Part 1 of Tech that Matters
The world is abuzz with fair share of startups chasing the next big thing in tech. At the recent Startup Mahakumbh in New Delhi, one story rose above the noise for us — not because it promised to disrupt the market, but because it dared to change lives. That story is TorchIt, a homegrown innovation from Ahmedabad that’s quietly reshaping accessibility in India. Amidst the flash of AI, Web3, and billion-dollar valuations, TorchIt reminded us why tech truly matters — when it touches hearts, not just headlines.
In the bustling city of Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a quiet revolution is underway — one that’s transforming lives not with grand gestures, but with the subtle power of innovation and empathy. Eight years ago, Hunny Bhagchandani, a young visionary with a heart full of purpose, founded TorchIt, a tech startup with a simple yet profound mission: to empower India’s 150 million people with disabilities by making accessibility a basic right, not a privilege. Today, as the sun rises over a nation where one in every ten individuals faces some form of disability, TorchIt stands as a beacon of hope, proving that technology, when wielded with compassion, can bridge the widest of gaps.
Accessibility isn’t a luxury, it’s a fundamental need. This ethos has been the cornerstone of TorchIt, a company that’s not just building devices but crafting a future where the differently abled can stand tall, independent, and self-reliant.
Saarthi: The First Step Toward Freedom
The story of TorchIt begins with Saarthi, a device that emerged from Bhagchandani’s early sketches. For the blind and visually impaired, navigating the world can feel like walking through a storm with no compass. Saarthi changes that. This compact, lightweight smart cane attachment uses advanced sensors to detect obstacles in real time, buzzing with tactile vibrations to alert users of walls, furniture, or people in their path. Whether it’s a crowded street in Ahmedabad or a quiet room at home, Saarthi offers three range settings — 2 feet, 4 feet, and 8 feet — ensuring users can adapt to any environment.
Saarthi isn’t just a technological marvel; it’s a promise kept. Most assistive devices are out of reach for the people who need them mosthence, Saarthi is designed to be affordable without compromising on quality. With a 99.7% accuracy rate in obstacle detection and a battery that lasts over 30 days on a single charge, it’s no wonder that over 100,000 users across 27 countries have embraced it.
Jyoti AI: Seeing the World Through Sound
But TorchIt didn’t stop at mobility. Enter Jyoti AI, a pair of smart glasses that feel like something out of a sci-fi dream — except they’re very real, and they’re changing lives. For the visually impaired, everyday tasks like reading a menu, identifying money, or recognizing a friend’s face can be daunting.
Jyoti AI, with its sleek design and powerful artificial intelligence, turns those challenges into possibilities.
Picture this: a user slips on the glasses, and suddenly, the world comes alive through sound. Using advanced computer vision, Jyoti identifies objects, be it a chair or a car, and whispers their names through built-in audio. It detects currencies, distinguishing a ₹500 note from a ₹50 with ease, a feature that’s a game-changer for financial independence. It even picks out colors, letting users choose a red shirt or a blue scarf without a second thought. But the real magic lies in its text-to-speech capability. With optical character recognition (OCR), Jyoti reads aloud everything from handwritten notes to printed books, supporting over 34 languages and translating across 100 more.
The Jyoti AI Pro takes it a step further, refining the audio feedback and adding a voice-guided interface that requires no literacy skills — just listen and go. Iit’s a testament to TorchIt’s commitment to accessibility, blending cutting-edge tech with user-friendly design.
Jyoti AI Reader & Scanner: A Desk Companion for All
Not every solution needs to be worn. The Jyoti AI Reader & Scanner, a portable desk camera, brings the same revolutionary spirit to those who struggle with print disabilities or prefer audio content. Point it at a page — a book, a letter, a restaurant menu — and it reads aloud in over 34 languages, from English to Gujarati to Mandarin. Need a translation? It handles over 100 languages seamlessly, making it a tool not just for the visually impaired but for students, travelers, and professionals worldwide.
It’s an investment in independence, digitizing content into formats like PDF or Braille and even allowing users to take notes.
Beyond Devices: Building a Sustainable Future
TorchIt’s mission, however, goes beyond crafting gadgets. Bhagchandani saw a deeper need: financial empowerment. Independence isn’t just about moving or reading, it’s about earning a living, too. That’s why TorchIt has woven a unique framework into its operations — one where people with disabilities aren’t just beneficiaries but creators, assemblers, and trainers.
At TorchIt’s Ahmedabad facility, the hum of activity is led by a team of differently abled individuals. They’re the ones assembling Saarthi’s sensors, wiring Jyoti’s circuits, and testing every device to perfection. They provide feedback, shaping products from the ground up based on lived experience.
And they train new users, sharing not just instructions but stories of resilience. “We understand the need better than anyone,” says Anil, a visually impaired assembler who’s been with TorchIt.
Through The Skill: Torchit Foundation, the company takes this further, offering education, job training, and employment opportunities. Workshops teach skills like assembly and customer support, while partnerships with NGOs and corporations like ONGC and HDFC, fund distribution and awareness campaigns. The goal? To empower 10 million people with disabilities in five years, not just with devices but with livelihoods.
While TorchIt’s flagship products like Saarthi and Jyoti AI are lighting the way for the visually impaired, the company’s vision extends far beyond individual devices—it’s about creating an ecosystem of empowerment. Enter EnableMart by TorchIt, a socially responsible enterprise that’s redefining accessibility as India’s leading one-stop solution for assistive technology. With a diverse range of affordable, innovative aids under one roof, EnableMart caters to every facet of life for people with disabilities (PwDs) — from smart mobility canes and AI-powered talking solutions to magnifiers, Braille kits, and adaptive sports equipment. Working hand-in-hand with the PwD community, EnableMart designs and markets everything from tactile STEM learning aids for inclusive education to speech therapy tools and accessibility enhancements like ICT solutions for children with special needs.
A Legacy of Impact
TorchIt’s journey hasn’t gone unnoticed. With several national and international awards, including a National Award from the President of India in 2020, and a feature in Forbes India for Bhagchandani, the startup’s impact is undeniable. Incubated by prestigious institutions like IIMA’s CIIE and backed by mentors from MIT Labs and the World Bank, TorchIt has grown from a fledgling idea to a global force, touching lives in 27 countries.
TorchIt continues to innovate with products that enable smart mobility for the physically impaired. In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, a city known for its entrepreneurial spirit, TorchIt is proving that the greatest innovations aren’t just about technology — they’re about humanity.
This story is a part of our weekly series on tech innovations that matter!
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