From Challenges to Growth: How Agewhale Scaled Its Impact | Co'asis Case Study
Founded by Grace Cheng, Agewhale is a social enterprise startup dedicated to enhancing eldercare through innovative tech solutions. Its all-in-one app helps caregivers manage the complexities of eldercare by providing personalized care planning, consultation support, and access to caregiving resources.
As the sole founder, Grace oversees all strategic and operational aspects—a challenging task of running a startup single-handedly. From securing funding to navigating market expansion, Grace encountered several challenges and was looking for professional assistance to enhance Agewhale's operational capabilities.
Recognizing the complexities she faced, Grace turned to Co'asis—Time Auction's program co-developed with the D.H. Chen Foundation that offers tailored support to match resources and talents with small to medium-sized organizations while fostering peer learning and collaboration among social impact organizations.
The Challenge
Although Agewhale secured initial funding for app prototype development, the transition from concept to market required additional capital. The startup needed to create a B2B service model to help sustain its B2C service for underprivileged caregivers. Expanding into the B2B market required deep understanding of market needs to develop effective corporate service packages.
The startup also faced challenges developing its pricing strategy and lacked the financial expertise to set optimal price points. Additionally, it needed hands-on digital marketing support for outreach and lead generation.
Our Solution
With Co'asis’ personalized support, Agewhale engaged with 4 professional volunteers who were pivotal in developing a the B2B service plan. These experts collaborated to craft a financial forecast, refine business strategies, and explore effective pricing models.
Furthermore, Co'asis connected Grace with volunteer consultants from NGO and corporate backgrounds through Calls with Experts. These consultations provided valuable insights into corporate engagement strategies and HR practices, helping Grace to better understand her target market and develop relevant services.
To bolster its funding avenues, Agewhale also benefited from insights into grant-making, enhancing its applications and understanding of impact measurement. This comprehensive support was complemented by 33 skilled volunteers who supported Agewhale’s digital marketing efforts— from social media content creator, blog copywriter, to SEO experts and translators.
In just eight months, Agewhale not only secured pivotal funding from the HKEX Foundation for its Caregiver Workforce Reintegration and Working Caregiver Support program, but also laid a solid foundation for its service expansion. The support from Co'asis and skilled volunteers translated into tangible outcomes: better market positioning, enhanced operational capabilities, and a boost in digital engagement.
Agewhale's story is more than just a case study of a nonprofit startup's growth—it's a narrative about the power of community and accessing the right support at each stage of development. As Agewhale continues to expand its impact, the Co'asis community journeys alongside, fostering co-learning, co-development, and collaboration for growth.
Want to grow your nonprofit and be part of a vibrant community of impact makers? Join Co’asis to connect, learn, and collaborate!