CARU
CARU is a Zürich-based AgeTech company that builds voice-activated emergency response systems (CARU care) and indoor air quality monitors (CARU air) for elderly individuals living independently at home, selling direct-to-consumer in Switzerland and through German care organization partners including DRK, BRK, and Johanniter.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What CARU does
CARU is a Swiss-based AgeTech and HealthTech company, founded in 2017 and headquartered in Zürich, that develops voice-activated emergency communication systems for elderly individuals living independently at home. The core product, CARU care, consists of a base station with a built-in 4G LTE/2G GSM roaming SIM, WiFi connectivity, CO2 sensor, and companion wearable transmitter (Vibby OAK) featuring automatic fall detection. Users can trigger an emergency alert via voice command (saying 'Hilfe'), button press, or automatic fall detection. The system integrates with multiple European alarm center platforms (Enovation UMO, Tunstall PNC, ESI, Telealarm, SkyResponse) and ships pre-configured for plug-and-play deployment. A separate sub-brand, CARU air, offers standalone indoor air quality monitoring.
CARU operates a hybrid go-to-market model: in Switzerland it sells directly to consumers through its e-commerce web shop at caru-care.com with hardware priced at CHF 499 plus tiered monthly subscriptions (Notruf Family at CHF 34/month, Plus at CHF 44/month, Professional at CHF 54/month); in Germany, sales are channeled exclusively through partner care organizations including DRK, BRK, Johanniter, and Volkssolidarität, with end users eligible for a EUR 25.50/month GKV statutory health insurance subsidy if they have Pflegegrad 1 or higher following CARU's April 2022 certification under positionsnummer 52.40.01.1116. The company operates two legal entities — CARU AG in Switzerland and CARU GmbH in Lübeck, Germany (founded 2022) — and is led by co-founders Dr. Susanne Dröscher and Thomas Helbling.
The company's product strategy emphasizes non-stigmatizing industrial design, with the base station styled to resemble a modern speaker rather than medical equipment, and is supported by a browser-based CARU Management Platform for partner fleet management. Reported user engagement is high, with 90% of users utilizing fall detection and 80% using a health function such as CO2 monitoring or hydration reminders. The business has secured a 2019 AAL Programme grant of approximately $2.7 million, holds CE marking and Innosuisse certification, and has been recognized with the Design Preis Schweiz award.
CARU firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CARU
- Legal name
- CARU AG
- Website
- https://caru-care.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CARU is a Zürich-based AgeTech company that builds voice-activated emergency response systems (CARU care) and indoor air quality monitors (CARU air) for elderly individuals living independently at home, selling direct-to-consumer in Switzerland and through German care organization partners including DRK, BRK, and Johanniter.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CARU industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Personal Emergency Response Systems
- NAICS
- Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)
- SIC
- Auto Controls For Regulating Residential & Comml Environments (3822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Combination Smoke/CO Alarm Systems (HSAHAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Smart Air Quality Sensors, Purifiers & Humidifier/Dehumidifier Integration (HSAOANAH)
Keywords
Where CARU is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CARU business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: One-time purchase of base station and wearable transmitter. Swiss market: CHF 499 for complete kit. Device can also be purchased with monthly service subscription.
- Hardware Rental: Monthly rental option with one-time setup fee. Swiss market: CHF 120 setup fee plus CHF 20/month rental.
- Monitoring Subscription Services: Monthly subscription tiers providing emergency response services: Family (calls up to 5 private contacts), Plus (private contacts then alarm center), Professional (direct 24/7 alarm center connection). Swiss pricing: CHF 34-54/month. German pricing includes GKV subsidy of EUR 25.50/month for customers with Pflegegrad 1+.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Notruf Family: Up to 5 private contacts called in sequence. For users with local support network. |
| Subscription | Monthly | Notruf Plus: Private contacts called first, then 24/7 alarm center if unanswered. |
| Subscription | Monthly | Notruf Professional: Direct connection to 24/7 alarm center with contact person notification and professional help coordination. |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-time hardware purchase for Swiss market. |
| Subscription | Monthly | Device rental with setup fee for Swiss market. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
CARU product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CARU develops and sells an integrated home emergency response system (CARU care) combining a base station with voice-activated emergency calling, a wearable transmitter (Vibby OAK) with automatic fall detection, and built-in health monitoring features (CO2 air-quality sensor and hydration reminders). Devices are sold with subscription-based 24/7 monitoring that connects to alarm centers or private contacts, and a separate standalone CARU air CO2 monitor and a web-based remote device management platform for partners are also offered.
Product overview
CARU offers a modular home emergency response ecosystem centered on CARU care, which combines a base station with the Vibby OAK wireless panic button featuring built-in fall detection. The system operates through three subscription tiers (Notruf Family, Plus, and Professional) providing escalating levels of monitoring from self-managed contact networks to professional 24/7 call center connectivity. Health features including CO2 monitoring and hydration reminders are included in all plans. The separate CARU air product provides standalone CO2 monitoring. The CARU Management-Plattform enables partners to remotely manage device fleets and configurations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CARU air: CO2 measuring device that displays air quality using a color-coded traffic light system to indicate when ventilation is needed.
Products and services
- CARU care Smart home emergency response system with voice-activated panic button, automatic fall detection, CO2 air-quality monitoring, hydration reminders, and 24/7 alarm-center or private-contact connectivity for elderly individuals living independently at home.
- CARU air Standalone CO2 monitoring device that measures indoor air quality and displays levels via a color-coded indicator system, alerting users when ventilation is needed.
