CareYaya is reshaping the caregiving landscape by connecting healthcare students with elders in need of in-home care. Highlighted at TechCrunch Disrupt’s Battlefield 200, the startup aims to make home care more affordable while offering healthcare students practical experience. Founded in 2022 by Neal Shah, the company emerged from Shah’s personal journey as a caregiver when his wife faced cancer and other illnesses. At the time, Shah, a hedge fund partner, paused his career to care for her and hired healthcare students for support. Recognizing other families’ struggles to find affordable caregivers, Shah envisioned a tech-driven solution to formalize this informal practice.
CareYaya has since grown to a platform with over 25,000 healthcare students from schools such as Duke University, Stanford, and UC Berkeley. Students undergo background checks and video interviews before joining, ensuring quality care. Users can outline care needs, and CareYaya facilitates matches for one-time or ongoing sessions, with both caregivers and families leaving ratings post-session.
Financially, the startup promises significant savings: average U.S. home care costs $35 per hour, while CareYaya services range from $17 to $20 per hour. Additionally, CareYaya leverages AI-powered technology to aid tech-savvy students in monitoring patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Its recent launch of a large language model integrated with smart glasses allows for real-time support and early dementia screening through visual data analysis.
CareYaya is also considering international expansion, driven by interest from regions like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Featured image courtesy of TechCrunch
