Pittsburgh/Erie, PA – August 08, 2025 — Carnegie Foundry today announced the launch of Thryve Labs, an AI-powered company created to transform the way America cares for aging adults and individuals with disabilities - bringing scalable, affordable innovation to the millions of Americans providing care, whether at home or in long-term care facilities.
Thryve Labs emerges from stealth with seed funding led by Stand Together Ventures Lab (STVL) and participation from The Barber National Institute, a nationally recognized leader in care for individuals with disabilities and aging adults, which will also serve as the company’s first pilot site.
Built on advanced AI and contextual sensor technology originally developed in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center (NREC), Thryve Labs offers a passive, proactive, and privacy-preserving solution that delivers real-time, context-aware insights, alerts, and predictions. The platform ensures safety, supports autonomy, and empowers both family and professional caregivers. It’s a long-overdue solution for a market that has been overlooked for too long.
“Technology can help close the gap in care access, but only if it’s built with real empathy and purpose,” said Dr. Robert J. Szczerba, CEO of Carnegie Foundry. “Caregivers want better tools that truly make their lives easier and help keep their loved ones safe. Right now, they know they’re not getting that support from the healthcare system, the government, or the marketplace.”
Despite more than 55 million Americans actively engaged in caregiving, and a market exceeding $500 billion in direct and indirect economic value, technology leaders, health systems, and government programs have yet to offer meaningful, scalable solutions. Unlike traditional healthcare innovations that optimize billing or enterprise integrations, Thryve Labs is built for the human side of care. Its passive, predictive, and privacy-first approach reflects the nuance and emotional weight of caregiving, offering peace of mind to both unpaid family caregivers and overextended professionals facing burnout in institutional care.
The launch of Thryve Labs follows the release of The Family Caregiver Experience with Aging at Home, a joint research study by Carnegie Foundry and STVL, which revealed the emotional toll and unmet needs facing today’s caregivers. Findings include:
- Peace of mind, not EMR or clinical integration, ranked among the highest priorities
- Top stressorsinclude balancing personal responsibilities (34.4%), anxiety (26.7%), and witnessing loved one’s decline (16.7%)
- Most caregivers are willing to pay directlyfor tools that reduce stress and support daily care
- 84%already use or are considering in-home sensors
- The current caregiving market suffers from inconsistent qualityand a lack of scalable solutions
“This research confirms our investment belief - a future of health care where people, not systems, are the customers to serve,” said Jacob Rabinowitz, Managing Director of Stand Together Ventures Lab. “Caregivers are already making purchasing decisions for solutions that deliver real value. That’s a transformative market signal.”
The inclusion of The Barber National Institute as both investor and pilot site ensures that Thryve’s solutions are grounded in real-world care delivery. The Institute brings over 70 years of experience serving individuals with disabilities and aging adults and will help guide the development of specialized tools to support care teams—including features to enable evidence-based reimbursement.
“We see enormous potential for this technology to support staff, enhance care, and provide peace of mind to families,” said Robert Barber, Senior Vice President of The Barber National Institute. “We’re proud to partner and support Thryve Labs at this critical early stage, from the front lines of care.”
Thryve Labs will begin deployment with early access partners this quarter. For too long, caregivers have carried the burden of care without meaningful support from technology. Thryve Labs delivers a solution built for them - and for the people they care for.
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About Carnegie Foundry
Carnegie Foundry is a venture studio that commercializes advanced AI, sensor, robotics, and autonomy technologies in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University’s NREC. Focused on high-impact sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, energy, and national security, Carnegie Foundry builds companies that bring frontier technology into the real world. Inquiries: Michael Lutzky, michael@carnegiefoundry.com
About Stand Together Ventures Lab (STVL)
STVL is an early-stage investment firm that backs entrepreneurs solving the country’s most pressing problems. Aligned with the broader Stand Together vision, STVL invests in disruptive technologies and business models in healthcare, education, and economic mobility. Inquiries: Amina Resheidat, aresheidat@stventureslab.com
About The Barber National Institute
The Barber National Institute provides education, employment, residential, and behavioral health services to more than 6,000 individuals across Pennsylvania. With a legacy of pioneering care for individuals with disabilities and aging adults, the Institute continues to lead with compassion and innovation. Inquiries: Robert Barber, robertbarber@barberni.org