Li Secretary Smart Box: A Smart Elderly Care Companion Files IPO Prospectus

In January 2016, VCBeat’s VBInsight published its first in-depth review titled “A Comprehensive Analysis of Asset-Light Entrepreneurial Models in Elderly Care,” followed in March by “A New Entrepreneurial Frontier Emerges: The Rise of Asset-Light Opportunities in Elderly Care.” Moving forward, we will roll out a series of reports focusing on startups operating within niche segments of the asset-light elderly care sector. This article is the fifth installment.

Shenzhen Yige Information Service Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Yige”), founded in 2013 by Li Hang, is a leading domestic smart elderly care service platform company that integrates the research of intelligent technology solutions for home-based elderly care with the promotion and operation of home-based elderly care services. The company has gathered industry leaders and elites from the telecommunications, IT, and elderly care sectors both in China and abroad, forming a core team with strong capabilities in industrial research, technological R&D, and service operations. Since the launch of the Li Mishu Smart Box in October 2015, the total number of user applications has reached 22,000.

# Original Intention for Founding the Startup

By the end of 2014, China’s population aged 60 and above had reached 212 million, accounting for 15.5% of the total population. This figure is projected to double to 400 million around 2033, and by approximately 2050, the elderly population will constitute one-third of the nation’s total. Zhao Xubin, Vice President of Shenzhen Yige Information Services, stated, “Elderly care in China cannot rely solely on the government or adult children; new pathways must be explored. We aim to leverage social resources through an internet-based model and drive innovation within the elderly care industry.”

“China’s elderly care sector is still in its early stages,” Zhao Xubin explained, noting that the current model remains predominantly home-based, with institutional care playing a supplementary role. The elderly care industry is currently in its nascent phase, attracting growing interest from enterprises eager to enter the market. Meanwhile, consumption concepts among older adults are evolving, with an increasing emphasis on quality of life. Looking ahead, the aging population market will trend toward greater demand for high-quality services and enhanced care standards.

A Personal Secretary, an Expert Team, and a Comprehensive Solution

“All elderly individuals have needs for daily living assistance, health and safety, and emotional care. The Li Secretary Smart Box is neither a butler nor a domestic service provider; it not only helps seniors select services from their perspective but also tracks service delivery from the children’s standpoint,” said Zhao Xubin. “‘Li Secretary’ is not just an intelligent assistant; she is also a bond of love, truly providing warm, compassionate service to seniors—acting as a helper for the elderly and an assistant for their children.”



Yige is an internet platform that provides O2O services for the elderly at home, starting with the Li Secretary Smart Box and leveraging the “Internet+” model. By integrating online and offline resources across multiple industries, it pioneers a smart eldercare model.

It is extremely simple and convenient for seniors to use the services of Secretary Li. The Secretary Li Smart Box features only a single button. By pressing this button, users can connect with the call center of the Secretary Li service platform to obtain the information and services they need, ensuring ease of operation. Furthermore, “Secretary Li” provides 24/7 round-the-clock service, including holidays. Behind these services are a personal secretary, an expert team, and a comprehensive solution package. The primary beneficiaries are home-dwelling elderly individuals. Currently, “Secretary Li” offers three main functional modules, each addressing a different aspect of senior living.

1.Emotional Secretary

With their children working away from home for extended periods, the elderly often seek conversation to alleviate loneliness. “Secretary Li” arranges online interactions based on the seniors’ preferences.



2.Life Assistant

When feeling unwell, you can schedule a doctor’s appointment through “Secretary Li”; when needing to go out, you can book a ride-hailing service via “Secretary Li”; and when shopping, you can use “Secretary Li” to arrange for merchants to deliver purchases directly to your door.



3.Health and Safety Secretary

Chronic disease profiles can be established for elderly patients with chronic conditions. In the event of elevated blood pressure or blood glucose levels, they can contact “Secretary Li” to receive health guidance and set up scheduled medication reminders. The service also provides consultation support to help seniors prevent fraud and regularly pushes wellness and health maintenance information.



"Secretary Li" will also develop and offer additional services in the future, including smart home security protection and intelligent caregiving. It can detect household gas leaks and provide smoke alarms, among other features.



Helping the Elderly Build Their Own Social Circles

Zhao Xubin stated, “There are currently no products in the market that are homogeneous with ‘Secretary Li,’ which can be said to have opened up a blue ocean in the short term. At present, the services, products, and internet concepts in the home-based elderly care industry are unique. Our core competitiveness lies in our understanding of the elderly and their psychological needs, and we build user stickiness through the thoughtful service provided by our secretaries.”

Founder Li Hang introduced that the secretariat consists of four components. The first component comprises general customer service agents, who primarily address the routine needs of elderly users. The second component consists of psychology graduates, whose main role is to engage in conversational support with the elderly; this process follows strict guidelines to ensure interactions remain appropriate and beneficial. The third component includes medical school graduates, who provide health consultation services to the elderly. The fourth component involves the elderly users themselves, as peer-to-peer communication tends to be more effective. Through the device, seniors can make voice calls to one another, and we can facilitate the creation of social networks among them.

Two Major Revenue Sources

The “Li Mishu” (Secretary Li) platform generates revenue primarily from two sources. The first is the secretarial service fee, which amounts to less than RMB 1 per day. This covers basic services such as chat companionship, visitation assistance, reminders, and simple proxy tasks. It also serves as an interface connecting elderly users with merchants, facilitating services like ticket booking, ride-hailing, and hospital appointment registration. Additionally, it offers complimentary one-time health check-ups and in-home massage services. The majority of revenue comes from the latter component, namely fees charged to merchants. Currently, the Li Mishu membership service is priced at RMB 599 for activation, which includes a smart box and one year of service; an annual service fee of RMB 240 is required thereafter. Zhao Xubin informed VCBeat that the company is about to complete its Series A financing round. The “Li Mishu” smart box has already been launched in multiple cities across China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Chongqing, Wuhan, and Fuzhou, and will be available on JD.com by the end of this month.