OSO-AI (50 employees, turnover not communicated) is preparing to accelerate even more. The start-up from Brest, which has just celebrated its fifth anniversary, wants to launch its “Augmented Ear for caregivers” internationally. The first targeted countries are located in Northern Europe but major exports should follow in 2025. “We had some contacts from countries that we did not expect, such as Japan or Korea”, reveals Philippe Roguedas, director of operations and co-founder of OSO-AI, reveals Philippe Roguedas, director of operations and co-founder of OSO-AI, with Gilles Debunne, Olivier Menut and Claude Berrou.
The solution from the Brest company, which makes it possible to detect noises of distress, falls or even vomiting in the rooms of residents of nursing homes, in fact, is attracting the interest of actors involved in aging well in its countries with an aging population. A simple box placed in the room makes it possible to detect dangerous situations and alert caregivers on a smartphone or tablet.
Enough to give OSO-AI something to chew on. “All the founders have an international sensitivity. So, of course, we imagined from the start that it was a possibility,” confides Philippe Roguedas, who has worked in Barcelona and lived in the United States, meeting up with his classmate from Lycée de l'Harteloire in Brest, Olivier Menut, now CEO of OSO-AI. “It is also a challenge to try to conquer the world from Brest,” he smiles.
“From the start, we imagined that going international was a possibility.”
There are still a few obstacles to overcome. “Organizations abroad are not like French nursing homes,” says the manager. “We will start with two or three countries in Northern Europe. Scandinavia, for example, also has problems with an aging population and a lack of workforce in personal services,” notes Philippe Roguedas. The area outside Europe will wait until the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025. With, already, targeted countries: Canada, Japan, Korea. “You have to think about the time difference, the currency change. You have to go in stages.”
In France too, OSO-AI has projects. After the nursing homes, the start-up would like to equip the homes of elderly or dependent people. “There is something to do because our augmented ear is much more powerful than current alert systems, which ask people to press a button while wearing a watch or a pendant, which can be stigmatizing,” believes the manager.
However, the home market remains difficult to penetrate for equipment that is still expensive. “This is already sometimes an obstacle for establishments with tight budgets,” he explains.
These two areas of development will allow OSO-AI to grow further. In 2023, the company doubled its workforce. “There will be more hires in 2024, but fewer. We must also digest this growth”, tempers Philippe Roguedas.