Ethiopia - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Smart Blind Stick that helps improve mobility and independence for visually impaired individuals to get the right way and detect obstruction using computer vision algorithm and sensers technology.

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

The blind stick is one of the innovation products that upgrade from manual blind stick to the electronic blind stick. This product creates from the idea’s business social welfare. Business social welfare means the business aim to help the society. The main purpose is to help Visually Impaired people to get the right way and detect obstruction. This product specially created for help blindness people. These products include innovation ideas and information system. This product was approved by organization of Science, Technology and Innovation. Innovation ideas were used to upgrade this blind stick from manual to electronic blind stick. It was used sensor as part of the innovation product. Sensor was used for detecting the obligation in the way. The obligations can be detected were obstacle, hole, pol, waterholes, stone and weather, and people.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

the main problem of Visually impaired are Mobility and Navigation: Obstacle Detection: Difficulty in detecting obstacles like stairs, curbs, uneven surfaces, or overhanging objects can make navigating unfamiliar environments dangerous and challenging. Social Isolation: The challenges of navigating and interacting with the world can lead to social isolation and feelings of loneliness. Loss of Independence: The limitations imposed by vision loss can lead to feelings of frustration, helplessness, and dependence on others. Limited Access to Information:

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

Increased Mobility and Confidence: Enhanced Obstacle Detection: Smart blind sticks go beyond a traditional cane's basic bump by using sensors to provide more precise information about obstacles in the path. This allows users to navigate unfamiliar environments with greater confidence and independence. Improved Navigation: Features like GPS and turn-by-turn audio instructions empower blind people to explore independently and reach destinations more easily. Greater Safety and Awareness: Reduced Risk of Accidents: Accurate obstacle detection helps users avoid collisions with unexpected hazards, improving overall safety while walking. Environmental Sensors: Some models include features like weather alerts or pothole detection, keeping users informed about potential dangers in their surroundings. Promotes Independence and Inclusion: Reduced Reliance on Others: Smart blind sticks empower users to navigate more confidently, potentially reducing the need for constant assistance

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

our startup produce or manufacture smart visually impaired walking cane (smart blind stick) that helps detect obstacle and getting real time data to the user when moving the target beneficiary is: individual blind person, blind association, NGO’s that helps visually impairement, schools, exporters, wholesalers and universities

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-11-14

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

1

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

1

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

The owner of the startup is Nigus Amare Goshu, founder and CEO of the business and BSc degree in Information Technology, and he has more than 5 years of experience in the area of ICT. Nigus Amare is working in different project some of them is wireless adapter, web and mobile application developer, IoT based smart agriculture monitoring system.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigus-amare

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

f) Healthcare (healthcare equipment and services)

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

Owning a smart blind stick itself might not directly lift someone out of poverty.

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

3

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

Increased mobility and independence through the smart stick could allow blind individuals to: More easily reach grocery stores or farmers markets. Participate in community gardens or urban agriculture initiatives (if applicable).

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

Increased Mobility and Independence: Smart blind sticks empower blind individuals to navigate more confidently and independently. This can lead to: Improved Physical Activity: Increased ability to walk or cycle for daily commutes or errands can contribute to a more active lifestyle. Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Greater independence in navigation can lessen feelings of helplessness or dependence on others, reducing stress and anxiety. Better Overall Health: A combination of increased physical activity and reduced stress can contribute to better overall health and well-being. Safety and Accident Prevention: Features like obstacle detection and path guidance can help blind people avoid accidents with moving objects or uneven terrain, reducing the risk of injuries. Improved Access to Healthcare Services: Increased mobility can make it easier for blind individuals to reach hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities for appointments or check-ups.

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

Improved Access to Education: Blind students often face challenges navigating school buildings and classrooms. Smart blind sticks can empower them to move around independently, fostering a sense of confidence and reducing reliance on assistance. This can lead to: Increased participation in classroom activities. Improved focus and learning outcomes. Greater independence and self-reliance. Promoting Inclusive Learning Environments: The wider adoption of smart blind sticks can encourage schools to develop more inclusive learning environments. This could involve: Accessible building layouts and signage. Training educators on supporting visually impaired students. Integrating assistive technology into the learning process. Empowering Educators of the Blind: The startup can offer training programs or workshops for educators on how to effectively utilize smart sticks in the classroom setting. This can help teachers: Improve accessibility and engagement for blind students.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Focus on the safety aspect: Blind women often face heightened safety concerns while navigating public spaces. The smart stick's features like obstacle detection and path guidance can be particularly beneficial for them.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

4

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

Core Function of Smart Blind Sticks: Their primary function is to assist visually impaired people with navigation, not water or sanitation.

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

Low Power Consumption: The design of the smart stick can prioritize low power consumption to extend battery life and reduce the need for frequent charging. This translates to a lower demand for electricity overall.

