Today, it was announced the Silver Starters, an initiative of Leyden Academy and Aegon supported by EIT Health, is one of the five ideas in the final of the 2020 Smart Ageing Prize. The ideas were selected by an expert panel of judges from the original 15 semi-finalists, representing a wide and innovative range of solutions that aim to empower older adults to engage in entrepreneurship. The final five were identified as having the most potential to support older adults looking to re-engage with the world of work, particularly during the current uncertain economy.
Silver Starters
Silver Starters (previously Start-up Plus) is an online training programme for older aspiring entrepreneurs, focused on teaching start-up principles. We developed the programme together with older adults so that the content is specifically tailored to their needs. Adaptive learning has been incorporated into the programme both online and offline to ensure a personalised training experience. After a successful pilot edition in late 2019, we are currently inviting older adults to sign up for the second edition of Silver Starters planned to take place in January 2021. Please watch our ‘pitch video’ here, starring Jolanda Lindenberg of Leyden Academy and entrepreneur Han van Doorn (84), participant of the first edition.
About the Smart Ageing Prize
The Smart Ageing Prize is organised by Nesta Challenges and AAL, a European funding programme that aims to create better quality of life for older people and to strengthen industrial opportunities in the field of healthy ageing technology and innovation.
And the finalists are…
The other four game-changing ideas joining Silver Starters in the Smart Ageing Prize final, are:
- Diaspo: live, interactive and intimate cooking classes
- Grandnanny: a new type of childcare service that connects communities
- Parlangi: connecting people who want to learn a language with mentors
- The Care Hub: providing work for older adults in the care space
The winner will be announced in early November, via a virtual awards ceremony during the European Online Week of Active & Healthy Ageing 2020. Fingers crossed!