RICHMOND, VA – An array of startup companies and entrepreneurs gathered in Richmond last week to pitch their new and creative solutions and technological inventions in hopes of eventually being crowned the Aging2.0 2017 Global Start-up Search winner at the Optimize conference, to be held in San Francisco this fall. The winner of the Richmond event was awarded a cash prize as well as the opportunity to move forward in the international competition. OnGuardian Apps, pitched by founder Daniel Ferraz, took the top prize. OnGuardian is an app that helps family caregivers deliver care to their loved ones by streamlining the support processes, communication, access to relative information, and collaboration among the various players involved in the caregiving ecosystem.
This was the fourth pitch event hosted by the Greater Richmond Age Wave Coalition’s Business for Life Action Team, which organizes the local Aging2.0 chapter. On March 15 at Genworth Financial, seven startups pitched to an audience of about 100 investors, care providers, educators, business leaders, students and others. San Francisco-based Aging2.0 has organized the competition to showcase innovative ideas aimed at improving life for older adults. Similar pitch events are being hosted in the coming months by Aging2.0 chapters in more than 40 cities across the world.
We had a packed house full of audience members who were truly wowed by the caliber of the competitors,? said Business for Life Action Team Chair Beth Ludden, a Senior Vice President at Genworth Financial. ?It?s a strong indication of what Richmond has to offer the innovation sphere especially in this growing industry. The energy in that room was electrifying.
