AskSAMIE

AskSAMIE is a Kansas City-based platform that helps older adults, people with disabilities and their caregivers find adaptive equipment, services and educational resources so they can remain safely at home. Users describe their situation in plain language and the SAMIE tool returns matched product recommendations that have been vetted by occupational therapists. The catalog is organized by need — bathroom safety, mobility and walking, dementia and Alzheimer's, incontinence, pediatrics and vision — with roughly 130-150 items in the largest categories. Orders ship in two to three days, are HSA/FSA eligible at checkout, and most unused items can be returned within 30 days, with exceptions for single-use and incontinence products.

Beyond e-commerce, the company operates a directory of occupational therapists accepting clients across multiple U.S. states, sells virtual OT consultations and in-home safety assessments, publishes free guides, checklists and short courses, and refers users to a nationwide network of vetted accessibility contractors for ramps, grab bar installs, stair lifts and bathroom remodels through a partnership with VGM Live at Home. A payment-assistance finder powered by FindHelp.org surfaces local programs, grants and Medicaid waiver guidance by ZIP code. The company also runs the CareLab podcast, co-hosted by founder Dr. Brandy Archie and Higher Standards Caregiver Training founder Emilia Bourland.

The platform has broadened from a consumer marketplace for older adults into what the founder describes as a shared ecosystem across patients, families and providers, including subscription tools that help occupational therapists start and grow independent private practices.

Founding story

Founder Dr. Brandy Archie, an occupational therapist in Kansas City, repeatedly encountered patients who needed items such as bed rails and ramps that are not classified as durable medical equipment and therefore are not covered by insurance. Unable to connect patients to the equipment, installation and setup they needed in a timely way, she and colleagues built AskSAMIE to make curated adaptive equipment, services and education readily available so aging in place would be feasible.

Business model

AskSAMIE sells curated adaptive equipment and related products directly to consumers online, offers paid services such as virtual OT consultations and in-home safety assessments, and refers customers to third-party accessibility contractors. It has added subscription tools sold to occupational therapists who are starting or running private practices. Ten percent of the profit from every sale is reinvested into its Community Grant Project.

Product sales through its online store (HSA/FSA eligible, with installment payment via Shop Pay), fees for OT services and assessments, and subscription software for occupational therapists.

Traction

More than 500 occupational therapists were on the platform as of April 2026. The consumer site shows a 4.5 rating across 100+ reviews. The Community Grant Project raised $72,500 and its first cohort of 37 older adults received up to $1,500 each in adaptive equipment and services.

Latest developments

In April 2026, AskSAMIE was reported as one of eight companies in the Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator cohort with a $220,000 investment, with the program running through early June. The company brought co-founder and CTO Willie Apala Flaherty on full time and released new subscription tools for occupational therapists, with a stated near-term focus on clinician adoption and partnerships with organizations managing care transitions.