How WalkAbout helps active agers find purpose in life after 55

Deval Delivala, a co-founder and CEO of WalkAbout India Pvt Ltd, noticed a stark contrast between how older adults in the United States and India lived. In the U.S., those over the age of 55 viewed themselves as active, independent, and pursuing hobbies, while in India, older adults were often dependent on their children and rarely engaged in activities.

Delivala, who had previously worked at Uber in the U.S., returned to India after leaving her job in 2018. She then took a year to figure out her purpose and joined GetSetUp, an online social learning and interactive platform for 'active agers'—a term GetSetUp uses instead of 'older adults'. GetSetUp launched operations in India in 2021 and rebranded itself as WalkAbout India Pvt Ltd. Delivala believes that the years spent during one's 40s, 50s, and 60s on physical and mental well-being can lead to an independent and active lifestyle in later years, similar to that seen in many Western countries.

With around four decades of life post retirement, she emphasizes that this time should not be spent just at home, but actively improving one's health and mental well-being. GetSetUp India initially focused on reskilling classes to help active agers find purpose in life, covering topics such as starting a business on Airbnb or working with Excel.

After the pandemic, the platform shifted towards an online community and social engagement, offering classes in finance, health, enrichment, and social. The finance vertical includes classes on financial planning, will writing, and entrepreneurship support, with a 12-week accelerator programme to help participants build and pitch their business ideas.

Health classes focus on physical and mental well-being, such as strength training, yoga, and discussions about mental health. In the social vertical, WalkAbout creates a community for older adults to connect and share their experiences.