Students behind assistive tech start-up win NovaUCD contest

Auralink is seeking funds to accelerate product development and engage with visually impaired communities.

Founders behind the University College Dublin (UCD) student start-up Auralink have won the annual NovaUCD accelerator programme competition for emerging student entrepreneurs.

Auralink is developing an AI-powered assistive technology (AT) platform that allows visually impaired people to use smart glasses for better independence and safety. The platform is being developed by undergraduate student in economics and history Scott Nagle, and graduate entry medicine student Suyun Zheng.

Auralink combines smartphone software with smart glasses to provide users with real-time environmental sensing, object recognition and navigation support through audio feedback. UCD said that Auralink is being developed for 24/7 use across daily activities at home, as well as navigating public transport and unfamiliar environments.

The two students won the ‘One to Watch’ award from NovaUCD following the four-week-long accelerator programme for budding student entrepreneurs from the university.

The team, who were judged by a panel including Atlantic Bridge investment manager Dominik Leisi, New Frontiers programme manager Susanne L’Estrange and senior advisor for start-ups at Enterprise Ireland Michael O’Dea, also won €3,000 alongside the award.

“While existing solutions provide valuable support for people with visual impairments, they offer limited information about the surrounding environment,” said Zheng.

“Public transport, for example, remains challenging, especially when identifying platforms and reading timetables.

“We are focused on addressing this gap with software that runs on smartphones and smart glasses to make assistive technology more accessible, in line with the UN SDGs (sustainable development goals) of good health and well-being, and reducing inequalities.”

Physical and digital accessibility is far from being universally available across Ireland. Despite advancements in technology, including various AI tools and products such as smart glasses, some estimates say hundreds of thousands in Ireland could be living without the AT support that they need. AT users-turned-digital-coaches are attempting to bridge some of these gaps.

Auralink is seeking funding to help accelerate product development, user testing, pilot deployments and engagement with visually impaired communities in Ireland and internationally, Nagle said.

“We are also seeking mentors, industry connections and introductions to accessibility organisations, healthcare providers, transport operators and potential commercial partners,” he said.

The annual accelerator programme – now in its 12th year – supports the university’s undergraduate and postgraduate students in developing and growing business ideas into start-ups. The programme offers workshops, mentoring and pitching sessions.

This year’s cohort was made up of 13 early-stage student ventures and 17 participants. Over the last 12 years, some 105 early-stage ventures and 240 students have completed the programme.

Simon Factor, senior manager for new ventures at NovaUCD, said: “A key focus of this annual UCD accelerator programme is to provide the participating undergraduate and postgraduate students with the skills, the confidence and the opportunity to further refine their ideas, and hopefully in time launch start-ups at home and further afield.

“The pitches delivered at NovaUCD by the enthusiastic students, on a range of business ideas – from AI-powered assistive technology to ed-tech, to medtech, to sustainability, to robotics – were all excellent, and I would like to congratulate all the participants for successfully completing this year’s programme.

“I would especially like to congratulate Auralink on being named the overall winner, and I wish Scott and Suyun every success as they progress their new venture in the months ahead.”

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