Entrepreneurs over the age of 55 compete for up to $10,000 in GetSetUp’s Demo Day

Entrepreneurs over the age of 55 compete for up to $10,000 in GetSetUp’s Demo Day
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GetSetUp is extending the concept of accelerators and entrepreneurship to individuals aged 55 and older through its Startup Accelerator Program, specifically designed for this demographic. Entrepreneurs with a wide range of businesses, from arts and crafts to health services for older adults, will be pitching their ideas during Demo Days on June 14-16.

GetSetUp was created to empower older adults, many of whom are seeking economic opportunities for income, a sense of purpose, or a chance to showcase their professional talents. Through classes and programs like this accelerator, GetSetUp offers older adults the opportunity to reskill or upskill in various job skills and build their own businesses.

Preparing for Success with GetSetUp

The Demo Days come after 12 weeks of preparation through GetSetUp’s Startup Accelerator Program, where entrepreneurs have been honing their pitches to present to a panel of prominent venture capitalists and business leaders. Entrepreneurs will be judged on the clarity of their business descriptions, market analysis, creativity, and how they plan to use their funding. The two best pitches will be awarded up to $10,000 to help their ventures grow.

The public is invited to attend the Demo Days pitches to see these new businesses, learn what judges are looking for in a pitch, and be inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit.

Diverse Talent and Global Reach

The panel of judges for the event includes Ray Jang, Maria Thomas, Camille Ricketts, Mary Furlong, and Kerry Hannon, alongside GetSetUp co-founders Neil Dsouza, Lawrence Kosick, and Deval Delivala. Entrepreneurs from around the world, including the United States and India, will present their ideas. These entrepreneurs range in age from 55 to 77 and are at different stages of business growth.

Each entrepreneur will have 20 minutes to present their idea and receive feedback from the judges. The winner will be announced a week after the Demo Days, once the panel has reviewed all evaluations.

Highlighting Innovation Across Industries

Entrepreneurs pitching at Demo Days represent a variety of industries:

  • Educational Services: Mantel Featherson’s EVOLVE@50+ helps people 50+ optimize their health, work, and wealth. Steven Olsen’s Optimal Performance combines technology, coaching, and product usage for better performance. Nirmala Prabhu’s Knowledge Pitara sells educational games and toys.
  • Arts and Crafts: Adele Field’s Flashback Garage sells artisanal crafts. Leslie Lamb’s Grace Place Creative provides digital design services for home-based businesses. Sandra Foster is expanding her artistic designs like Foster Pocket. Cora Bhatia and Neeta Goyal are growing their handcrafted accessories and artwork businesses.
  • Health and Wellness: Twyla Teitzel’s Plant-Based Twy focuses on holistic health. Geita Chatterjee’s The Sticky Dough offers baked goods. Vaidhehi Prakash, Neeta Mehta, and Bharathi Kumar are expanding their businesses that focus on healthy foods and mixes.
  • Social Good: Ruby Holland’s Keep Your Habitat Anti-Displacement Project advocates for homeowners. Lynn Bradley’s From We to Just Me supports those going through widowhood. Renu Aggarwal’s Samman empowers women economically, socially, and emotionally.

“You can be an entrepreneur at any age! Especially in this time of economic uncertainty, it's even more important that we support older adults in building their own businesses. Many of them are creating innovative services to address the needs of an aging population,” said Lawrence Kosick, President and Co-Founder of GetSetUp.

“As long-time entrepreneurs at GetSetUp, we want to ensure that these entrepreneurs get the support they need to take great businesses to the next level and inspire others to do the same!”