WalkAbout Helps Indians Over 55 Find Purpose After Retirement

Deval Delivala noticed something striking when she lived in the United States: people in their eighties were skiing, cycling, and living independently while Indians half their age were considered "senior citizens" and often dependent on their children. She decided to change that.

After returning to Mumbai and taking time off from her work at Uber, Delivala co-founded WalkAbout, a platform dedicated to helping Indians over 55 stay active and find purpose. The venture launched in 2021 with a simple belief: the decades between 60 and 100 are far too long to spend just sitting at home.

WalkAbout offers classes across four areas: finance, health, enrichment, and social connection. The finance courses help people plan their retirement, write wills, and even start businesses through a 12-week accelerator program that ends with participants pitching their ideas on Demo Day.

The accelerator has attracted ambitious older adults with decades of experience who want to launch everything from packaged food ventures to pottery businesses. Five winners each receive 100,000 rupees in prize money, but Delivala says it's less about the cash and more about the support and confidence boost.

The health vertical addresses both physical and mental wellbeing through strength training, yoga, and athlete sponsorships for seniors competing in recognized sports. Mental health sessions tackle loneliness and the lack of purpose many older people feel, creating safe spaces for honest discussions about their feelings and experiences.

Why This Inspires

Delivala's vision challenges a deeply rooted cultural assumption about aging in India. She's showing that the work people put into their physical and mental health during their 40s, 50s, and 60s can lead to independent, vibrant lives well into their 80s, just like in many Western countries.

The platform recognizes that today's older generation is different from their parents' generation. They have time, money, and often unfulfilled passions they never got to pursue during their working years.

WalkAbout uses the term "active agers" instead of calling people "old" because language shapes how we see ourselves and our possibilities. It's helping Gen X build the same confidence millennials and Gen Z have about starting new ventures and trying new things.

The second edition of the accelerator is already running, proving demand exists for this kind of support. Participants bring wisdom, experience, and strong networks but often lack guidance on turning ideas into reality.

WalkAbout is building more than a business platform: it's creating a community where people find friendship, purpose, and proof that life after 55 can be just as exciting as the decades before it.