5 things I learned working for Devanthro
By: Dr Kim Nilsson, COO/CCO Devanthro
I joined Devanthro towards the end of last year after having been convinced about the size of the problem (care crisis), the solution (Robodies), and the team (remarkably driven!). The first six months flew by in no time and (a bit belatedly) I want to sum up some of my learnings.
People love our Robody
I have worked in start-ups for over a decade and I have exhibited at dozens or more events and conferences. It was always a challenge to draw the audience to your stand, I had to sometimes get very creative to attract visitors to my booth. Now I realise what I was missing – a robot! Wherever we go with Robody, a crowd is guaranteed. A crowd pleaser, Robody generates so much curiosity in the audience. People want to touch, they want to hug, they want to try. We receive so much love at events with Robody, I wish we could go all the time!
Care crisis is enormous, and still largely invisible
I was vaguely aware of the care system as I worked as a nursing assistant during my University years, but this was some time ago now and I am fortunate enough that none of my close relatives have needed care recently. Thus, as I have learned more about the care crisis and lack of nursing talent, I have become more and more horrified at the state of the systems across Europe. The statistics tell the story in large numbers, but it is the personal stories of individuals left to fend for themselves, or relatives burning out shouldering the responsibility of care, that tell the true story.
The care crisis is MASSIVE and affects us all. It has never been more urgent to find solutions. I am proud to work for a company that is working towards better care for all.
Prejudice about elderlies and technology
“But will they actually want it?”. How many times do we get asked this question, whether elderlies will accept a Robody in their home? Ok, mea culpa, I was also sceptical when I first met with Alona and Rafael, but now I see that this is pure prejudice. We have probably all met with an elderly person who struggles with a new smartphone, or the 100 options to set on a microwave, and it is true, they don’t want complicated technology (who does, anyway?). But they do not have a problem with technology, just tech that requires a PhD to operate. Robodies are like humans, and require only the common decency that any other human visiting would.
When we bring Robody to an elderly person’s home, or to a care home, they are incredibly curious. They want to engage and to understand. They follow instructions from the Robody operator just as they would if the person was standing right there. And they really like to touch it; hold its hand or give it a hug. Even scientific studies have shown that elderly are more interested in tech than we believe so let’s make it official; Yes, they want it!
People who work in care, really care
Maybe this is a no-brainer, but I originally underestimated just how much they care about their customers/patients. They are frustrated about how little time they can spend with the elderlies on their routes, and they work to the bone to help them – to the point where the majority of ambulant care organisations in Germany are making an annual loss every year. This is clearly unsustainable. Hence, my assumption was that presenting Robody Cares to them as not only something that can help elderlies live at home longer, but also a product that can improve their profitability, would be warmly welcomed by these organisations.
To my surprise, this argument was often rejected, with an emphatic “we only want to help our customers, we are not in it to make money” statement. Of course, more profitability could mean expanding their services to help more people, but this reaction helped me understand just how much they care about their patients, and how we need to adapt our messaging to reflect this commitment.
Teamwork makes the dream work
This is a cliché, but it is also so true. At Devanthro, we are a small but feisty team. We are resourceful and creative. There is no ‘no can do’, only ‘what can I do?’. This team is so dedicated to solving that massive care crisis, to delight elderlies, and to make the lives of ambulant care workers easier. Perhaps it helps that we work in an ‘impact’ business, that we know how badly the solution is needed. In any case, it is an honour to work with this team towards our vision of letting every elderly age in the comfort of their own home.
Devanthro is a Munich-based robotics and AI business, building Robodies – robotic avatars for the elderly care market. Their partners include Charité Berlin, University of Oxford, and Diakonie. An early prototype is part of the permanent exhibition at Deutsches Museum in Munich. For more information, please visit https://devanthro.com/.
