Phoenix virtual activity platform for seniors wins $50,000 in GPEC pitch contest

A Phoenix company that focuses on keeping senior citizens active and connected as they age won a $50,000 grant provided by the Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy at the Arizona Community Foundation as part of a digital pitch competition hosted by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

“Imagine setting up a Zoom meeting for a room full of 80-year-old grandmas,” said Shruti Gurudanti, CEO and co-founder of Televeda, during the pitch competition. Her company provides an end-to-end platform that allows seniors easy access to virtual classes that include exercise, art, science and brain games.

She said before Covid-19, 25% of people who live in senior living communities were feeling isolated and lonely, a problem that has only worsened as activity centers have closed and seniors have been required to stay in their rooms and not socialize.

“Overnight we have had to scale tremendously,” Gurudanti said of the influx of need for virtual services for seniors.

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