September 1, 2020
The South Florida startup will participate in the Techstars Future of Longevity program, run in partnership with Melinda Gates’ Pivotal Ventures, to address unmet needs for older adults and their caregivers.
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Upside has been accepted into the Techstars Future of Longevity Accelerator program. The program is run in partnership with Melinda Gates’ Pivotal Ventures and was formed to address the unmet needs for older adults and their caregivers. The highly competitive 13-week program will host just 10 companies from around the world that are building innovative and creative solutions to address the unmet needs of individuals providing and receiving elder care.
Upside, established in 2020, was created to solve two of the major problems in caregiving: loneliness and housing affordability. The company utilizes modern residences in vibrant, safe, amenity-rich apartment communities and provides a turnkey and frictionless living experience for those who desire simplified living later in life. All Upside homes are technology-enabled and include maintenance, housekeeping, basic cable/internet, common area furnishings, companionship visits, single-bill simplicity, and a dedicated Upside Manager. Leases are individualized by bedroom for affordability and peace of mind.
Upside managers offer residents a single point of contact and handle everything from coordination of basic repairs to rides for personal errands. Additionally, they arrange and organize dozens of other senior-focused activities and services and strive to keep residents active and healthy. Since Upside homes are shared, each location is able to provide the incredible benefits and amenities of facility life for up to 70% less than the cost of traditional independent senior living.
Currently, there are 11,000 people a day turning 65 in the US, and loneliness among seniors is an epidemic putting a tremendous burden on the healthcare system and families alike. According to the Harvard Business Review, loneliness is as damaging to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Upside launched with nearly 150 units available in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties, with the goal of scaling nationally in 2021.
Upside homes are now available in all South Florida counties. Interested senior citizens and their families can reserve an Upside home in their desired location at www.joinupside.com.
Upside is a nationally scalable housing stability platform purpose-built for healthcare. The company partners with health plans and employers to proactively identify and stabilize members and employees experiencing housing instability — connecting them to safe, supportive housing while reducing avoidable emergency care utilization and improving health outcomes. Upside’s model combines dedicated Care Guides — licensed social workers and housing specialists — with AI-supported housing orchestration to deliver measurable results at scale. The platform serves Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, D-SNP, commercial, and employer-sponsored populations across the full housing continuum, from crisis intervention to long-term tenancy support. Founded in 2020 and headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Upside is redefining how healthcare organizations address housing as a foundation of care. For more information, visit www.joinupside.com.
###