An Age-tech Startup in Seoul
Silvia Health Inc., an age-tech startup based in Seoul, said on Aug. 4 that it has received investment from Klim ventures.
Silvia was founded by Ko Myung-jin, a third-year MD candidate at Seoul National University. The company is developing technology-driven solutions to an array of mental health problems that arise from aging.
Silvia specializes in mental health among older adults, whose diseases, if left undiagnosed and thus untreated, may substantially lower the quality of living at a later age. Through various interventions, Silvia seeks to innovate the early diagnosis procedures and everyday care system.
Research suggests that diseases stemming from mental issues last longer than any other type of illness. In particular, diseases like dementia that are left unnoticed from the early stage may significantly lengthen the suffering of the patients and their families.
A routine-based care system that assists with the screening and detection of mental health issues among older adults may dramatically reduce the suffering of those in high risks and enormous social and economic expenses, Silvia expects.
"With a steep increase in life expectancy, more thinking today goes into the question of 'well-aging' rather than merely living longer. Silvia envisions a world that doesn't fear aging and, to that end, aims to create three main value chains: self-reliance from illness, preserving physical and cognitive health, and reinvigorating one's seniorhood. Ultimately, our goal is to give everyone the choice of 'active aging,'" said Ko, the CEO of Silvia.
Mental health treatment is affected by various factors such as age and living conditions, making long-term, individualized care routines essential for a successful intervention. Silvia sets out to connect AI algorithm with personalized care to achieve competitive advantage in innovating customer experience.
"Silvia possesses the potential and expertise to combine medicine and technology to revolutionize digital health care. We expect it to provide human-centered solutions to the emotional health of older adults," explained Nam Hong-gyu, the CEO of Klim ventures.
With its remote emotional support service and clinical tests for dementia screening underway, Silvia plans to launch a one-stop solution for diagnosis and care before the end of 2020.