Student start-up developing assistive technology for the visually impaired named one to watch by NovaUCD
Auralink has today been announced as the overall winner of the 2026 NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition, an intensive four-week accelerator programme for emerging student entrepreneurs at University College Dublin (UCD).
Auralink is focused on developing an AI-powered assistive technology platform using smart glasses to enhance safety and independence for people with visual impairments. By combining smartphone software with smart glasses, the aim of the platform is to provide real-time environmental sensing, object recognition and navigation support through audio feedback.
The platform is being developed to assist users in daily activities at home as well as navigating public transport and unfamiliar environments.
Following final pitches to a judging panel at the end of the competition Auralink was named the winner of the €3,000 NovaUCD One to Watch Prize.
The members of the Auralink team are UCD students, Scott Nagle, who has just completed his first year undergraduate studies in Economics and History and Suyun Zheng who has just completed her third year graduate entry programme in Medicine.
Suyun Zheng, said: “While existing solutions provide valuable support for people with visual impairments, they offer limited information about the surrounding environment. 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 of Good Health and Well-being and Reducing
Inequalities.”
Scott Nagle, added: “We are now seeking funding support to help us to accelerate product development, user testing, pilot deployments and engagement with visually impaired communities in Ireland and internationally. We are also seeking mentors, industry connections and introductions to accessibility organisations, healthcare providers, transport operators and potential commercial partners. Such support would help us to refine our product, validate real-world impact and build a sustainable pathway to market to improve independence, safety and quality of life of people with visual impairments.”
The annual accelerator programme, which is now in its 12th year is delivered by NovaUCD, the University’s hub of start-up and innovation activities, as a framework to support UCD undergraduate and postgraduate students who want to develop and grow business ideas into start-ups.
The aim of the accelerator is to assist the students in refining their business ideas through a series of structured workshops, including taught content from industry experts, interactive workshops, regular mentoring and pitching sessions.
Thirteen early-stage student ventures and 17 participants completed this year’s programme. Over the last 12-years some 105 early-stage ventures and 240 students have now completed NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competitions.
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