While the Covid-19 pandemic has been particularly challenging for older adults living at home or in group facilities, a Valley-based software company is helping thousands of people maintain their connection to the rest of the world virtually, according to its co-founder.
“We look at Covid as an opportunity that has really made everyone realize what are the ill effects and mental health problems of social isolation, or loneliness,” said Shruti Gurudanti, the CEO and co-founder of Televëda Systems LLC. “People realize that it is important for everyone to have a social network. It's important that you have a sense of purpose and a meaning to life.”
Televëda Systems, a Phoenix-based software company, was one of nearly three dozen Valley startups, ranging from medical software companies to artificial intelligence chatbots and human resources platforms, to receive funds from the Emerge AZ fast grant, a fund coordinated by InvisionAZ, StartupAZ Foundation and Gov. Doug Ducey to provide cash to innovative startups as they weather the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of $1 million was awarded.
Televëda enables users to interact with an online community to do things like art classes, bingo or book clubs on their phone or tablets at home. Gurudanti said the platform, which went to market in 2019, was built specifically for people who are not particularly tech savvy and the team is working to make it even more accessible by streamlining the sign-in process and user experience within the application.
"My team has been really wonderful in that since Covid they've been able to really make our platform extremely accessible for a tech-shy audience," she said. "Now we have people who are across the country and engaging on the platform from the comfort of their homes rather than having to rely on a group or having to rely on the staff at their senior living community to set it up for them, they've felt empowered to do it on their own using their personal devices."
The first round of grant recipients was announced on Jan. 19 and the third, final round of recipients were named on Feb. 11. Recipients will have to file quarterly performance reports for the next year.
Grant awardees were required to have five or more employees, be in business for at least a year and be generating revenue. The grant money was specifically for emerging technology companies designed to address the challenges caused (or exacerbated) by the pandemic.
Jack Selby, a former PayPal vice president and current chairman of InvisionsAZ, said a strong tech ecosystem boosts the rest of the economy in a written statement.
“Over the past month we have learned about the incredible innovations being developed in Arizona. These entrepreneurs and startups are creating an innovation and tech ecosystem in Arizona that will create more high quality jobs and opportunity for families.”
Brandon Clarke, co-founder and CEO of StartupAZ, this grant was about helping the next generation.
“When we first launched the EmergeAZ Fast Grant, we did not anticipate the high volume of interest we received,” he said in a written statement. “We are grateful for the opportunity to support these incredible Arizona startups and next generation of entrepreneurs.”
