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Assistive tool for blind bags top award at DOST's startup pitching competition

Philippines | National

Assistive tool for blind bags top award at DOST's startup pitching competition

By Jel Santos

(DOST PHOTO)

An assistive tool for the blind, which seeks to bridge the gap in inclusive education by combining empathy and technology, has won a startup pitching competition of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in Davao City.

The agency said the tool, dubbed as BRAILLEiance, provides a progressive learning system that guides visually impaired users from recognizing individual braille characters to reading complete sentences.

BRAILLEiance has also clinched the Investor’s Choice Award, the DOST added.

It noted that such reflects the assistive tool’s “strong potential for real-world application and market readiness.”

Landing in second place was TanimText which was also awarded the Tech for Good Award for its agriculture-focused digital solution designed to help farmers through technology-enabled communication and information tools.

Coco, on the other hand, got third place and was bestowed the Impact Potential Award for its sustainability-driven innovation that promotes eco-friendly product development.

The competition was organized by the DOST-Davao in a bid to recognize the growing role of startups in transforming ideas into impact and addressing social challenges through Science, Technology, and Innovation.

Also, the competition has given a platform for young innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their inclusive and sustainable inventions.

Dr. Anthony C. Sales, the regional director of DOST-Davao, said such an initiative aims to “inspire more innovators to see Science and Technology not just as tools for business, but as catalysts for change.”

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Assistive tool blind top award DOST startup pitching competition

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