Amethyst Care Secures Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Funding
16th July 2024
Amethyst Care is a start-up project team based in ADAPT – the SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology at Trinity College Dublin. Founded by Rebecca McManus, Amethyst Care is focused on improving the quality of life for individuals with mobility-related illnesses.
The initiative has recently secured over half a million euros in funding through the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund Programme which supports third-level researchers in translating their research into innovative and commercially viable products, services and companies. Led by Professor Vinny Wade who is chair of AI at Trinity’s School of Computer Science & Statistics and former director at Adapt, he said: “The startup will combine innovative state-of-the-art generative AI techniques with personalisation technology to deliver a voice-based companion to assist older people live more easily at home or in sheltered accommodation.
“The GenAI voice-based assistant will provide continuous care support as well as daily levels of companionship and voice assistance.”
Key benefits of Amethyst Care’s AI-driven voice assistant include:
•Health Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of vital signs and detection of abnormalities.
•Daily Assistance: Reminders for medication, appointments, and daily tasks.
•Emergency Alerts: Real-time notifications in case of falls or accidents.
•Cognitive Support: Tools for memory enhancement and mental stimulation.
•Notifications: Real-time notifications for family members and healthcare professionals.
Rebecca McManus, Founder, Commercial Lead and CEO of Amythest Care said: “Our technology addresses key issues faced by patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system, including loneliness, medication management, cognitive decline, caregiver stress, and healthcare professional shortages.
“This Enterprise Ireland funding will significantly advance our efforts, enabling us to expend our team and prepare for full-scale commercialisation over the next 18 months.”
Voice enabled technology is particularly beneficial for individuals with tremors and other mobility related issues that find traditional devices challenging. For example, one of the biggest mobility impact diseases is Parkinson’s Disease, which affects more than 10 million people worldwide, and is set to rise by a fifth in 2025.
Amethyst Care is supported by global organisations such as AWS, Amazon Alexa, EIT Health, Patient Innovation among others. The company is actively recruiting for roles with all positions listed on the ADAPT website (www.adaptcentre.ie).
Pictured: Rebecca McManus, Founder and Commercial Lead at Amethyst Care.
