Delta Dental of Iowa has acquired Caregiven, a Portland startup with an app designed to help families and friends cope with post-injury, aging-in-place and end-of-life care for their loved ones.
Delta and its subsidiary Veratrus Health announced the acquisition earlier this week, saying the insurer intends to incorporate Caregiven into its product portfolio of dental, vision and legal insurance for Iowa employers and workers.
“I founded Caregiven so no other daughter would feel what I did when caring for my dad,” Caregiven founder and CEO Candice Smith said in a statement. “Being a caregiver is one of the most overwhelming, isolating and expensive experiences that we all will go through. There is both an abundance of anecdotes and advice and an absence of digital support tools to empower families to choose the path that’s right for them.”
Smith connected with Delta Dental when Caregiven participated in an insurance accelerator. Smith will continue to work over the next year with organizations that offer localized resources for Iowa caregivers.
Caregien’s app, launched in April 2021, guides people through their role in caring for a loved one, including what they need to know and when. It provides a tool to help them complete tasks, whether an advanced care plan or home modifications.
Caregiven had raised more than $500,000 last year, the majority of which was from Rogue Venture Partners. The company took home an award last year from the Technology Association of Oregon and one from the American Heart Association.
