Breakthrough Victoria invests in AI sensor company

Breakthrough Victoria is investing $2 million in Umps Health, a Victorian company developing sensors and AI to enable proactive aged care at home.

The Umps Link, a smart home platform, is the product of six years of research and development and now supports thousands of households across Australia.

The technology is easily installed in the homes of older adults and uses data collected from proprietary wearables, sensors and AI to generate real-time insights about declines in health and wellbeing.

If required, the Umps Link connects users directly to a 24/7 emergency response centre or family caregivers, providing earlier and proactive support at home.

Umps Health CEO Adam Jahnke said the funding would help to accelerate the company’s market reach within Australia and scale Umps’ technology.

Jahnke said: “Our underpinning belief is that enabling more timely, person-centred care at home is the biggest opportunity we have to reduce demand on an already stretched care system and enable better health outcomes for older adults.

“Every year, there are more than 500,000 hospitalisations that could have been prevented if older adults received care earlier.

“These health incidents are often a catalyst for a loss of independence. AI has the potential to address this by enabling proactive care at scaling, alleviating pressure on an already stretched system while improving the health and wellbeing of older adults.”

By 2030, there is predicted to be a shortage of more than 100,000 aged care workers in Australia, with Umps aiming to alleviate this shortage in the face of increased demand for care by augmenting existing aged care workers with technology.

Designed in collaboration with Victoria’s largest aged care providers, Umps’ products are already offered across Australia under the Home Care Package Program, Commonwealth Home Support Program and NDIS – programmes that support more than 1.5 million Australians.

Breakthrough Victoria has invested alongside Intervalley Ventures, with strong follow-on support from shareholders including existing investors Sprint Ventures, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, the 5Point Foundation and Agnes Health.

Breakthrough Victoria’s investment in Umps will accelerate ongoing research, development and commercialisation of the technology, creating up to 40 jobs over the next two years.

Picture: Umps Link personal alarm