SPECIAL OPENING ROUNDTABLE SESSION:  The American Rescue Plan: What Seniors, Caregivers and Investors Should Know 

DC insider Bob Blancato, President of Matz, Blancato and Associates, illuminates the implications of the recently passed American Rescue Plan on older adults, caregivers, and home and community-based organizations. Additionally, Beth Sanders, founder and CEO of LifeBio and James Hamilton, CEO of VitalTech, share their perspectives on what it could mean for small businesses serving older adults. Learn how the plan extends far beyond the $1,400 checks to help improve the lives of older Americans. Following the presentation, our panel of nonprofit, government and business professionals will engage in a roundtable discussion to share their thoughts. 

In this session you will learn:

• Where are stimulus funds are going and how to work with organizations receiving them
• How older adults are directly or indirectly impacted by the provisions of the COVID stimulus plan
• How the plan reflects the priorities of the current administration and what it could mean for older adults in the future

Moderator: Mary Furlong, Founder and President, Mary Furlong & Associates

Roundtable Panel:

• Bob Blancato, Principal, Matz, Blancato & Associates 
• Sandy Markwood, CEO, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
• Lisa Taylor, CEO, iN2L

Piloting: How to Prepare, What to Expect, and Markers of Success and Failure

Pilots allow startups to test and validate assumptions within a dynamic environment (aka a large organization).  Startups pilots can enable companies to scale and grow their products and services.  It can help founders establish proof of concept and credibility.  Piloting often gives large companies the opportunity to support innovation that is beneficial for their audience.  These types of collaborations require a clear understanding of learning agendas, operational capabilities and a defined process to capture metrics. Join us to learn about AARP Innovation Labs’ role in creating pilot collaboration, hear a perspective from a start-up founder, and find out what large organizations do to create an environment for creating pilots. 

In this session you will learn:

• How do you shape a pilot that leads to a contract? 
• What are the different things that can happen in a pilot?
• What agreement terms should all parties be aware of?

Presenters:

• Katey Forth, CEO, Zibrio (AARP iLabs Startup Portfolio Member)  
• Sasha Spellman, Startup Collaboration Director, AARP Innovation Labs 
• Diane James, Associate Director of Development, Army Distaff Foundation (AARP iLabs Sandbox Partner)
• Q&A: Julie Halpert

How Fee-for-Service Value-Based Business Models Are Evolving: Investor and Operator Perspectives

As the healthcare industry continues to shift from fee-for-service to value-based incentives and reimbursement designs, companies and investors alike must be purposeful but also nimble. This unique panel, comprised of two current CEOs and one lead investor, will explore the various business models and considerations for both the present and future healthcare landscape.

Moderator
Dr. Brian Holzer, President, Kindred Innovations and CEO, Lacuna Health

Panelists

• Sherwin Sheik, CEO, CareLinx
• Dr. David Thimons, CEO, Personal Care Medical Associates
• Dan Gebremedhin, MD, Partner, Flare Capital

In this session you will learn how to:

1. Explore the current and future trends with regards to the evolution towards value-based healthcare?  Where are operators and investors more focused?  Do companies need to “pick” a model to be successful?

2. Explore the operational and investment considerations and implications of FFS vs value-based models?  How does each model affect “product/market fit”, core capabilities needed to be successful, and growth/investment potential?

3. Explore best practices for investor backed companies focused on FFS, value-based or both models?  What do companies that have been successful navigating the various reimbursement models do well? What factors most predicted these companies getting funded?

How To Identify Funding Priorities & Innovation Collaborators: NIA, Incubators, Social Impact

Learn about three different forms of funding to help launch your business, fuel growth and validate your mission. This course will describe the focus and process of securing NIA SBIR grants, in addition to highlighting other organizations that are providing social impact grants and incubators that are helping take startups to the next level.

In this session, you will:

• Learn about the best approaches to landing a NIA grant
• Find out how to secure a strong research partner and commercialize your startup
• Discover other early stage social impact funding opportunities

Presenters

• Joy Toliver, Program Analyst, NIA Office of Small Business Research
• Mel Barsky, Director of Business Development, CABHI
• Sheri Rose, CEO/Executive Director, Thrive Center

The Strategic Pivot – Knowing When To Change Course

Pivoting serves as a way to achieve our intended objective, especially when variables like the environment we are operating in has changed. A strategic pivot is essentially a shift in business strategy to test a new approach regarding a startup’s business model or product to address consumer and/or business needs. In this session you’ll hear from companies who have made the tough decision to pivot, how they realized they needed to pivot, lessons learned along the way, and their advice for those thinking about pivoting.

