Too little exercise at work is a widespread problem in our modern society. Many working people already suffer from chronic back pain, which they attribute to a lack of exercise due to too little sport and sedentary desk work. This also has an economic impact: according to various health reports from German health insurance companies, many days of sick leave in this country are due to musculoskeletal disorders. With ‘Isa’, an AI-based health assistant, the health tech start-up ‘Deep Care’ wants to remedy this situation. The company received funding to further develop the technology, made possible by consulting services from EurA AG.
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Health tech start-up Deep Care has developed a promising product in the form of Isa, an AI-based health assistant, but faced the challenge of financing its technology-intensive further development. Repeated attempts to secure funding on its own failed. Without access to third-party funding, key innovation steps could not be implemented. |
Working closely with EurA, and in particular with the support of innovation consultant Manfred Kauer, the funding applications were strategically revised and successfully submitted. Deep Care also took advantage of funding such as the tax research allowance and membership of a ZIM network. This enabled the AI solution to be expanded and external researchers to be brought on board. |
Several grants were approved. This enabled Deep Care to realise the next development steps for Isa and venture into the market in 2022. Today, the company has over 200 corporate customers in the German-speaking region and is establishing its first partnerships with health insurance companies. The support provided by EurA was a decisive factor in establishing the company in the market. |
The Ludwigsburg-based start-up Deep Care has been working intensively on the question of how the physical health of office workers can be improved in a targeted manner. This is because many health-promoting measures in corporate health management are attractive but have little effect. The AI-supported health coach Isa therefore tackles the problem where it arises: right at the desk. It has a proven and lasting effect on posture, movement and drinking behaviour in the workplace.
What began with back pain at work turned into a business idea: Five friends who had previously worked on robotics projects at Bosch and Tesla were tired of sitting at their desks all day. Despite their employers offering a wide range of health services, there was no solution that could be integrated into their daily work routine.
This experience led to the creation of a digital health coach that continuously analyses and specifically promotes exercise behaviour, sitting posture and fluid intake – without interrupting work. Isa is a separate, handy device that is placed on the desk and runs in the background without the need to reach for a smartphone or click on a computer. The tool is based on state-of-the-art sensor technology and precise perception technologies and generates an anonymised 3D model of the body in motion, but without the use of a camera. Using advanced AI decision-making logic, it analyses the user's movement patterns and physical condition. It learns from the habits of users and provides tailored recommendations for better health and well-being in everyday office life. ‘We are already seeing a reduction in sick days of over 50 percent among our customers,’ explains Dr Milad Geravand, founder and CEO of Deep Care.
Developing an AI application like this is complex, risky and resource-intensive – especially for a young company. Deep Care therefore faced the challenge early on of implementing the necessary innovative steps despite limited financial resources. Partial financing through public funding programmes was therefore essential for the innovation project – and the disappointment was all the greater when the initial funding applications were rejected. ‘This blocked the further development that was so important to us,’ recalls Geravand. He explains the situation at the time: ‘With Isa, we had already developed a market-ready product. Nevertheless, we were still at the very beginning of our product journey. The further development of such a sophisticated, AI-based product requires considerable expertise and resources, which we, as a start-up that was not yet profitable, could not manage on our own. That's why we were dependent on financial resources, especially to gain access to the expertise and manpower of researchers.’
The turning point came through collaboration with EurA – more specifically with human biologist and innovation consultant Dr Manfred Kauer, who already knew the Deep Care team from his time at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Geravand explains: ‘We appreciated his active interest in our idea. Based on mutual trust, we asked him for support in optimising our funding applications.’ Through targeted advice, strategic revision of the applications and experience gained from numerous innovation projects, EurA helped the start-up achieve a breakthrough: The central application was approved immediately, and further funding followed. Looking back, Geravand says: ‘The professional and strategic advice was crucial to our subsequent success.’
‘Isa’ analyses your posture at your desk, for example, and provides useful tips for becoming more active.
Today, Deep Care with Isa has established itself in digital health promotion alongside numerous private users: Over 200 companies are already using the technology – from Germany to Switzerland to the Netherlands. Isa contributes to a healthier, more productive working environment as a digital coach – effectively and user-friendly. Digital coaching can be used as part of an effective company health management programme and complement other everyday, low-threshold offerings such as health checks, exercise programmes, nutritional advice and stress management courses.
Isa is a digital health solution that shows that prevention in the workplace can really work. The results speak for themselves: satisfied users, sustainable health improvements and a measurable reduction in absenteeism. The latter is a convincing argument for many companies. After all, those who systematically promote health and invest in the well-being of their employees benefit from higher productivity. The start-up already has major customers such as E.ON and Deutsche Bahn and has gained partners such as AOK. For the future, Deep Care plans to expand its technology, establish more and more intensive partnerships with health insurance companies and continue its expansion.
The team at start-up Deep Care, with CEO Dr Milad Geravand (front centre)
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Topic Our client
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Funding EurA's role Funding impact |
The story of Deep Care shows that it often takes more than innovative or even disruptive technology to be successful in the market. Working in partnership with experts in both funding and technological issues can be just as important. Do you also have an R&D project, whether in medical technology like this one or in another field? Then get in touch with us!
Text: Birgit Miriam Hering
Pictures: Deep Care GmbH
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