NEXT TO KIN
Our Approach
This page is here for people who want to understand how we think — not just what we make.
People will always need other people.
Next to Kin is built on a simple belief: technology shouldn’t replace care. It should support human care quietly, respectfully, and only when it’s needed.
What Next to Kin does
Next to Kin is a technology company that uses simple NFC tags to help reunite people with cognitive disabilities — including dementia — with the people who love them.
The technology is intentionally minimal. It doesn’t track, monitor, or follow anyone. It only activates when a human chooses to help.
Who we’re really building for
While our products are worn by individuals, our work is ultimately for caregivers.
Caregivers are tired, overwhelmed, and constantly alert — and too often, unseen. Many live with a quiet background anxiety: “What happens if someone notices first?”
Next to Kin exists to help carry some of that weight.
The real problem we’re solving
This isn’t a tracking problem. It isn’t a monitoring problem. It’s a human hesitation problem.
- People want to help — but fear doing the wrong thing.
- They worry about offending someone.
- They don’t want to escalate a situation.
- They don’t know what to do next.
Our job is to make the “next right step” calm and clear.
A simple reflex
Think about how public safety spreads. Most people learned “Stop, Drop, and Roll” long before they ever needed it — and because of that, it became a reflex.
We’re applying the same idea to moments of uncertainty:
See what’s happening. Pause before reacting. Tap to help reconnect someone with their family.
Why we focus on a community safety net
Instead of marketing to caregivers, we focus on building a community safety net around them. That means normalizing calm, respectful help — and teaching people what to do before a moment happens.
A proven Canadian precedent
Canada has seen this work before. The War Amps key tag program became widely recognized by putting a simple, helpful object into everyday life — and quietly training a nation to know what to do when keys were found.
We’re inspired by that same principle: embed a simple action into daily life, and let care become normal.
Why we start with school aged education (and making)
Kids naturally want to help. When they learn what to do early, helping becomes normal — not scary.
You may also see us using 3D printing in community or school settings. That isn’t a gimmick — it’s a signal: technology can be gentle, local, and rooted in care. Young minds should feel empowered to build helpful tools, not just consume them.
What we are — and aren’t
- We are not building surveillance.
- We are not tracking people.
- We are not automating care away from families.
- We are building trust, preparedness, dignity, and shared understanding.
Technology supports the moment. People make it work.
A quiet invitation
If you’re here because you’re caring for someone — you’re not alone.
If you’re here because you want to know how to help — thank you.