Meela Inc.

Meela is a New York City-based company that provides a personalized AI voice companion service for older adults. Enrolled seniors receive scheduled phone calls on their existing telephone; the company states that no additional devices, hardware or installation are required, and describes its product as the first AI companion for seniors that does not depend on bespoke devices. During calls, the system greets the person by name, recalls details from earlier conversations, and asks personalized questions based on the individual's interests, covering topics such as music, books, hobbies, travel and history, as well as questions about well-being. It can also lead simple wordplay or trivia games and act as a sounding board offering practical suggestions. Users choose the days and times they wish to be called.

Alongside the consumer-facing conversation layer, Meela surfaces selected insights from calls to designated care staff. If a senior reports an ongoing concern such as chest or leg pain, the system generates real-time alerts recorded in a HIPAA-compliant dashboard, where communities can view member feedback and receive notifications indicating areas requiring staff or clinician follow-up. The stated purpose is to enable proactive intervention in settings where caregiver resources are constrained.

Meela operates in skilled nursing facilities, independent living, continuing care retirement communities and assisted living environments, and has stated plans to expand into memory care and home care settings.

Founding story

Meela was founded by Josh Sach, previously a product manager and business builder at Microsoft and Lyft. Sach describes a personal connection to the problem after observing his grandparents, father-in-law and mother experience physical and mental health decline and increasing social isolation. He built the first iteration of the product and signed the company's first customer before leaving Lyft to pursue Meela full-time.

Business model

Meela sells its AI voice companion to senior care organizations and communities, which enroll residents and receive conversational insights and clinical alerts through a HIPAA-compliant staff dashboard. Sources do not disclose pricing or contract structure.

Not disclosed in the available sources; the product is deployed with senior living and care operators as customers rather than described as a direct consumer purchase.

Traction

Bain Capital Ventures reports average conversation length of over ten minutes, 35% of participants speaking with Meela for more than 25 minutes in a single call, over 50% retention at 90 days in early pilots, and an average experience rating of 4 out of 5. The technology is in use by residents at a New York assisted living center, and named early customers include RiverSpring Living, which serves over 22,000 people daily across independent living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, rehab and home care services.

Latest developments

Following the September 2025 seed round, the company said it would invest in R&D, expand product capabilities and pursue clinical efficacy research. Bain Capital Ventures notes the team is growing and that the founder is recruiting technical talent with voice AI experience and industry experts, with plans to expand into memory care and home care environments.