OnoratoAI is a parrot that uses AI and emotional computing to care for and improve the lives of the elderly. Pule2.0 interviewed OnoratoAI founder Pablo Mariñosa to learn more about the company.
Pablo Mariñosa’s Background
Could you tell us more about your professional experience? Mariñosa said:
“I’m Pablo Mariñosa, I’m 47 years old, and I started my first company at 19 in the restaurant sector. Since then, I haven’t stopped creating projects in different sectors, and for the last 10 years, I’ve been in the technology sector.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come about? Mariñosa shared:
“My father and I shared thousands of meals, but some were special: Thursday lunches. Every Thursday, we would go to eat paella at his favorite restaurant, and next to it was a real parrot that he adored. We had to greet it when we arrived and when we left because it was its moment of happiness. The look on his face when the parrot said “hello” was like a child at Disney. He had dementia for the last 3 years, and I took care of him obsessively, buying all sorts of devices to make his life—and mine—a bit easier, so he could continue living in his home. When he was hospitalized and had little time left, which neither of us knew, one night he asked me to buy him a parrot for companionship. I spent the whole night thinking about how I could fulfill his wish.”
“I came up with the idea of creating a parrot with artificial intelligence and emotional computing. This parrot would be equipped with a camera and a thermometer, capable of reminding my father when to take his medications, monitoring his temperature, detecting falls, and conducting cognitive exercises, among other functions—everything I couldn’t control with all the gadgets on the market over the past 3 years. After confirming the project’s viability with an amazing engineering lab in Barcelona, I created Onorato, which is the name my father gave it when I told him I ‘already had HIS parrot,’ a company dedicated to creating this parrot for international distribution.”
“Although my father is no longer here to enjoy Onorato, millions of people worldwide will benefit from it. He left me with a mission; I created Onorato to ensure that our elders can continue living in their homes until the end, safely and happily. Thank you, Dad; this is for you, always for you.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working at the company so far? Mariñosa reflected:
“The first time I showed Onorato to an elderly person, and she started crying with emotion and giving it kisses. It was incredible; it was just the shell, without the technology, but it achieved the emotional effect we were looking for: that people wanted to hug it when they saw it.”
Core Products
What are the main products and features of the company? Mariñosa explained:
“Onorato is a parrot with AI and emotional computing to provide companionship, care, and improve the lives of our elders. For them, a friendly pet offers companionship; for family members, there’s an app that monitors everything that’s happening.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Mariñosa and the team faced in building the company? Mariñosa acknowledged:
“The biggest challenge was designing Onorato’s shell so that it wouldn’t look like a robot, a toy, or too big or too small. It is essential for elderly people to want to hug it so that Onorato can capture its emotional factor, as well as creating the Onora system, the soul of Onorato, its operating system that will allow Onorato to be trained for 3 months before being delivered, so it can adapt to its owner’s personality.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since its launch? Mariñosa noted:
“We are developing an AI solution, so the possibilities, due to advances in this technology, are limitless.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the most important milestones for the company? Mariñosa cited:
“The main milestone that has taken us a year was developing the shell, designing the look and feel, as it was really complicated for it not to look like a toy, a robot, or too big or small; it had to evoke tenderness and make you want to hug it. And we’ve achieved that.”
“The second most important milestone was the development of the “Onora” system, the soul of Onorato. Its operating system will allow us to create a wide range of virtual parrots, with the goal of training each parrot for 3 months to adapt to its owner’s personality.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any success stories from specific clients? Mariñosa highlighted:
“We hired a model to shoot with a lovely 75-year-old woman. We wanted her not to see the parrot until the recording, and when she saw it, she literally started crying with emotion, hugging it and kissing it. This isn’t the first time this has happened when an elderly person sees it.”
“Additionally, we posted the video with the story on TikTok, and organically, it received 1 million views and thousands of overwhelming comments.”
Funding
When asking Mariñosa about the company’s funding? Mariñosa revealed:
“So far, we have invested €250,000 in product development and prepared a Kickstarter campaign.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) is the company pursuing? Mariñosa assessed:
“Worldwide, 800 million people are 65 years or older, and 60% live or will live alone. That’s our market: 500 million people.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What sets the company apart from its competitors? Mariñosa affirmed:
“Where the project comes from, which is based on a completely real experience and story, in addition to our design.”
Future Company Goals
What are some future goals for the company? Mariñosa pointed out:
“To have Onorato present in 3 million homes worldwide by 2030 and in 200 countries.”
