Colorado has a fascinating and prosperous past, most notably during the mid-1800’s Gold Rush when prospectors came west to take advantage of the riches to be made in gold. Miners cashed in on the lucrative, but lesser known, silver bonanza, as well. Now, a new Silver Rush is emerging for entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the Longevity Economy created by older, dynamic, sometimes silver-haired, people.

Defined by the AARP as, “…the collective economic contributions made by those people ages 50 and older,” the Longevity Economy highlights the economic purchasing power of those aged 50-plus in the U.S. valued at approximately $7.6 trillion in 2015. During that same year, the total economic contribution of the Longevity Economy in Colorado accounted for 42 percent of the state’s GDP ($134.9 billion), despite being just 32 percent of the population.

Many of the current, successful startups are led by folks who have experienced first-hand the lack of resources targeted at the needs of older people and their caregivers. Others are led by younger entrepreneurs who realize the economic potential in solving real problems, with an understanding that devising products and services for older people is both a compassionate endeavor and a shrewd business decision.

Like gold and silver mines that dotted the landscape of the Old West, the number of startups focused on serving the needs of this growing population are increasing in Colorado and across the U.S. These home-grown startups range from innovative healthcare opportunities, such as Dispatch Health, offering over-the-phone triage and in-home care, to Maria’s Place, which suggests creative options for older people to keep their minds and bodies active, both Colorado-based companies.

A catalyst for Gerontechnology and "Think Different" Aging Solutions. An advocate for the aging population with a mission to seek out, promote and assist in the development and funding of innovations and technologies that improve the lives of seniors, their caregivers, families, and society as a whole. Innovations and technologies that will be helpful to the growing aging population will enhance their independence and control, assist in providing meaningful social interaction, play a role in improved health and economic sustainability, and provide opportunities to enhance a sense of value. A special project focus is educating about ageism and broadening opportunities for older people to continue working.