Meet the Startup Empowering Older Adults to Get Online

Forbes reports that the Candoo Tech startup was founded by tech entrepreneur Liz Hamburg to help older Americans overcome tech accessibility frustrations so they can continue to live independently, safely, and connected. Customers are matched with "Tech Concierges" who work with geriatric experts, audiologists, vision impairment specialists, and enrichment specialists for specific training beyond simple technical support. Candoo Tech's customers range from individuals to larger organizations, including geriatric care managers, senior living communities, area offices on aging, and social service groups. Customer-Concierge interaction was intended to be face-to-face, but the pandemic has moved such engagement online. However, this remote model has allowed Candoo Tech's customer base to expand 940 percent from 2019 to 2020 to thousands of users today. The company's longer-term plans include partnering with healthcare providers who need last-mile support to reach senior patients. Hamburg also envisions using the data collected by the company to provide feedback to tech manufacturers on how to better design their products for older users.