MIT alumnus Don Yansen ’63 founded Kiwi Health in October 2024 after participating in a study at the MIT AgeLab on technology in caregiving for older adults. A serial entrepreneur with an MIT degree in electrical engineering and a master’s in physics from Northeastern, Yansen retired to care for his wife. During the study, he heard participants describe difficulty using modern devices like cell phones and the Apple Watch. "What I took from MIT was a good education and the feeling I could solve difficult problems," he says.

Kiwi Health sells a wristband controlled primarily by voice, allowing wearers to set reminders, make calls, send texts, and share health data without navigating screens. AI helps interpret commands, accounting for voice changes with age. The device also measures health metrics and automatically alerts caregivers to falls.

Yansen’s hope is that the technology can "help seniors live the best life that they can." The startup emerged directly from insights gathered at the MIT AgeLab, illustrating how academic research can translate into practical solutions for aging populations.