Inside its Innovation and Technology Center in downtown Milwaukee, Direct Supply Inc. has quietly created a global startup hub for senior care innovation.

Over the past four years, Tom Paprocki, managing director of the Innovation and Technology Center, and his staff have collaborated on innovations with 33 startups scattered throughout the globe, from the Midwest to international countries like South Korea, Israel and France.

Currently, there are four startups using space inside Direct Supply’s tech center at 1020 N. Broadway on the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s campus. One of the companies is Sword Health, a Portuguese company that uses artificial intelligence to help physical therapists ensure their senior patients are doing exercises properly.

Milwaukee-based Direct Supply is one of the largest providers of construction and renovation services and equipment for senior care facilities, but with all their resources, “there’s no way we can come up with everything ourselves,” Paprocki said. Read the full story here.