Grandkids on Demand: The Origin Story of Papa with Andrew Parker

About this episode

Andrew Parker discusses the origin of Papa, a company aimed at combating loneliness among aging adults through companionship.

What started as one grandson helping his Papa has grown into one of the most innovative companies in healthcare today. In our latest podcast episode, we sit down with Andrew Parker, the founder and CEO of Papa, to explore how a deeply personal family moment sparked a nationwide mission to combat loneliness, support caregivers, and redefine what it means to care for aging adults.Andrew’s story begins with a need familiar to many families: his grandfather simply needed a little help and a little company. Instead of relying on the traditional caregiving model, Andrew wondered, What if we could make companionship more accessible, more human, and more joyful? That question became the foundation for Papa, a platform connecting older adults with “Papa Pals,” a modern, community-driven approach he perfectly describes as “grandkids on demand.”In the episode, Andrew walks us through the early days of the idea, how he tested the concept, what he got wrong, and the surprising ways people responded. He opens up about the challenges of building a company in a space where emotional connection matters as much as logistics, as well as the pressure and responsibility that come with serving some of…

People in this episode

Host: Florida Funders

Guest: Andrew Parker

Topics covered

• healthcare
• loneliness
• caregiving
• innovation
• leadership
• community

Keywords

• Papa
• Andrew Parker
• caregiving
• loneliness
• healthcare innovation
• Papa Pals
• kindness economy

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Papa

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