Gardia Raises €8.5M to Expand AI-Driven Fall Detection for Seniors

Gardia, a health technology startup focused on elder care, has raised €8.5 million in a Series A funding round. The investment is intended to accelerate the expansion of its mobile, AI-enabled emergency system for seniors, which centers on discreet, automatic fall detection using a wearable wristband.

The funding round was led by European venture capital firm Peak, with participation from amberra, the corporate venture studio of Germany’s Cooperative Financial Group, and the butterfly & elephant accelerator by GS1 Germany. Existing investors BONVENTURE, Dieter von Holtzbrinck Ventures, and Beurer also reinvested.

This injection of capital coincides with significant demographic shifts across Europe. The EU’s population includes approximately 97 million people aged 65 or older, a figure projected to surpass 110 million by the mid-2030s. In countries like Germany, where the majority of seniors prefer to live independently, healthcare systems are confronting a shortage of care workers, propelling demand for autonomous safety solutions.

A growing number of older adults in Germany experience falls each year. Many are unable to call for help, and delays in assistance may lead to severe injuries or long-term care needs, further straining health services. Gardia aims to address this gap with its mobile emergency system, which is designed specifically for seniors and does not require smartphones.

The solution features a wristband capable of automatic fall detection both at home and in public. The device relies on hardware, software, and artificial intelligence, all developed in-house to meet the specific needs of older users. AI is used to distinguish between normal movements and potential falls, alerting emergency services when necessary. Artificial intelligence, in this context, refers to computer systems trained to recognize complex patterns and make decisions—such as identifying a fall—without direct human input.

Marlon Besuch, Gardia’s co-founder and CEO, emphasized the importance of accessible and reliable technology for elderly users. "Many existing emergency systems are not used in everyday life because they are stigmatising or too complicated. Our goal was therefore to develop a technically excellent solution that people are happy to wear and that reliably provides help when it really matters," Besuch explained.

Gardia currently serves a five-figure active user base across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), supported by strong user retention rates and reimbursement through German health insurance companies.

With the new funding, Gardia plans to extend its reach in the DACH region, expand to other international markets, and strengthen its business-to-business offerings within the care and healthcare sectors.

tech.eu