In this session you will learn:

• How to know when it’s time to pivot your company/product strategy
• How pivoting can lead to additional opportunities
• Advice for pivoting your own company

Presenters:

• Megan Moy, Senior Advisor, Startup Engagement AARP Innovation Labs
  AARP Innovation Labs Startups:
• Tanya Van Court, CEO and Founder, Goalsetter.co
• Tripp Brockway, Cofounder, Caregather

How To Create Customer-centered Design That Adds Value And Drives eRevenue

Many start-ups and established organizations start with innovative ideas but can forget one key element: involving the customer from the very first stage of creation. These companies share best practices in engaging the age 50+ customer into the design from the beginning whether it’s an improved user interface, lead generation or adding eRevenue streams. 

In this session you will learn:

• How to include older adults in your designs from the earliest stages
• How to build a successful eCommerce strategy 
• How super users can catalyze your business

Presenters:

• Ken Bracht, Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer, National Council on Aging
  
• Mike Dolder, President, LIFESMART
• Anu Shukla, Co-Founder and Executive Chair, Botco.ai
• Q&A: Lori Bitter, President/Senior Strategist, The Business of Aging

Content Partnerships That Drive Engagement And Metrics

In the wake of 2020, social isolation, mental and emotional health issues, and overall wellness for both older adults and family caregivers are the new priorities for health care companies, senior living operators, and employers. These presenters offer best practices on how to effectively engage your target audience in healthier behaviors, establish metrics and use data analysis to improve your bottom line.

In this session you will learn:

• Perspectives of both the distributors and the content creators in creating win-win solutions
• How to analyze data and create metrics that drive business funding and partnerships
• What content trends are driving the longevity market

Presenters:

• Sherri Snelling, Gerontologist and CEO, Caregiving Club
• Todd Smith, CEO/Founder – Odessa Connect
• Michael Berg, Executive Director, Magnolia Springs Lexington
• Brooks Kenny, General Manager, BrainGuide by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s
• Meredith Oppenheim, Founder and CEO, Vitality Society

The Power of Partnerships: A Stakeholders Review

In these case studies entrepreneurs explain how to do a deal with a partner. Each partner shares what they are bringing to the table and how to work together to optimize the outcome. 

Session Leaders:

• Mary Furlong – Founder/President MFA
• Richard Eisenberg, Managing Editor and Senior Web Editor, Next Avenue

Presenters:

• Lawrence Kosick, Co-founder, GetSetUp
• Erik Ross, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Venture Capital Strategy & Corporate Development, Nationwide Ventures

• John Reinhart, National Institute on Aging

The Epidemic of Social Isolation and Loneliness: Post-COVID Solutions 

COVID-19 has increased and exacerbated social isolation and loneliness, which were already at crisis levels prior to the onset of the pandemic. Regardless of setting (community-dwelling or those living in senior living), the detrimental effects of social isolation and loneliness have created major challenges for older individuals, their families and caregivers throughout the pandemic. Presenters serving older individuals in different settings and capacities will share their unique approaches to combating this critical issue and offer practical solutions that participants can apply in their own settings.

Presenters:

• Dave Banark, COO, Home Instead

• Ted Fischer, Co-Founder & CEO, Ageless Innovation

• Jack York, President and Co-Founder, iN2L

Protecting Your IP, Filing Patents And More Legal Questions Answered

Presenter:

• L. Scott Oliver, Shareholder – Greenberg Traurig LLP

The Investor Ecosystem 101

Who is investing in the market, what to include in your Investor deck and where are the key investor conferences

Presenter: Mary Furlong, President & CEO, Mary Furlong & Associates

How an Analyst Can Help Build To Build Your Business 

Interview with Mary Furlong and Laurie Orlov, Founder – Aging and Health Technology Watch

How a Gerontologist Adds Value to Your Business

Presenter: Sherri Snelling, corporate gerontologist and CEO – Caregiving Club

Learn How to Work with Aging 2.0 Chapters Around the Globe

Presenters: 

Stephen Johnston (Australia)
Eric Kihlstrom (London)
Denise Yarmiak (Northern California)