Google Makes New Play at Aging Tech Startups

Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) continues to attach itself with the aging healthcare space, especially now with its new partnership with a nationally recognized startup accelerator focused on tech solutions for the elderly and long-term care.

Tuesday, Google for Entrepreneurs (GFE) announced it has partnered with Aging2.0, a startup accelerator network, to help amplify support of entrepreneurs focused on developing products for the aging population.

GFE provides financial support and Google resources to dozens of coworking spaces and community programs across 125 countries. The program also creates what it calls Campuses, which are physical hubs where entrepreneurs can learn, connect and build their companies.

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The GFE partnership supports the Aging2.0 Academy, a year-long program for top startups in aging and long-term care. In addition to structured support and strategic introductions, Academy companies now gain access to Google training, mentorship opportunities and Google products, including a $100,000 Google Cloud Platform for Startups offer.

“Aging2.0 is doing exceptional work to nurture and showcase startups in the aging space,” said Mary Grove, director of Google for Entrepreneurs. “We are excited to partner with them to cultivate this vibrant community of entrepreneurs focused on this important and often overlooked demographic.”

Over the last two years, Aging2.0 has hosted 75 events in 15 cities across six countries, which have included hosting events at Google’s Campus London and Google Berlin. Through the partnership with GFE, the accelerator is able to tap into Google’s network of Tech Hubs to host additional events and expedite the rollout of local Aging2.0 chapters around the world.

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“The partnership with Google for Entrepreneurs provides resources to help us grow the Aging2.0 ecosystem and furthers our mission to accelerate innovation to improve the lives of older adults around the world,” said Katy Fike, co-founder of Aging2.0. “Google’s support of the network and involvement with the Aging2.0 Academy program enhances out ability to equip and nurture the top startups in aging and long-term care.”

The next Aging2.0 Academy cohort is scheduled to kick off November 20 at Galvanize, Aging2.0’s new headquarters, which is also one of Google’s 24 global Tech Hub partners.

Tuesday’s announcement is the latest demonstration of the Silicon Valley-based corporation getting into the aging healthcare technology field.

Late last month, the company unveiled plans for its “Nanoparticle Platform,” a technology it is currently developing that when swallowed could identify certain health conditions in the body such as cancer or heart attacks in their earliest stages.

In September, Google announced that its life sciences arm focused on aging health care solutions, Calico, is partnering with AbbVie (NYSEL ABBV), a Chicago-based global pharmaceutical company. The partnership would work to research and develop new technologies over a 10-year period and would also involve the development of a $1.5 billion aging research center in the San Francisco Bay area.

Both the Nanoparticle and Calico-AbbVie projects are still in their early stages and while further news is still to come on these fronts, one thing is for certain: Google is increasingly tossing its chips into the aging healthcare technology space and there is likely much more to come.

Written by Jason Oliva

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