Introducing 'Khyaal' App; All-In-One Care App For Your Grandparents

As technology continues to rule the world, we are also getting used to using tech at every step. From gadgets to and travellings app, even healthcare, everything revolves mostly around tech. But the digital space can be hard to manage sometimes. This is specially for our elders and senior citizen. Also, we often get so busy in our schedule that we often forget to focus on the well being of them.

So, to simplify things and care for our elders and senior citizens, here comes 'Khyaal.' In conversation with Free Press Journal, Poulami Saha, Hemanshu Jain, founder, Khyaal, on how this agetech startup is addressing their physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being.

What value does Khyaal bring to senior citizens?

Khyaal was built to address the challenges that seniors face in modern times. Our app is designed to empower seniors to take control of their lives, tackling issues such as loneliness, digital literacy, financial and non-financial fraud, disinformation, lack of access to healthcare, support, and travel, as well as a lack of opportunities for engagement. Our digital-first approach leverages the power of technology to give seniors barrier-free access to the solutions they are looking for.

Khyaal smart card is one of your USP. Can you give a brief overview of it?

The Khyaal Smart Card initiative was designed to address the growing issue of digital fraud, particularly targeting senior citizens.The card creates a secure secondary spending account through the Khyaal app, eliminating the need to link primary bank accounts and offering built-in cybersecurity coverage with transaction limits. Available through the Khyaal app, this card creates a digital wallet upon application. Both seniors and their family members can easily add funds.

How is Khyaal empowering senior citizens when it comes to the navigation of the digital landscape?

The app is designed to empower seniors to take control back in their lives, tackling challenges such as loneliness, digital literacy, online financial and non-financial fraud, disinformation, lack of access to healthcare, support, and travel, as well as a lack of opportunities for engagement. Here, seniors can access healthcare services, money management tools, entertainment options, and social connections.

Please brief about your top solutions.

We offer a comprehensive suite of solutions designed specifically for seniors' well-being across four key dimensions:

Physical Well-being: We provide aerobics and guided yoga sessions to improve strength, flexibility, and mobility. Our curated travel packages encourage active lifestyles while ensuring comfort and safety. We also offer sessions on gardening, cooking, and art and craft activities to promote active engagement.

Mental and Emotional Well-being: Our platform offers cognitive stimulation programs, brain training exercises, and memory enhancement activities to maintain cognitive function. We provide mental health support services, including counselling and emotional wellness programs, helping seniors manage stress and improve overall emotional well-being. Our "Memory Lane" feature uses AI to colorise black-and-white photos, helping seniors relive cherished memories.

Financial Independence: We've introduced innovative solutions like Khyaal Digi-Gold in partnership with CaratLane for secure digital gold investments, and the VISA-powered Khyaal Card with cybersecurity protection.

Did you face any challenges while selling your services/product? How did you overcome them?

Initially, Khyaal began as a WhatsApp group providing support and entertainment to elderly individuals. We started by calling in experts to help seniors feel at peace about the pandemic, and then added elements like Tambola games when we saw how much they enjoyed them. We also take constant feedback from the Khyaal community about new features or difficulties they face with the app