When Guillem Viladomat's grandmother became a widow, her family began to think about how they would care for her now that she would be living alone. Her grandson had founded an application, Alpify, which allowed hikers to be rescued when they got lost or had accidents in the mountains. The technology behind Alpify served him to create Durcal, a new app designed to care for the elderly, totally free. Once downloaded, the family or caregiver knows her location or how much battery she has left on her mobile.
After achieving nine million downloads, Durcal has just launched a smart bracelet. The device incorporates new functionalities after the experience acquired with the application in the last two years. In addition to real-time geolocation, it has a microphone and a speaker; a help button, which contacts emergency services, and a fall detector. Adapting to the pandemic, it also measures temperature and blood oxygen, looking for symptoms that occur with covid. The device is also designed for children, with the same functionalities.
For Viladomat, the new device facilitates its use for the elderly, who only have to wear it and no longer need to use their mobile phone. All the information generated by the bracelet is available in the application, which family members and caregivers have to consult to see how they are doing. Likewise, the founder of Durcal highlights that the bracelet has a more discreet design than other devices used to remotely control people, preventing them from feeling stigmatized.
The startup will keep the mobile application free, but will begin to monetize its activity with the commercialization of this bracelet, which will have a subscription price for services of 39 euros per month or 240 per year. The forecast is to reach 3,000 users this 2021, with a turnover that will vary depending on the preferred modality. Until now, Durcal has been financed with rounds, obtaining about five million euros from investors such as Prosegur, Mangrove VC, K Fund, Atresmedia and Racc.
Based in Barcelona, Durcal's staff is around 30 workers. During this year, the company plans to grow with new hires. The startup's focus is on Spain and Andorra, where Viladomat is from, but they do not rule out expanding to other countries, still without specifying which ones or when.