Circle Innovation: Fostering the AgeTech Economy by addressing SME’s Barriers to Success
As one of the five Innovation Hubs that contribute to the envisAGE network, Circle Innovation brings a distinct approach to supporting companies in AgeTech. Launched in 2016 as an AGE-WELL National Innovation Hub in partnership with Simon Fraser University (SFU), the Vancouver-based, not-for-profit organization helps technology companies proactively identify and overcome specific barriers to growth and investment.
“What makes Circle Innovation unique is that we don’t just fund or advise, we co-build,” said Sylvain Moreno, Chief Executive Officer of Circle Innovation. “For nearly ten years, our SWAT approach has brought researchers, companies, and care providers around the same table to tackle the real barriers that keep good AgeTech from reaching older adults. Through envisAGE, we can now do this at scale across Canada, and our focus for the next decade is clear: turn more promising ideas into solutions that are deployed, trusted, and used in everyday life.”
Leveraging its structured SWAT (SME Workforce and Technologies) methodology created by Dr. Moreno, Circle Innovation works alongside SMEs to anticipate challenges before they arise. This approach was designed for difficult, multi-actor problems where the barrier is as much ecosystem coordination, adoption, regulation, and skills as it is the core technology. It works at the speed of business and results in technology adoption, minimizing time, money, effort, and skill required to scale effectively, enabling entrepreneurs to focus on advancing solutions that make a difference.
“Innovation is a trajectory that extends from ideation to integration and enduring impact. That trajectory is littered with obstacles such as sources of friction and resistance, gaps, and barriers. The probability of reaching impact is reduced by every obstacle, and it is the job of the entrepreneur to navigate from garage to scaling enterprise with sufficient skill to overcome them,” said Dr. Loki Jörgenson, Circle Innovation’s CTO and Director of Innovation.
An example of Circle Innovation in action is its collaboration with Tuktu Care through the envisAGE project, “Tuktu Sahara – Guidance Interface for Personalized Check-In Calls.” This initiative reimagines how care and connections are delivered to older adults and individuals with special needs.
Using AI-driven personalization, Tuktu Sahara transforms routine telephone check-ins into tailored, meaningful conversations, creating deeper human connections and combating isolation. Designed with affordability and accessibility at its core, Tuktu Sahara empowers smaller organizations and non-profits to deliver exceptional care while demonstrating potential to reduce healthcare costs and foster autonomy for older adults.
“The key to maximizing progress is shaping the path to the customer just ahead. How an entrepreneur performs this magic act is part of the story – another part is luck and timing, which is never to be underestimated. And it is also the state of the environment – shaped by other factors the entrepreneur has little control over,” added Dr. Jörgenson.
As part of the envisAGE network, Circle collaborates closely with other Innovation Hubs which bring academic and industry experts in aging, assisted living, or medical technology together to help address sector-wide challenges and can undertake large-scale projects to foster the development of innovative research and technologies.
“We’re big fans of all of the Innovation Hubs,” says Dr. Jörgenson. “Each of us has different strengths and a particular approach that a company might choose according to what they are trying to address,” he added.
With its unique methodology and collaborative spirit, Circle Innovation is playing an important role in the envisAGE network, transforming the AgeTech landscape by turning barriers into opportunities and empowering SMEs to deliver innovative solutions that improve the lives of older adults.
Click here to learn more about all envisAGE Innovation Hubs.
