Indian Start-ups Awarded for Helping Persons with Disabilities Using Technology

On 3rd December 2020, the International Day of People with Disabilities, Prosus, the global consumer internet group of Naspers luanched an initiative program in which the three Indian start-up ventures namely Sohum Innovation Labs, NeoMotion Assistive Solutions and Stamurai from Demosthenes Technologies, have been granted to aid people with disabilities through developing assistive technology; such talented entrepreneurs are identified and supported by Prosus SICA. A sum of Rs. 16,500,000 is the committed amount which will be paid for the initiative by Prosus over three years.   

The first place has gone to Sohum Innovation Labs for a highly accessible device designed to detect hearing impairment amongst infants and small children. The NeoMotion specialized in their wheelchairs with a motor-powered clip-on which converts into a safe, roadworthy vehicle, eliminating the need for the user to transfer into other vehicles; and it has stood on second place. The third place has gone to Stamurai, for a highly cost-effective and easily accessible mobile app which addresses speech and language disabilities. Under this grant, Sohum, NeoMotion and Stamurai will receive INR 2,500,000, INR 1,800,000 and INR 1,200,000 respectively.

Cogniable, as an autism management tool, and Thinkerbell Labs for Annie, a Braille literacy device, stood on fourth and fifth places respectively.

All five start-ups will be inducted into a new Prosus SICA mentorship programme, which entitles them to business advice from Prosus, technical guidance and support from World Health Organization (WHO) and an opportunity to incubate with Social Alpha, a group focused on strengthening impact innovation and entrepreneurship across India.

The initiative will provide the five above mentioned start-ups with a new Prosus SICA mentorship programme, which give them the business advice from Prosus, technical guidance and support from World Health Organization (WHO), as well as an opportunity to incubate with Social Alpha, which is a group focused on strengthening impact innovation and entrepreneurship across India.

Chapal Khasnabis, Head, Access to Assistive Technology and Medical Devices Unit, WHO, Geneva said: "The jury saw diverse ideas from talented start-ups across India. They reflected a wide variety of capabilities and proficiencies that are existing in the Indian startup ecosystem today. The top startups have incorporated expertise and effective insights into the designs they submitted."

Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India, said: "Congratulations to the top startups. This challenge has been aimed at promoting innovation and ensuring inclusivity across the country. The challenge brings to the forefront the excellence of our innovators in developing impactful solutions for global issues."

Manoj Kumar, Founder, Social Alpha said: "Social Alpha has been a huge proponent of high-impact startups that are committed towards enhancing the quality of life of persons living with disabilities. The top startups have made commendable efforts in developing promising assistive tech solutions and addressing the issues of accessibility, affordability and equal opportunity. I congratulate the top startups of SICA and wish them the best in their journey."

Sehraj Singh, Director, Public Policy and Corporate Affairs, India, Prosus, said: "We would like to congratulate Sohum Innovation Labs, NeoMotion, and Stamurai who braved competition from more than 200 startups across India. Prosus is thrilled to work with these transformative entrepreneurs and support them in building sustainable businesses. We are equally excited to be creating social value for people who will benefit from these technologies. This journey could not have been successful without the support of our eminent jury and partners, Invest India, Social Alpha, Startup India and WHO. Together, Prosus SICA is advancing India's assistive technology industry."

Nitin Sisodia, Founder and CEO, Sohum Innovation Labs, said: "Sohum devices have the potential to screen millions of babies and young children in low-income countries for hearing impairments, ensuring timely and suitable medical intervention. Support from Prosus SICA will not only help us pursue this potential, but will also demonstrate the importance of technology in supporting inclusive growth in India and beyond."

The five start-ups who are awarded have been selected by a specialist and expert jury, based on the evaluation of a range of attributes, like the underlying issue being addressed by each start-up, product scalability, market feasibility, outcomes of clinical trials and accessibility for the ultimate beneficiaries. 2020 was the first year of Prosus SICA, this initiative will take place over the next two years.