Cavira’s Founder & CEO is Manish Shirgaokar, Ph.D. After a decade of research on older adults, aging in place, and technology, he is determined to helping build a community of older adults who value independence and want to age in place knowing that their needs and safety are in good hands.

Our Story

Manish didn’t set out to work on aging or care systems. That changed as he watched his parents age in the home they had lived in for decades. At first, the shifts were subtle. His (late) mom went out less. His dad planned errands more carefully. Easy things like booking a ride, getting deliveries, or managing an app began to require more effort. From far away, Manish heard, “We’re fine.” But the details told another story.

• A missed medical appointment because transportation felt too complicated.

• A grocery delivery left outside too long and spoiled.

• A smart tool that became unusable when the software update failed.

Individually, these weren’t major failures. But together, they slowly chipped away at independence. What struck Manish most was the mismatch. The technologies meant to help assumed users’ comfort with complex interfaces. His parents didn’t want more technology, they wanted fewer problems. And yet, one thing was clear: as long as they remained independent and mobile, even within a smaller radius, their confidence and quality of life held steady.

The problem wasn’t aging in place. It was the systems around it.

Over time, Manish began talking more with Vipul, who had seen similar challenges in his own family. Both were trying to support their families from afar, navigating gaps that shouldn’t have existed. They quickly aligned around a shared urgency. Their conversations shifted from concern to design. Why did mobility require so much effort? Why weren’t deliveries accessible and reliable? Why did “smart” tools feel so unintuitive? They realized the issue wasn’t a lack of solutions; it was the lack of integration. Everything was fragmented, reactive, and burdensome.

That insight became the foundation for Cavira.

Cavira began not as a product, but as a belief: that independence, safety, and dignity can be supported through systems that work quietly in the background; anticipating needs instead of reacting to problems. For both Manish and Vipul, the question is deeply personal: How do you support someone you love from far away without taking away their independence?

Cavira is their answer: built on the belief that aging should feel supported, connected, and dignified.