AI-industrie.png

Smart Manufacturing & Materials-iStock-1135159658-BEWERKT.jpg

<p><strong>As pressure on the Dutch healthcare system increases, so does the pressure on informal caregivers—the unpaid support that family members and friends provide to their loved ones. However, this informal care often presents significant challenges: physical, emotional, and financial. Startup Valtes offers an innovative solution by using artificial intelligence (AI) to support informal caregivers. Co-founders Erjen Derks and John Beuving share their mission, challenges, and vision for the future.</strong></p><p><img src="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/Valtes_80b2b16ceb.jpg?token=janv8JYriFO01dU2zzg6wdmzvTcPnuL8sUh5NObpULw&amp;expires=1777453997" alt="Valtes.jpg" srcset="https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/thumbnail_Valtes_80b2b16ceb.jpg?token=pEMYXWIDtSdYYH4VCl5MZ564ie_mSOBGF9s2KwUqGkQ&amp;expires=1777453997 245w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/small_Valtes_80b2b16ceb.jpg?token=DlMJ04TzVU1VvdV4ZHL86PW3cgX3Lbkv6STVwpcWw8Y&amp;expires=1777453997 500w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/medium_Valtes_80b2b16ceb.jpg?token=7Xt5jgc-6mQlQ1Qca_qipu4jLmq5LBc_Ugu1dGuBy1U&amp;expires=1777453997 750w,https://cms.aihub-oost.nl/uploads/large_Valtes_80b2b16ceb.jpg?token=oMmLqE-R_Z4s1c-UjN-uUrcj8K4zDcaTyoR7EGfw7Zs&amp;expires=1777453997 1000w," sizes="100vw" width="1920" height="1080"></p><p>Valtes: A Combination of Social, Political, and Technological Expertise<br>Valtes was founded in 2023 by Erjen Derks, a former alderman for social affairs and health and a member of the executive board of GGD Drenthe, and John Beuving, an AI expert with over 20 years of experience in the field, including healthcare. Together, they founded a company that seamlessly combines technology and social impact. Valtes’ goal: to empower informal caregivers to take control of their situation so they are no longer playing catch-up, and to support municipalities in this effort.</p><p>Valtes’ innovative approach did not go unnoticed: last year, Valtes won the People’s Choice Award at the 2024 National Healthcare Innovation Awards with nearly 30% of the votes. This award recognizes their valuable contribution to the healthcare sector and confirms that there is a need in society for impactful solutions for informal caregivers.</p><h2>AI-Driven Innovation: A Team of Experts</h2><p>Valtes’ success is driven by a team of exceptional caliber. The team includes experts with years of experience in the field of AI, including PhDs and postdocs. Together with healthcare professionals and former informal caregivers, they provide a combination of in-depth technical knowledge and practical experience, enabling Valtes to develop innovative solutions that have the greatest possible impact. “Our team understands not only the technology but also the human side of care,” explains John Beuving. “This allows us to apply AI in a way that truly adds value for people who care for others.”</p><p>&quot;We want to give informal caregivers peace of mind and control over their situation through reliable, user-friendly, and personalized technology.&quot; – John Beuving, Co-founder &amp; CTO of Valtes</p><h2>Advanced Products for Informal Caregivers</h2><p>Using this expertise, Valtes developed two products to support informal caregivers:</p><p>1.    The Valtes app: Nearly 85% of informal caregivers struggle to find the right information. Based on individual circumstances, Valtes creates a personalized daily selection of relevant tips, financial considerations, personal stories, events, and helpful organizations, and offers this to informal caregivers via a free app. Thanks to AI, the content is personalized based on a database filled with information from reliable partners such as MantelzorgNL.</p><p>2.    Radar solution for monitoring: Valtes is also developing an innovative radar system that monitors daily activities and detects anomalies such as frustration or falls. AI analyzes the data and provides insights that enable caregivers to intervene proactively. “The next step is to train our radar technology so that it goes beyond mere detection; we’re working on predictive functionality to move toward prevention and alleviate the strain on the healthcare system,” says John Beuving.</p><h2>AI as the Driving Force</h2><p>Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in both products. The app uses a recommendation system and combines advanced language models with smart information retrieval (Retrieval-Augmented Generation, RAG) to provide not only personalized answers via a digital assistant, but also proactive guidance and valuable insights. The radar uses advanced AI to recognize patterns and anomalies. “AI makes our solutions smarter, more efficient, more user-friendly, and above all, more personalized,” explains John. “It ensures that informal caregivers have quick access to the right information and support.”</p><h2>Collaborating with Users: The Key to Success</h2><p>Valtes puts the user first. The company adopts a user-centered development approach, involving informal caregivers at every stage: from problem definition to co-creation and testing. Feedback is continuously collected and processed through interviews, hackathons, focus groups, and A/B testing. In addition, Valtes embraces the citizen science model to build a user pool. This enables them to create solutions that truly meet the needs of caregivers. Furthermore, a great deal of attention is paid to accessibility. “We’re collaborating with (digital) literacy ambassadors from Biblionet Drenthe. People with low literacy or limited digital skills are testing our app and proactively providing feedback. “This has already led to many important adjustments, some of which will be implemented in the coming months,” explains Erjen Derks.</p><h2>Vision for the Future: From Personalization to Truly Tailored Care</h2><p>Valtes’ future plans are ambitious. In the short term, the focus is on expanding the number of partnerships with municipalities and social service organizations to further roll out the Valtes app throughout the Netherlands.  “Currently, the Valtes app has already been downloaded by informal caregivers in more than 250 municipalities. To be able to offer the app for free and provide the right information, we need to collaborate with municipalities or social service organizations,” explains Erjen Derks. In addition, major strides are being made in the development of the radar. In the long term, Valtes aims to shift from personalization to truly customized care by further refining AI and implementing it on a large scale.</p><blockquote><p><br>“We want to give informal caregivers peace of mind and control over their situation through reliable, user-friendly, and personalized technology,” says John. “Our goal is to make a real difference in their daily lives.”</p></blockquote><p>Valtes demonstrates how AI can contribute to a human, accessible care experience. By intelligently combining technology and collaboration, they make life a little easier for people who care for family, friends, and neighbors.</p><p>Text: <a href="https://www.healthvalley.nl/nl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Health Valley</a></p>

Valtes: Innovation with AI to Support Informal Care

These entrepreneurs have paved the way for you

Meet our frontrunners

Valtes.jpg

<p>As pressure on the Dutch healthcare system increases, so does the pressure on informal caregivers—the unpaid support that family members and friends provide to their loved ones. However, this informal care often presents significant challenges: physical, emotional, and financial. The startup Valtes offers an innovative solution by using artificial intelligence (AI) to support informal caregivers. Co-founders Erjen Derks and John Beuving share their mission, challenges, and vision for the future.</p>