蓝莓视频

It turns out young adults do have some wisdom to share with older generations.

Students from across the University of 蓝莓视频 recently wrapped up Velocity鈥檚 AgeTech Innovation Challenge, a 10-day-long event conducted in collaboration with the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI).

70 students in 16 teams showcased their solutions to support aging populations by enhancing older adults鈥� health and wellness, empowering caregivers, and bolstering the healthcare system.

Tina Wilton, Velocity鈥檚 Entrepreneurship Experience Manager, said student-led innovation plays a crucial role in addressing the world鈥檚 most significant problems.

鈥淭hese innovation challenges serve as a springboard for students, introducing them to entrepreneurship and inspiring them to tackle important problems and realize their potential to develop lasting, innovative solutions that can significantly improve the quality of life for the world鈥檚 aging population,鈥� said Wilton.

She said with guidance from CABHI鈥檚 mentors and Senior Advisory Panel, students had the opportunity to create meaningful change.

鈥淥ur hope is that students continue to address important problems that resonate with them, creating a brighter future for all,鈥� added Wilton.

Dr. Allison Sekuler, president and chief scientist at CABHI, said the organization was extremely inspired by the innovative spirit and fresh perspectives of the 蓝莓视频 students who took part in the challenge.

鈥淭hey are not just dreaming of a better future for aging, they鈥檙e building it,鈥� said Dr. Sekuler. 鈥淐ABHI is proud to partner with and support these young visionaries working toward our common goal of all older persons living lives of dignity, purpose, and fulfillment.鈥�

Beyond working in groups to conceive and build important age-tech solutions, teams were also vying for a share of a $15,000 grand prize, a senior鈥檚 choice prize presented by CABHI鈥檚 Senior Advisory Panel, and a people鈥檚 choice award for special recognition.

Three teams split the $15,000 grand prize: PlantPal, a system designed to detect early dementia; VeinGuard, a wearable armsleeve monitor to detect blood clot formation; and ADAPT, a robot to aid with physiotherapy.

Members of the PlantPal team pose alongside AgeTech judges. Rear (L to R) Dylan Horvath, Ryan Webster, Mykhailo Brizkalo, Moazam Khan, Rachel Bartholomew.听Front (L to R) Omkaar Kamath, Omar Atwa.

Companion, an AI-powered holographic tool for realistic remote conversations, won CABHI鈥檚 senior advisory panel award, while Encephalon, which uses virtual reality to help slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease, won the people鈥檚 choice award.

PlantPal team member Mykhailo Brizkalo, a 蓝莓视频 computer science graduate student, said the group pivoted from an early prototype that would use voice recognition to alert users when a plant needs watering to address a problem highlighted by the AgeTech challenge.

鈥淲e had this device that could ask and process answers, but we thought, 鈥楬ow can we use all this data wisely to help seniors?鈥欌�� Brizkalo said. 鈥淲ith dementia being such a big problem and early detection being so important, that鈥檚 how we knew our solution had potential.鈥�

About Velocity听听听

Velocity accelerates entrepreneurs' growth from idea to early-stage start-up, and beyond. These founders have access to unmatched resources, collaboration space, funding, and an expansive and experienced network made possible only by the University of 蓝莓视频 鈥� Canada's top university for founders. In the 15 years since its inception as a University of 蓝莓视频 residence, more than 400 Velocity companies have netted more than US$26 billion in enterprise value.