CPE News (12/3/2020) – AceAge Inc. has completed a $5 million Series A round of financing round led by Longliv Ventures, a member of the CK Hutchison Holdings Group (CKHH), with the participation of a fund managed by the Bloom Burton Investment Group.
Longliv Ventures Fund focuses on consumer-oriented digital health solutions. CKHH, via its retail division AS Watson, operates the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, with over 15,800 stores in 27 markets worldwide.
Dr Dan Eldar, Managing Director at Longliv Ventures, will join the AceAge bBoard of directors.
Led by CEO Spencer Waugh and backed by CareRX and private investors from the health care industry, Burlington, Ontario, based AceAge Inc. is a healthcare technology company. Karie is AceAge’s first commercially available product, making medication management as simple as possible. Outfitted with a front facing camera and Bluetooth connectivity, AceAge plans for Karie to become the central fixture of the connected health home.
photo credit: AceAge
News Release
AceAge Closes Strategic Financing Led by Longliv Ventures, a Member of the CK Hutchison Holdings Group
AceAge promotes a new standard of care by offering “Karie”, a smart tabletop connected home device, that organizes medications and dispenses them precisely at the right time
BURLINGTON, ON, Dec. 3, 2020 /CNW/ – AceAge Inc. (“AceAge”), a Canadian healthcare technology company with its innovative medication dispenser, Karie, announced that it has closed a CA $5 million Series A financing round led by Longliv Ventures, a member of the CK Hutchison Holdings Group (“CKHH”), with the participation of a fund managed by the Bloom Burton Investment Group (“Bloom Burton”). Dr Dan Eldar, Managing Director at Longliv Ventures, will join the AceAge Board of Directors. Longliv Ventures Fund, a member of CKHH, focuses on consumer-oriented digital health solutions. CKHH, via its retail division AS Watson, operates the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer, with over 15,800 stores in 27 markets worldwide.
AceAge’s medication dispenser Karie allows users with complex medication regimes to take their medication independently. Karie uses multi-dose pouch packaging, which are strips of medication that are pre-organized, scheduled, and barcoded by dose by a pharmacist. When it is time for each medication, Karie automatically lights up and chimes to notify the user that it’s time to take their medication, and dispenses the correct dose at the correct time when the user interacts with the device. Karie’s remote monitoring system also provides peace of mind for those who want to check up on their loved ones from afar. If a dose of medication is ever missed, Karie will send a notification to a friend, family member or caregiver, who can call or provide assistance if needed.
“This year we have had a tremendous amount of success helping people in Canada and Europe take their medications independently in their own homes. The funds that we have raised will further facilitate the rapid international expansion of Karie” said Spencer Waugh, CEO of AceAge. “With these partnerships, AceAge gains important strategic insight from two highly respected institutions with deep knowledge of the international healthcare space.”
“The COVID-19 era has accelerated the global trend toward telemedicine solutions and at-home advanced care, with special focus on the needs of the elderly and the chronically-ill”, said Dr. Dan Eldar, the Managing Director of Longliv Ventures. “AceAge offers an innovative, home-based drug dispensing solution for users, based on a connected, digital desktop smart device. Karie is designed to supplement the advanced pharmacy automation dispensing systems currently being rolled out worldwide as part of an increasing global trend to offer home delivery of drugs. We believe the AceAge technology will contribute to increased adherence to medication regimes and enable better care by supporting meaningful links between patients, payors, providers, and caregivers”.
“Longliv Ventures targets companies that are on a mission to develop solutions that will augment and eventually revolutionize the way people manage their health and wellness”, said David Gordon, Head of Investments of Longliv Ventures. “Such solutions could benefit from the CKHH global footprint which includes the A.S. Watson Group, the world’s largest international health and beauty retailer. With a potential reach to 5.3 billion customers via over more than 15,800 stores operating under 12 retail brands in 27 markets, and through a world-renowned online sales operation, CKHH can facilitate the dissemination of new technologies for enhanced healthcare services.”
“The Karie device has the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems globally as the medical community grapples with hospital overcrowding, staff shortages and risk of infection to nurses, doctors and personal support workers,” said Michael Brown, Portfolio Manager at Bloom Burton. “With up to one in four hospital patients admitted due to medication errors, Karie will ensure users have access to proper medical assistance in the comfort of their own homes.”
For additional information on Karie, please visit www.kariehealth.com
About AceAge:
Based in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, AceAge Inc. is a healthcare technology company, creating beautiful and intuitive products to ease the aging process. Karie is AceAge’s first commercially available product, making medication management as simple as possible. Outfitted with a front facing camera and Bluetooth connectivity, AceAge plans for Karie to become the central fixture of the connected health home. For additional information please visit www.aceage.com
About Longliv Ventures:
Longliv Ventures L.P. (“Longliv Ventures”) is a consumer oriented digital health fund that focuses on investments in early stage ventures that seek to address significant health and wellness issues capable of producing global impact. Longliv Ventures is a member of CK Hutchison Holdings Group (“CKHH”). With over 300,000 employees in over 50 countries across the world, CKHH is among the largest companies listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. CKHH has a pivotal role in healthcare through its A.S. Watson Division, the world’s largest international Health and Beauty retailer with over 15,800 stores in 27 markets in Europe and Asia – from Germany, the United Kingdom and Russia to China, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines. Among its world-renowned brands are Superdrug, Rossmann, Kruidvat and Watsons. For additional information please visit www.longliv-ventures.com
About Bloom Burton:
Bloom Burton & Co. is a firm dedicated to accelerating returns in the healthcare sector for both investors and companies. Bloom Burton has an experienced team of medical, scientific, pharmaceutical, legal and capital markets professionals who perform a deep level of diligence, which combined with our creative and entrepreneurial approach, assists our clients in achieving the right monetization events. Bloom Burton and its affiliates provide capital raising, M&A advisory, equity research, business strategy and scientific consulting, direct investing, and company creation and incubation services. Bloom Burton Investment Group provides investors with curated investment vehicles that deliver a diversified portfolio of healthcare companies in a single investment. Bloom Burton Investment Group manages the Bloom Burton Canadian Healthcare Fund, which invests broadly in public healthcare securities and the Bloom Burton Healthcare Lending Trust, which makes long-term structured investments in private and public healthcare companies. For additional information please visit www.bloomburton.com
SOURCE AceAge Inc
For further information: Spencer Waugh,CEO,AceAge, 289-400-0811, spencer@aceage.com