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Since we last checked in on the tech industry鈥檚 awakening to older adults鈥� needs, the space where startups cater to customers 50 years-old and up has continued to grow.

One standout is Lively, a , that closed a in January. Given its target market, Lively鈥檚 specific challenge lies not only in providing innovative technology (as would any startup), but also smart design to meet its customers where they are at in terms of their ability to navigate new technologies.

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鈥淲hen we do use technology, we work to build something advanced enough that a millennial would be impressed, without making marketing and design choices that alienate older consumers,鈥� told 附近上门 News.

Another hardware company worth mentioning is Minnesota-based , which makes tablets aimed at older users. To date the company has .

On the software side, utilizes data and a simple interface that is compatible with television screens to help users locate and take advantage of daily services.

鈥淥ur research suggests that more than 90 percent of seniors watch still TV and can navigate easily using a remote,鈥� HeyHerbie founder Ashish Mudgal said. 鈥淭herefore, our MVP is a platform that lets aging adults access a carefully-curated selection of services like ordering transportation, meals, or getting reminders about medication or doctors鈥� appointment directly via their TV and remote control.鈥�

A Little Respect

Overall, the older demographic is finally getting the attention it deserves, Mudgal said.

鈥淩ight now, younger baby boomers are paving the way to technology adoption,鈥� Mudgal said. 鈥淲e believe that we [older users] have been adapting to technology and now it鈥檚 time technology adapts to us.鈥�

The antiquated cultural narrative about 鈥渟eniors鈥� not being digitally-savvy enough to use the latest technology doesn鈥檛 jive with data being gathered on this demographic.

Case in point:聽 showed that 鈥�81 percent (of respondents) want more social connections via platforms like Facebook.鈥� Perhaps the most interesting finding to emerge from the study is that 82 percent of those surveyed already use a smartphone like iPhone or Android, a far cry from the landline-hooked image that鈥檚 often portrayed.

Further, 90 percent of adults over , giving tech entrepreneurs more reason to think of this group for their next software idea, Karp said.

One company capitalizing on the readiness of this market is Denver-based Health, which offers a platform of preventative health measures with a focus on activity and health.

Another is San Francisco-based which currently posts $10.2 million in revenue. Unlike more traditional VC-funded startups, Aging 2.0 relies on global chapters instead of software outreach to multiple forms of support for seniors around the globe.

But at the end of the day, a major key to achieving success with older users is good ol鈥� fashioned seamless usability.

鈥淔or example, we鈥檝e deliberately chosen to style our text links with a predictable, and traditional, underline,鈥� said Karp, who made the subtle distinction between 鈥渦sability鈥� and 鈥渆ase of use.鈥�

A design that has large text fonts, but sacrifices core functions and ignores consumer pain points can be just as bad as a design with illegible fonts.

Ultimately, success will not only be measured in terms of revenue and product adoption but in the startup community鈥檚 overall ability to recognize the need for appropriate access to technology in a way that speaks to a demographic that not only wants it, but has proven to be capable of navigating it.

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