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Job Creation: The startup itself creates new jobs in various fields like: Product development (engineering, design) Manufacturing Customer service Marketing and sales This contributes to economic growth by: * Increasing employment opportunities. * Stimulating economic activity in related sectors (manufacturing, tech). Improved Work Opportunities for the Blind: The development and production of smart sticks could potentially create new employment avenues for visually impaired individuals with relevant skillsets in areas like: Accessibility testing User experience design for blind users Customer service for the blind community Empowering Consumers: By enabling blind individuals to participate more actively in the workforce and society, smart sticks can contribute to a larger, more empowered consumer base. This translates to: Increased economic activity. Growth in various sectors (retail, transportation, etc.)

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Assistive Technology Innovation: The development of smart blind sticks represents a leap forward in assistive technology for the blind. Improve the overall mobility and independence of visually impaired people. Open doors to new possibilities for employment, education, and social participation. Pave the way for further advancements in assistive technologies. Accessibility Infrastructure Development: Smart blind sticks might rely on existing infrastructure or prompt the development of new accessibility features in cities. This could involve: Integration with smart city initiatives for better pedestrian navigation. Development of standardized audio or haptic feedback systems for obstacle detection. Collaboration with map providers to ensure accessibility features are incorporated.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Empowering People with Disabilities: Blindness is a major disability that can create significant barriers to employment, education, and social participation. Smart blind sticks can help bridge this gap by: Increasing mobility and independence for blind individuals. Enhancing their ability to navigate unfamiliar environments. Boosting their confidence and sense of security when moving around. Improved Access to Opportunities: Greater mobility allows blind people to access opportunities that might have been previously inaccessible.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

Improved Mobility for the Blind: Smart blind sticks empower blind and visually impaired individuals to navigate urban environments more confidently and independently. Social Inclusion and Equity: Greater mobility and independence for the blind population fosters a more inclusive and equitable city environment where everyone can participate fully.

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

Durable and Repairable Design: By designing the stick with longevity and repairability in mind, the startup reduces electronic waste. Sustainable Materials: Choosing eco-friendly materials for the smart stick's construction directly contributes to responsible consumption. Responsible Manufacturing: The startup can partner with manufacturers who prioritize responsible practices such as: Minimizing waste during production. Using renewable energy sources. Implementing ethical labor practices.

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

Reduced Reliance on Cars: By empowering blind individuals to navigate more confidently and independently, they might be less reliant on private car transportation for short trips. This translates to fewer emissions and traffic congestion. Extended Product Lifespan: The design and manufacturing process of the smart stick can be optimized for durability and repairability. This reduces electronic waste and the need for frequent replacements, lowering the environmental footprint. Sustainable Materials: The startup can choose eco-friendly materials for the smart stick's construction. This could involve recycled plastics, bamboo, or other biodegradable options.

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

The smart blind stick's focus is on improving accessibility and safety on land

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

2

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

indirect: Encouraging Walking: The increased mobility afforded by smart sticks could lead some users to walk more, potentially reducing reliance on car travel and associated emissions

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

3

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

Social Inclusion and Equality: By empowering blind people to navigate more independently, smart sticks can contribute to a more inclusive society.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

Collaboration with Diverse Stakeholders: The development and deployment of a successful smart blind stick solution likely requires collaboration with various partners. This could involve: Technology companies for sensor development, software integration, or data management. Accessibility organizations to ensure the product adheres to accessibility standards and meets the specific needs of the blind community. Government agencies to explore potential subsidies, pilot programs, or integration with smart city infrastructure. Non-profit organizations working on blindness or disability inclusion to facilitate distribution and user education. Manufacturing partners who prioritize ethical labor practices and responsible environmental production methods. Promoting Inclusive Development: Partnerships with organizations working on disability inclusion can ensure the smart blind stick benefits a wider range of users and contributes to creating a more inclusive society. Fostering Innovation

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

6

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

4

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

3

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

2

06.08 Justification for my startup

Advanced Obstacle Detection: Go beyond basic obstacle detection. Explore features like object recognition (fire hydrants, mailboxes) or distance estimation for improved situational awareness. Integrate weather sensors to alert users about slippery surfaces, strong winds, or extreme temperatures. Smart Navigation Features: Develop a system that integrates with existing smart city infrastructure for seamless navigation (e.g., audio cues for upcoming crosswalks or bus stops). wireless charging system. online updating system Offer real-time route optimization based on traffic conditions or accessibility information. Personalized User Experience: Incorporate customizable settings for voice guidance, haptic feedback intensity, or preferred navigation styles (fastest route vs. safest route). Ergonomic Design: Develop a lightweight, comfortable, and easy-to-grip design that minimizes fatigue during extended us

06.09 Competitive Analysis

WeWalk Smart Cane (France): Uses ultrasonic and infrared sensors for obstacle detection, with vibration and voice alerts. Integrates with GPS for navigation. UltraCane (UK): Focuses on a simple and affordable design with ultrasonic sensors for basic obstacle detection and haptic feedback. our product: Pricing Strategy: Research competitor pricing models and identify opportunities for affordability through innovative production methods or targeted subsidy programs. use advanced technology for detecting types of obstruction like obstacle, hole, poll use wireless charging system, and inform to family when emergency happen integrate Audio cue, GPS navigation system.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes, helps female entrepreneurs by how to participate female in entrepreneurship and how to pitch in Debre markos University UIL-T