Insights from the 2026 Market Outlook Webinar
In this annual outlook, Gerontologist Keren Etkin recaps the major milestones in AgeTech in 2025, the macro trends impacting the ecosystem in 2026, and provides predictions for 2026 and beyond, where legacy infrastructure like landlines is being phased out in favor of AI-integrated ecosystems.
Key Takeaways from the 2026 Outlook:
Funding Resilience: After a difficult “funding winter” in 2023-2024, AgeTech bounced back in 2025 with nearly $700 million in total capital raised and the launch of new dedicated funds like Equitage Ventures ($47M).
The Robotics Revolution: Humanoid robots moved from research labs to (almost) commercial availability, with pre-orders for the 1x NEO robot at $20,000 or via subscription for $499/month.
The “Care Desert” Crisis: With rural hospitals and pharmacies shutting down at record rates, there’s an opportunity for startups to create hospital-at-home models and drone-based medication delivery.
AI Adoption: Healthcare providers are now leading the charge in AI adoption, utilizing generative AI for medical scribing and diagnostic imaging faster than almost any other sector.
Tech Adoption Trends: The 70+ demographic are closing the tech-adoption gap, increasingly ditching desktops for tablets and smartphones to manage their health and social lives.
Key Reports & Research Studies
AARP: 2026 Technology Trends and Adults 50-Plus: The 10th annual report highlighting that 90% of adults 50+ now own smartphones and ownership of tech devices has reached parity with younger generations.
USC Schaeffer Center: The Cost of Dementia in 2025: A comprehensive study revealing that the total economic burden of dementia in the U.S. has reached $781 billion, with $302 billion attributed to quality-of-life loss.
AARP & National Alliance for Caregiving: Caregiving in the U.S. 2025: This report identifies a massive shift, with 63 million Americans (1 in 4 adults) now serving as family caregivers – a 45% increase over the last decade.
Menlo Ventures: 2025 The State of AI in Healthcare: Research showing the healthcare sector is adopting AI 2.2x faster than the broader economy, with spending on AI tools tripling to $1.4 billion in 2025.
Ziegler Link-age Funds & LeadingAge CAST: 2025 CTO Hotline Report: Insights into the nonprofit senior living sector, showing that AI adoption is growing significantly faster than traditional wellness or fall monitoring tech.
Linkage Connect: 2025 Tech Adoption Report: Annual survey sampling larger portions of the 75+ female demographic, identifying that “not knowing what to buy” is a top barrier to adoption.
