Leaders

When technology meets impact, it creates something significant. When technological breakthroughs are led by purpose and impact, they hold the potential to transform people’s lives. This transformative advancement serves as evidence of how compassion and creativity can coexist creating and inclusive, safe, and welcoming world for all.

I was born in the US and lived there until age nine. Returning to India, I completed my schooling through 12th grade and later attended Canada’s University of Waterloo. Growing up in India allowed me to form a close bond with my grandparents and this eventually instilled in me a personal connection to elder care.

The shift to online learning during COVID-19 pandemic allowed me to gain practical experience with my father’s business while studying. This proved out to be a great learning experience as it provided me with practical and hands-on knowledge. I later aligned my coursework with professional goals, focusing on geriatrics and product management from Pragmatic Institute. This empowered me to apply my academic knowledge effectively, enhancing my contributions in the role of Lead Product Manager at Yodda.

Introduce us to Yodda and its new platform TRYBE. What’s the underlying idea behind both platforms?

At its heart, Yodda is a tech-enabled company that offers care built around two important verticals: Elder care and citizen safety. In terms of elder care, we focus on three key services: round-the-clock emergency response, healthcare coor­dination, and daily convenience support. Led by ex-ar­my field care representatives, our on-ground emergen­cy support is apt to respond in person. We are present across nine major Indian cities, including Pune, Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, and more.

We have added new services offering specialized care for dementia, cancer, and diabetes, ensuring we are able to support more seniors in varied situations. The idea for TRYBE; India’s first comprehensive citizen safety platform with a special focus on women, came from both professional insight and personal experience. Having created a strong elder care emergency system, we saw the potential to extend it to wider public safety. Going through personal encounters of campus violence became the initiator that evolved into the TRYBE platform we have today.

How does TRYBE ensure safety for women users? What impact has TRYBE created so far and what is its roadmap for the future?

TRYBE empowers women through relying on their own safety networks. Backed by a 24/7 command center TRYBE provides immediate response. In moments of panic, our command center manages the situation end-to-end, coordinating loved ones, concerned authorities, and initiating next relevant steps.

We have developed state-of-the-art safety technologies such as voice-activated SOS, discreet alarms, member-specific emergency QR codes, and real-time audio. We aim to design next-generation smart products such as lanyards, ID cards, and elegant jewellery pieces with integrated SOS buttons, featuring SOS technology to ensure timely assistance, even when the phone is out of reach.

Our platform has been trusted by 30,000 users to date, allowing us to be of value in saving hundreds of precious lives. Our aim for growth and expansion in future is to have one million users by the end of the year, with the goal of reaching ten million people shortly after.

How do you foresee the eldercare sector evolving? Which industry trends will define the future of elder care in India?

India is on the brink of a major demographic transformation. As longevity increases, aging-well, not just living well, has become a new priority. Today the number of people above 60 years is 138 million and it is expected to grow to 300 million by 2050. This clearly goes to show that establishing a strong elder care today is really about preparing for tomorrow’s reality and challenges better.

Personally, I believe that usage of AI holds immense potential in elder care. Beyond its obvious use cases, it can serve as a companion to reduce loneliness and boredom, while machine learning enables proactive health risk detection and preventive algorithms, monitor daily activity to avert emergencies.

Looking back, which milestones or achievements stand out for you? What is your roadmap for your professional future?

Being named among Business World’s 30 Under 30 at just 23 years old has been a defining professional highlight for me. However, rather than titles, I value the journey more which began when I became the co-founder at 19. This milestone was driven by the entrepreneurial spirit I inherited from my father who began his journey at the age of 25. Beating that mark felt like carrying his legacy forward in my own way.

For me, the future ahead is all about entrepreneurial growth, expansion and exploration. My calling has always been of something greater than following the traditional route. Yodda represents that commitment for me and I wish to expand it into a significant and sustainable enterprise within the next 10 years. Years later I envision myself chasing new ideas and ventures along the way.

Simran Sharma, Co-Founder, Yodda

A thought leader reflecting empathy & precision to transform elder care and citizen safety, with modern technology. Simran Sharma currently is the Co-Founder at Yodda, who leverages her agile methodologies, market research and user engagement to create impactful digital solutions to elderly care. Her passion for strategy extends beyond work showcasing her precision, logic, and creative-problem solving.