The scent of freshly baked bread, the familiar creak of a tram, or the vibrant splash of paint on a grey wall – these are the sensory anchors of community, often taken for granted. Yet, for many seniors, the rapidly advancing digital world has become a new kind of barrier, a silent wall separating them from the very connections that define their later years. In Munich, a startup named Enna is dismantling this wall, one intuitive device at a time, bringing the warmth of family chats and shared memories back into the lives of the elderly.
The Genesis of Connection: From Cardboard to Community
Jakob Bergmeier, a trained mechatronics engineer, witnessed this digital isolation firsthand with his own grandmother. Living in a nursing home, she was increasingly cut off from the daily happenings of her family. “We used to talk a lot about the weather, or about how the ‘Sechzger’ (a local football team) had lost again,” Bergmeier recalls, a hint of melancholy in his voice. This yearning for connection sparked an idea, a simple yet profound solution that began, remarkably, with a cardboard box.
Ten years ago, that cardboard box, equipped with three buttons and a small processor, became the prototype for Enna. Connected to a monitor, it allowed Bergmeier to send his grandmother the first pictures and messages via a specially programmed app. “Today, my grandmother is much more up-to-date on what’s happening in our family,” he says, a smile replacing the earlier sadness. What started as a personal project is now a company with 23 employees, connecting thousands of seniors with their families across the internet.
The Silent Struggle: Digital Exclusion in an Increasingly Connected World
Astrid Mönnikes, who heads the “Digitalpakt Alter” (Digital Pact for Seniors), a German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs funding project aimed at enabling digital participation for the elderly, understands the challenges intimately. “Almost everyone has a suitable device to go online these days,” she explains, “The problem is that many cannot use it.” A representative study, “Senior:innen, Information, Medien” (SIM), reveals a stark reality: approximately five million Germans never use the internet. Among those over 60, 13 percent are completely “offline,” a figure that jumps to 38 percent for seniors over 80.
Mönnikes highlights the growing expectation for people to manage their lives digitally. “The Deutschlandticket (Germany ticket) can only be printed with great difficulty, doctor’s appointments are supposed to be made via app, and some cities even offer their citizen advisory services only digitally. This development leaves people behind,” she warns. The impact extends beyond the elderly, affecting individuals with low incomes or limited education. “Feeling digitally excluded can lead to loneliness,” Mönnikes emphasizes, “and especially with medical services, health is directly dependent on it.”
Enna: A Bridge Built on Trust and Simplicity
In his Munich office, Jakob Bergmeier demonstrates the evolution of his cardboard invention. Enna is now a sleek docking station for a tablet, designed with the intuitive simplicity of a child’s game console. It features a forward button, a back button, and a central area for action cards. These cards, resembling EC cards, are the key to Enna’s accessibility. “Exactly what is written on the card always happens,” Bergmeier explains, emphasizing the clear and straightforward nature of the device.
If Bergmeier’s grandmother wants to see photos of her grandson, Emilio, she places the “Photos of Emilio” card on the station. To initiate a video call with Jakob, she places the “Call Jakob” card on the contact area. There are cards for weather forecasts, favorite series, or preferred podcasts, and Bergmeier’s team can program many other functions. This tangible, card-based interaction eliminates the fear and complexity often associated with modern technology.
“Many older people are really afraid of technology. They are afraid of doing something wrong.” – Jakob Bergmeier, Enna Founder
Over the course of their company’s journey, Jakob Bergmeier and his two co-founders have gained deep insights into the needs of seniors. “Many older people are really afraid of technology,” he reiterates. “They are afraid of doing something wrong. We try to build trust with the device and give them the security that it does exactly what they want. Without this trust, Enna would not work.”
The Impact: Rekindled Connections and Renewed Lives
Since its market launch at the end of 2022, over 7,000 Enna devices are now in circulation. Customers rent the device, including a starter card set, and pay a monthly fee. The accompanying app boasts 35,000 active users, who eagerly share their experiences on the startup’s website. There’s the daughter who reports that her mother is now much more involved in family life. The over 90-year-old grandfather who quickly mastered the technology. And the senior who, according to her daughter, suddenly feels as if she has a new flatmate – Enna.
Astrid Mönnikes notes that the economy is only just beginning to recognize older people as a target group and to address their needs in digital daily life. “Seniors need reliable local structures. They need contact persons they can go to who can help them with internet questions. Data protection is much more important to older people than to young people.” Mönnikes corroborates Bergmeier’s experience: “They need applications that they can use easily. If they see that a digital device makes their lives easier, they will use it.”
The “Digitalpakt Alter” is now entering its next funding phase. Over the next four years, municipalities will be supported in building structures that enable digital participation for elderly people locally. The focus is on rural, structurally weak communities where services are often significantly less developed than in urban areas. Because, as Mönnikes concludes, “If the state proclaims ‘digital first’ as its motto, it is part of its duty of care to enable digital participation for everyone.”
Enna is more than just a device; it’s a testament to the power of empathy and innovation. It’s a reminder that true progress isn’t just about creating new technologies, but about ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, can be a part of the evolving story of human connection.
