to vein-finding devices and beyond.
David shares:
This episode is packed with real-world innovation, challenges, and inspiration from one of the most forward-thinking senior care organizations in the U.S.
