Lifetools

Fotograf: Simen Falck

The Right to a Dignified Life

Over 6,000 Norwegians have major communication challenges because they lack verbal language and only communicate with gestures, sounds and facial expressions. Many of them have no or little cognitive capability for learning to use established communication solutions already existent on the market.

Lifetools has therefore developed the digital communication tool KnowMe, which helps this group to be seen and understood. The core of KnowMe is the filming and interpretation of non-verbal communication such as body language, facial expressions and sounds put into context. The digital solution ensures that important information is not lost during the transition to new life arenas such as between kindergarten and school, or when the child gets new helpers.

The company has received support from the Research Council of Norway to explore using AI tech and machine learning to investigate whether it is possible to automate the recognition and interpretation of body language, facial expressions, and sounds.

Tailored Impact-Linked Investment

We see a great potential in Lifetools, both in terms of its social impact and the company’s ability to achieve a strong and stable financial situation. It is, however, in an early phase, and will need a relatively significant amount of capital to achieve its ambitions.

We have therefore chosen to invest in the company through a FSE Impact Note, a variant of SAFE. This means that the company will receive money now, while we get a future right to subscribe for shares in the company. This is advantageous for the company’s founders because it limits the early dilution of their ownership of the company. It also ensures that the company is sufficiently robust to be able to address our governance requirements and that its impact and financial potential are more clearly confirmed before we invest equity.

Our agreement with the company is unique because the valuation of the company for our future equity investment is linked to its impact; we will have to pay more for shares in the company if it achieves its impact objectives during the agreement period. This fits with our profile as an impact-first investor, i.e., we attach more weight to a company’s social return than its financial return.

How much - Impact Performance

KnowMe has experienced steady growth in the number of new licenses, increasing from 393 licenses in 2023 to 467 licenses in 2024. In 2024, the company also secured a framework agreement with NAV Hjelpemiddelsentralen (Assistive Technology Center). Reported impact data demonstrates high active use and hence the usefulness of the tool, for example evidenced by the high number of diary entries over the two years. This also indicates that KnowMe contributes to improved communication for individuals without verbal language.
Another impact goal for Lifetools is to reduce worry for parents and guardians of people without verbal language. Their children require support from themselves or caregivers 24 hours a day, and it is crucial for them to know that their child has the opportunity to express their needs and feelings and receive the appropriate response and care. Although limited response date, 94% of partent respones reported that KnowMe has contributed to less worry for them as a parent/guaridan.

467

People who have had the opportunity to be understood:

51 000

Number of diary entries

Percentage of care givers who report having good insight and overview of the individual's daily activities and needs through the use of KnowMe
81%
Percentage of care givers who report increased awareness of the individual's way of communicating through the use of KnowMe
75%
Andel foreldre som svarer at KnowMe har vært et godt hjelpemiddel i overganger f.eks. fra bgh til skole, oppstart i avlastningsbolig ell.
80%
Percentage of parents who state that KnowMe has been a helpful tool during transitions, e.g., from kindergarten to school, starting in a respite care home, etc.
94%

How the figures were sourced:

People who have had the opportunity to be understood: This number is based on the total number of sold and actively running licenses in use, retrieved directly from the KnowMe solution and the company’s sales system.

Indicators for the care givers and parents: In 2024, the company sent out a survey to 42 networks that were renewing their licenses. The company also conducted in-depth interviews with several support persons and parents. The responses are based on a small sample; in total for 2023 and 2024, there were 32 responses from support persons and 16 from parents, and the results should therefore be interpreted with caution. At the same time, the interviews support the usefulness and impact of KnowMe.

Number of diary entries: This data is logged in the digital KnowMe solution and has been extracted for the period 01.01.24–31.12.24.

About the company

Founded: 2017
Founder: Morten Hope
Type of entity: Limited liability company