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RALEIGH – As labor shortages and rising inflation add pressure to today’s caregiving crisis, two startup founders are leveraging the gig economy to pair student caregivers with families in need.

The “gig economy,” as it is called, refers to a network of digital platforms like Uber, DoorDash, and Upwork that connect people to earning opportunities.

CareYaya, created by co-founders Neal Shah and Gavry Eshet, is a platform that connects families to student caregivers.

But unlike other gig-economy platforms, CareYaya does not take a cut. Supported by funds from local universities, governments, health systems, and employers, CareYaya is free for both students and families alike.

Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin shared in an exclusive interview that she thinks the solution can have “really dramatic impacts.”

“It’s a totally new approach to caring for seniors, and as this demographic continues to grow, we’re going to need new ideas and new ways of doing things,” said Baldwin.

Raleigh Mayor praises CareYaya, shares personal connection to mission

Baldwin has a personal connection to the startup’s mission. After her father passed away, her mother—who was suffering from dementia—came to live with her, and Baldwin took up the role of caretaker.

“It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life,” said Baldwin. “You do it because you care for people, but having more resources would have been really helpful.”

After taking on the caretaker role, Baldwin realized how essential companionship was for her mother and all seniors. According to AARP, one in three adults reports a lack of regular companionship, and one in four reports feeling isolated from other people at least some of the time. The National Institute on Aging says the health risks of prolonged isolation are as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

But at the time, Baldwin found it challenging to hire a companion. She believes CareYaya will connect more families to options for quality companionship.

“I absolutely would have used this service because it would have been more affordable, but it also would have been just really good energy,” said Baldwin. “Young people bring a different energy and enthusiasm.”

Leveraging students to close the caregiver gap

The tech-enabled caregiver registry was launched last year and has since recruited and vetted more than 2,000 student caregivers.

Students can apply to be caregivers on the CareYaya website. According to Roxy Garrity, CareYaya’s director of communications, CareYaya is selective; she shared that only around 20 percent of applicants are accepted into the caregiver registry.

Garrity also said that CareYaya is scaling rapidly—potentially reaching 50,000 to 75,000 students when they expand into other cities within North Carolina.

“This could help make a significant impact on the caregiver shortages in NC, by meaningfully expanding the population that participates in the care economy,” said Garrity in an email interview.

Student caregivers are paid $15 an hour, according to the CareYaya website. That’s 30 percent higher than North Carolina’s median wage of $11.47.

Families can use the platform to find caregivers who provide companionship, light housekeeping, and light meal preparation. The students cannot provide medical care, transportation, or help with bathing.

Similar to other gig economy platforms, there is a rating system—families can “rate” each caregiver after every session.

Triangle-based growth

CareYaya was first tested out last year at UNC-Chapel Hill. Since the pilot, the platform has grown significantly.

According to Garrity, CareYaya’s student caregivers have worked with more than 800 families in the Triangle area.

Tom Snyder, Executive Director of the Raleigh-based internet-of-things-focused nonprofit RIoT, told me that CareYaya has grown quickly. CareYaya participated in the RIoT Accelerator Program (RAP), a 12-week intensive startup accelerator, last spring as part of the tenth RAP cohort.

“CareYaya has created a solution that provides value to every stakeholder group and, as a result, are scaling rapidly,” said Snyder.

Rachael Newberry, Program Director at RIoT, told me in an interview how “impressed” RIoT was by the startup founders.

“They listened deeply to the needs of the families they serve, and also the students and large healthcare organizations,” said Newberry.

Baldwin said that she thinks the Triangle is “the perfect place” for a startup like CareYaya because we have so many healthcare facilities here.

“I think it’s a good fit,” said Baldwin. “But I also love it because it brings attention to Raleigh and our startup community.”

Learn more about CareYaya at careyaya.org.