When Martin Droruga co-founded Amicare alongside CTO Azaan Azam and CDO Matthew Alemi, the mission was clear: to make care more accessible, personal, and human. The inspiration came from Martin’s own experience caring for a loved one with cancer and later supporting long-term care facilities during COVID-19—moments that revealed both the emotional toll and systemic gaps in the way care is delivered. Born and raised in Uganda, Martin became a caregiver as a teenager, helping manage the care of a terminally ill loved one with cancer. “It was stressful and heartbreaking,” he shares. After his loved one passed away in 2019, the seed for Amicare was planted—a chance to ease the burden for others navigating the same struggles. That moment would set the foundation for a bold, scalable response to one of Canada’s most pressing healthcare challenges.

Martin immigrated to Canada in 2013, beginning his studies at the University of Manitoba before completing his master’s degree at Western University in London. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked on the frontlines supporting care teams reduce viral spread in long-term care homes, among other facilities, by wrapping high-touch surfaces with antimicrobial copper—gaining first-hand insight into the systemic strain care workers were under and the ripple effects it had on the well-being of residents and families.

That vision became Amicare—a platform designed to help people safely age in place, while offering a modern and scalable response to workforce shortages across the care continuum.

Aging at home, supported with dignity

Launching August 7th with a limited beta in Brampton, Mississauga, and Scarborough, Amicare is a mobile-first, on-demand home care marketplace that connects families and seniors with independent caregivers for non-medical support—including companionship, errands, light housekeeping, and mobility assistance.

Care can be arranged instantly, with no contracts or monthly commitments. Families pay only for the hours they need. By considering preferences such as language, location, culture, and care needs, the platform helps ensure every match is both meaningful and personalized—enhancing trust, comfort, and continuity.

This initial waitlist-based launch will allow the team to refine operations and scale responsibly as they validate demand and optimize the experience for all users.

A flexible complement to overstretched systems

Ontario’s long-term care and hospital systems have been under strain for years. Caregiver shortages, growing waitlists, and administrative inefficiencies often leave families with limited options.

Amicare helps alleviate these pressures by introducing flexibility on the supply side. Rather than competing with institutions, the platform complements them—serving as a nimble layer of support that empowers communities to bridge care gaps more quickly and affordably.

The platform’s enhanced features include real-time onboarding with ID and selfie verification, transparent pricing, and a contractor-friendly structure that gives caregivers greater autonomy. These elements combine to offer a smoother, more human experience for both sides—all within a framework that respects the complexity of care work.

Building infrastructure for broader impact

While Amicare is launching with a focus on families and aging in place, its modular technology is built with broader applications in mind. Beginning in September, the company will collaborate with the University of Toronto Machine Intelligence Student Team (UTMIST), North America’s largest machine learning community, to expand its platform capabilities aimed at helping long-term care homes, hospitals, and retirement facilities address staffing shortages and improve care continuity.

This work reinforces Amicare’s commitment to supporting both sides of the care economy: families in the community, and institutions managing high volumes of care delivery. It’s not about disruption—it’s about building shared infrastructure that works better, together.

A mission-driven team, guided by experience

Backed by a growing network of healthcare advisors, caregiving experts, and healthtech veterans, the Amicare team brings together deep technical expertise, operational insight, and real-world care experience.

As a proud Western University alumnus and TechAlliance community member, Martin’s journey reflects both local roots and global perspective—the kind of leadership that grounds innovation in purpose.

Home care, when and how it’s needed

At Amicare, the belief is simple: families deserve access to safe, culturally aligned, and flexible care options—not months-long waitlists or one-size-fits-all solutions. By building a system that prioritizes compatibility, autonomy, and trust, the team is creating new possibilities for aging in place, while reinforcing the broader healthcare ecosystem.

Amicare is rolling out a limited beta launch in Brampton, Mississauga, and Scarborough. Join the waitlist at www.amicare.io to be among the first to access personalized, on-demand home care during this early release. Outside our launch zones? Sign up anyway—we’ll notify you as we expand to new communities.