Patronus, a digital safety and companion platform for older adults, has completed an €11 million funding round, led by 3TS Capital Partners. Grazia Equity and existing investors Singular, Burda Principal Investments, Adjacent, NAP, and UVC Partners also participated.
Co-founders Ben Staudt and Tim Wagner started the company in Berlin in 2020 to help the elderly live safely and independently. “Our product is an out-of-the-box solution with simple self-onboarding for a fast and user-friendly start. It offers a highly personalised experience thanks to our self-built, fully owned software, a clear differentiator,” says Staudt to Tech Funding News.
Its smartwatch connects users to an emergency call centre at any time, whether at home or outside, using a built-in SIM card. The watch comes in several colours, shows the time, and looks like a regular wristwatch.
Almost 30% of seniors avoid wearing their emergency button for fear of false alarms. Patronus tackled this problem from the ground up, resulting in 85% of users wearing the watch daily.
The product also offers a companion app that links 50,000 family members to their older relatives, sharing updates on location, watch status, and daily activities, such as whether someone went for a walk.
“A companion app connects relatives across generations for easier coordination and a stronger connection. An AI companion will help reduce loneliness by adding personality, trust, and a sense of being seen with dignity at the centre. The device is fully mobile and portable, designed to work anywhere, with a modern look,” adds Wagner.
The pitch deck, shared with TFN, explains that the app helps with a common issue: families worry about their loved ones but do not want to be intrusive. The app aims to balance these concerns for everyone involved. This family connection is also important for the company, as it helps keep users engaged.
Currently, 25,000 seniors use Patronus, and the company has handled over 500,000 emergency calls for them. In a customer survey from August 2025, two-thirds of users said the Patronus watch is the most important device in their daily lives.
Traditional emergency response providers like DRK, Johanniter, Malteser, and ASB make over €500 million each year in Germany from products that have not changed much since the 1980s. Patronus sees a chance to replace these older companies, noting that customers are already willing to pay for such services.
Patronus has three main goals: improve the watch hardware, add more family features, and introduce health tracking, such as vital signs and medication reminders. The company now has 70 employees. and aims to make the device a daily tool for seniors, offering more value through user engagement and loyalty than emergency services alone.
“The new funding will help Patronus grow its mobile emergency response platform and develop an AI companion product to address loneliness among seniors. Currently, the company employs 75 people from over 15 nationalities, with a 45% female and nonbinary workforce.
We plan to further expand our market leadership in Germany and broaden our offering from emergency to family engagement and well-being. In particular, we see a significant opportunity to address loneliness with an elderly voice AI-based digital companion,” concludes Wagner.
Here’s the pitch deck it used