- CARU Management-Plattform Browser-based platform for partner organizations to remotely configure and manage fleets of CARU care devices, with real-time status monitoring, batch configuration, alarm and device history tracking, and SCAIP-based alarm-center connectivity.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% of CARU users utilize fall detection feature
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CARU
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CARU technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability4 records
Feature7 records
CARU partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Enovation (UMO)coreCARU is an official Enovation UMO partner. The CARU system integrates with Enovation's UMO alarm center software for seamless emergency call processing and management.
- Tunstall (PNC)coreCARU is PNC certified by Tunstall, enabling integration with Tunstall's alarm center systems for emergency response processing.
- ESI (European Safety Institute)coreCARU is ESI certified, meeting European safety standards for emergency call systems.
- DRK (German Red Cross)coreDRK chapters across Germany (including Paderborn) distribute and service CARU emergency call systems. DRK provides 24/7 alarm center monitoring services.
- BRK (Bavarian Red Cross)coreBRK chapters (including Würzburg and Erding) distribute CARU systems and provide monitoring services. BRK staff report CARU as the most reliable solution in 20 years of emergency call service.
- JohannitercoreJohanniter-Unfall-Hilfe distributes CARU emergency call systems. Thomas Cordt, Head of Emergency Call Service Center, endorses CARU as the future of emergency calls.
- Volkssolidarität Chemnitz (VHN GmbH)coreVolkssolidarität Chemnitz, led by CEO Jana Uhlmann, uses CARU for emergency call services. Praised for regional identity fit and community sense alignment.
- BFU (Beratungsstelle für Unfallverhütung / Swiss Council for Accident Prevention)coreCARU collaborates with BFU on fall prevention education. BFU expert Ursula Meier Köhler provides tips for fall prevention featured in CARU's magazine/blog. BFU provides credibility and expert validation for CARU's safety positioning.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CARU competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MobileHelp: MobileHelp provides mobile and in-home PERS devices with fall detection and integrated monitoring, sold direct to US consumers. Directly comparable to CARU on the wearable fall-detection + monitored-service bundle, though with cellular-based mobile variants rather than CARU's voice activation.
- Bay Alarm Medical: Bay Alarm Medical is a US PERS provider selling in-home and on-the-go medical alert systems with fall detection and 24/7 monitoring. Comparable to CARU on product (fall-detection pendant + base station + subscription monitoring) and on the consumer hardware-plus-subscription model.
- Alert1: Alert1 is a US-based PERS provider offering home and mobile medical alert systems with fall detection and 24/7 monitoring centers. Comparable to CARU on the elderly-targeted, monitored subscription emergency response business model.
- Tunstall Healthcare: Tunstall is one of Europe's largest telecare / PERS providers, offering emergency response base stations, wearable triggers, and alarm-center software integrated with social-care providers. Directly comparable to CARU as it serves the same German Hausnotruf channel and is integrated into CARU's alarm-center stack via PNC certification.
- Legrand Care (Tynetec, Aidcall): Legrand Care operates the Tynetec and Aidcall brands and supplies telecare / PERS hardware and platforms to UK and European care providers. Comparable to CARU as a competing Hausnotruf-style hardware + monitoring platform supplier to DRK/BRK-equivalent care organizations.
- Medical Guardian: Medical Guardian is a leading US direct-to-consumer PERS provider offering in-home and mobile medical alert systems with 24/7 monitoring. Comparable to CARU on the consumer-facing subscription emergency-response model, though primarily North American.
- Essence SmartCare: Essence SmartCare provides IoT-based telecare and remote patient monitoring platforms (e.g. Care@Home) targeted at elderly independent living. Directly comparable to CARU's voice- and sensor-driven safety and health monitoring architecture and serves similar care-provider channels.
- Careium: Careium (formerly Doro Care) is a leading Nordic and European social-alarm and digital-care provider, selling emergency response devices and monitoring services to municipalities and care organizations. Highly comparable to CARU given its focus on elderly independent-living solutions in European care channels.
Others
- Vitalbase (Telecom Design): Vitalbase is the Healthcare division of Telecom Design and the actual manufacturer of CARU's Vibby OAK fall-detection wearable. Not a competitor but a key supplier and ecosystem participant comparable to CARU on the fall-detection / personal alarm hardware technology.
Broad incumbents
- Philips Lifeline (Connect America): Lifeline was the original North American PERS brand (Philips), now under Connect America, and remains the dominant US medical alert service. Broad incumbent comparable to CARU in the same personal emergency response category, though geographically focused on North America and operating at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CARU social profiles
Digital presenceCARU compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
CARU financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CARU leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
CARU funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CARU M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CARU
What does CARU do?
CARU develops and sells an integrated home emergency response system (CARU care) combining a base station with voice-activated emergency calling, a wearable transmitter (Vibby OAK) with automatic fall detection, and built-in health monitoring features (CO2 air-quality sensor and hydration reminders). Devices are sold with subscription-based 24/7 monitoring that connects to alarm centers or private contacts, and a separate standalone CARU air CO2 monitor and a web-based remote device management platform for partners are also offered.
Is CARU a public or private company?
CARU is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CARU founded?
CARU was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CARU based?
CARU is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does CARU make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are hardware Rental and monitoring Subscription Services.
Who are CARU's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MobileHelp, Bay Alarm Medical, Alert1, Tunstall Healthcare, Legrand Care (Tynetec, Aidcall), Medical Guardian, Essence SmartCare and Careium. Vitalbase (Telecom Design) is listed as an others. Philips Lifeline (Connect America) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does CARU have an API?
No public API is recorded for CARU.
What industry is CARU in?
CARU's product category is Personal Emergency Response Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAHAFAC, Combination Smoke/CO Alarm Systems, with a secondary code of HSAOANAH, Smart Air Quality Sensors, Purifiers & Humidifier/Dehumidifier Integration. Its NAICS code is 334512 and its SIC code is 3822.