In a world facing the challenges of rapidly ageing populations, Belgian tech startup Nobi has emerged as a transformative force. The Antwerp-based startup which make smart lights to detect falls (a critical innovation for elderly care) has secured £29 million in an oversubscribed Series B funding round co-led by Angelini Ventures and Nexus NeuroTech Ventures, with participation from Japanese investor 15th Rock.
The rounds also saw participation from existing investors, including EQT Health Economics, EQT Dementia Fund (both fund strategies of EQT Life Sciences that backed Noema Pharma and Nua Surgical), Belgian investment company PMV, and Nobi’s co-founders Roeland Pelgrims and Bert De Haes. Co-founding angel Balz Halter reaffirmed his support with further investment.
Nobi’s investor base spans Asia, Europe, and the US, underscoring the global belief in its potential to transform senior care. This investment round marks a major step in Nobi’s mission to redefine senior care. It follows a strategic partnership with Frontier Management, one of the largest senior care providers in the US, signaling global recognition of Nobi’s cutting-edge AI-powered smart lights.
Transforming senior care with AI
Founded by Roeland Pelgrims, Stijn Verrept, and Bert De Haes in 2018 in Belgium, Nobi’s mission is to help older adults live happily, independently, and with dignity. From enabling seniors to stay at home longer to supporting them in professional care environments, it serves as a guardian angel for seniors and a partner for caregivers.
It looks like a simple light almost invisibly hanging in the middle of the room. However, underneath the lampshade, there’s a life-saving AI technology that works in real-time, processing data locally to ensure better privacy and reliability. These solutions enhance the lives of older adults and their caregivers. By seamlessly integrating these lights into any room, Nobi’s lights provide real-time fall detection and prevention, and advanced monitoring features.
The AI behind Nobi was trained over six years using data from 250,000 real-life situations. This ensures rapid and reliable intervention, which is critical for fall prevention and care.
Saves lives with speed
Studies reveal the dire consequences of long-lie periods, remaining on the floor for over an hour after a fall increases the risk of death within six months to 50%. Nobi addresses this with unmatched speed, enabling caregivers to respond 94% faster, reducing waiting times from an average of 68 minutes to just 4 minutes. Before Nobi, 44% of falls resulted in long-lie incidents. With Nobi’s smart lights, these have been eliminated, ensuring timely care and reducing stress for caregivers.
Global vision for better senior care
The £29 million funding will accelerate Nobi’s efforts to scale globally, strengthen its market leadership, and enhance its platform to improve care home workflows. From Europe to the US and Japan, Nobi is uniting investors and care providers to create meaningful change. Nobi’s AI-powered lights stand as a beacon of hope, proving that technology can not only adapt to the needs of an ageing world but also transform lives. By combining advanced AI with human-centered design, Nobi is lighting the way to a brighter future for senior care.
“This funding milestone is yet another proof of the overwhelming need for AgeTech solutions that combine gold-standard technology with award-winning design,” said Roeland Pelgrims, CEO and Co-founder of Nobi. “Having such a diverse group of world-class investors and an all-star board reaffirms the global potential of our mission.”
William Marks, General Partner, Co-Founder, and Chief Medical Officer at Nexus NeuroTech Ventures, commented: “At Nexus NeuroTech, we invest in technology-based solutions to improve the lives of people with neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. Nobi represents a great opportunity to have an immediate and direct positive impact on the lives of people with these conditions, and the ageing population in general–where falls and associated morbidity are common.”
Tanja Dowe, Managing Director of Angelini Ventures, added: “Nobi’s technology stands out by seamlessly integrating AI and advanced monitoring capabilities with a deep understanding of elderly care needs. Nobi delivers meaningful, clinically validated improvements to daily care operations in assisted living facilities and care homes, supporting both residents and caregivers. We also appreciate the ability to harness the Nobi platform beyond fall management, extending its use to more expansive health and disease monitoring, as well as care management.”
“15th Rock is excited to help Nobi expand its business and collaboration network in Japan,” added Tetsu Nakajima, Founder & General Partner of 15th Rock.
