Instead of letting an unprecedented global pandemic halt its momentum from a recent Silicon Valley pitchfest victory, Ottawa-based Welbi is adapting its platform to better serve care providers in retirement communities amid increasingly overwhelming circumstances.
Chief executive Elizabeth Audette-Bourdeau joined Techopia Live – remotely – this week to discuss the challenges facing retirement homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, which puts elderly residents at higher risk.
The company’s platform is already equipped to help fend off a now-common phenomenon in the COVID-19 era: social isolation. Welbi’s software helps recreation managers at retirement homes to monitor residents’ activity levels and better engage them on a daily basis; the company’s mission is only more relevant amid the growing pandemic.
OBJ360 (Sponsored)
Giving Guide: The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
What we do The Ottawa Hospital Foundation raises funds to support the critical work of The Ottawa Hospital. Much of this work began 100 years ago, when the Ottawa Civic
Giving Guide: Ottawa Network for Education
What we do The Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) is a charitable organization that collaborates with partners from education, business, government, and the community to develop enriching programs for K-12
“For us, at Welbi, it’s about how do we support the teams within the retirement home – especially right now with this big crisis,” Audette-Bourdeau said.
Tracking an array of residents’ activity levels was already overwhelming for most of Welbi’s customers, but Audette-Bourdeau said the fresh concerns from family members in a time when many long-term care facilities are limiting outside access is putting newfound pressure on the platform. As such, the company is looking at optimizing the software for one-on-one activities and other programming better suited for social distancing.
It’s been a whirlwind month for Welbi, which started March with a victory at the SoGal Ventures pitch competition in Silicon Valley. Audette-Bourdeau’s successful pitch earned Welbi US$25,000 in funding and marks the first time a Canadian company has won at the SoGal competition, which focuses on supporting women-led startups.
Though Welbi has been forced to go fully remote since pretty much the moment Audette-Bourdeau returned to Ottawa, she said the startup is not feeling discouraged by the recent inconveniences.
As demand rises for a platform to connect residents, family members and caretakers at retirement residences, Welbi is keen to tackle whatever challenges COVID-19 presents in the weeks ahead.
“We have the potential, we have the team to go in and support these retirement homes in the middle of a crisis,” she said. “It’s definitely motivating for everyone.”
To hear Audette-Bourdeau’s impressions of Silicon Valley and how the company is adapting its platform, watch the video above.
