Pontosense

The problem

In the US, more than 14 million adults aged 65 and over, one in four, fall each year, and the fall death rate rose 21% between 2018 and 2024 (CDC). Panic buttons only work if the person is conscious and wearing one, and cameras are unwelcome in bedrooms and bathrooms.

The solution

Silver Shield is a wall-mounted mmWave radar sensor, with no camera or microphone, that detects falls and bed exits and tracks activity, sleep and bathroom trips. The app shows live position on a floor plan and places an alert call. The same core powers an in-cabin sensor co-developed with Japan's SMK.

How it works

1. A millimeter wave radar continuously transmits and reads reflections off the body, with a stated sensitivity of 0.15 mm of motion at up to about 30 feet.
2. Proprietary algorithms rebuild an anonymized silhouette, a hologram, that describes posture, gait and position in the room.
3. Edge processing classifies events: falls (99% accuracy claimed by the company), bed exits, bathroom visits, activity changes.
4. Alerts go to relatives' phones or to the care agency dashboard, which brings detection, alert and response into one view.
5. In a car, the same approach measures heart rate, breathing and heart rate variability while filtering out road vibration, to spot a forgotten child or a drowsy driver.

Value proposition

Round-the-clock monitoring with nothing to wear and no camera, bathrooms included. The company claims 24% more seniors served for home care agencies and 77% fewer interruptions in senior living, figures without published detail.

Technology edge

Pontosense started in automotive: its hardware is rated from -40 to 120 °C and SMK describes the in-cabin sensor as compliant with Euro NCAP child presence detection requirements. One radar and AI stack serves two markets, aging and mobility, which spreads R&D costs. The 99% fall accuracy is a company figure with no independent study published.

Business model

Sensor plus software platform sold to agencies and senior living (B2B), integration with partners (Genus Care, Wisdom), consumer sales through Silvie.com (B2C), and modules supplied to SMK for automotive. Public price: Not disclosed.

Market

According to the CDC (2018 to 2024 data released in 2026), one in four US adults aged 65 and over falls each year. Target segments: home care, senior living, remote care, then in-cabin sensing driven by Euro NCAP protocols.

Competitors and alternatives

Israel's Vayyar Care has worked with Amazon's Alexa Together for home fall detection since December 2021. In the cabin, Serbia's NOVELIC was nominated in June 2025 by a Tier 1 supplier for its 60 GHz radar, with production planned for 2026. Pontosense's angle is one sensor stack for both seniors and cars.

Use cases

• VHA Home HealthCare, a Canadian home care nonprofit, began piloting Silver Shield with older clients in April 2024.
• Genus Care, a Dutch remote care platform, has been integrating Silver Shield into its ecosystem since October 2025.
• Wisdom, a smart home system for aging in place, started integrating the Silver Shield radar in Q1 2026.

Traction and proof points

Pilot with VHA Home HealthCare (April 2024). SMK partnership since June 2022, series production planned for 2026 (child presence) and 2027 (vital signs). Acquired pet care firm RExSense (September 2024). Red Dot Design Award 2025. Partnerships with Genus Care (October 2025) and Wisdom (March 2026). Customer logos: Comfort Keepers, Assisting Hands, Visiting Angels. CES Innovation Awards 2024 Honoree (Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility). At CES 2023 to 2026.

What remains to be proven

The 99% accuracy and the agency gains are not backed by any published clinical study or independent evaluation. The installed base is not disclosed. Automotive series production with SMK, expected in 2026, has yet to be tied to a named automaker.