An AI & Robotics student from University College London (UCL) has won funding to develop a smart assistive device that helps visually impaired people to navigate the world more confidently.
Ramneek Ahluwalia, a postgraduate student in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at UCL, has been awarded funding through the UCL Explore Pitch Competition for her startup MyVision, a groundbreaking assistive technology venture designed to empower people with visual impairments.
Ramneek, who is visually impaired herself, is the CEO and founder of MyVision. She is joined by MSc student Ethan D’Souza, who recently came on board as the project’s software developer. Together, they are building a mobile device that enables blind and visually impaired users to navigate the world around them safely, independently, and confidently using cutting-edge technology.
Ramneek said: “This community of people deserves to benefit from innovation that empowers them, not disables them. I’ve made it my mission to create life-changing solutions that transform lives.”
Ramneek’s personal experiences navigating inaccessible environments and confronting social attitudes toward disability have shaped every part of the project.
From inaccessible transport systems and built environments to negative societal attitudes towards visually impaired people, Ramneek felt compelled to find a solution to some of these challenges. MyVision is not just a piece of technology, it is a movement focused on dignity, usability, and inclusion, she emphasised.
The idea gained momentum through the UCL Explore Programme, which helps student entrepreneurs define their goals and understand their position in the market. With support from the programme, Ramneek and Ethan shaped the concept into a viable startup and secured their first round of funding through the pitch competition.
Ramneek continued: “MyVision has always been an idea but the question that we had was how we could bring it to life and the Explore programme has supported us on embarking on this exciting journey! We have received our first bit of funding after winning the Explore Pitch Competition providing us with the opportunity to start developing the integral technology that will form MyVision.”
They are now working on a prototype and plan to co-design the device with members of the visually impaired community. A series of workshops are being planned to ensure users are central to every design decision.
“We want the device to feel like an extension of the user’s identity; something that feels natural and empowering,” Ramneek added. “MyVision is so much more than a device. It’s about enabling a community to thrive and setting the standard for what assistive tech should be.”
Next, the team hopes to join the UCL Hatchery Incubator to further develop their business. Their ambition is to have a working prototype tested with users and available to buy through their website within the next few years.
A final-year Product Design and Technology student from Loughborough University recently won a competition to design jewellery for use with cochlear implants and hearing aids and raise funds for a charity supporting deaf children.
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