Led · Equity · Dec 2022

WeWALK develops a patented smart cane and companion smartphone app that use ultrasound to detect above-ground obstacles while preserving the white cane’s ground feedback. The device alerts users through vibrations and automatic voice feedback and also provides contextual information about nearby shops, restaurants and public transportation. The company leverages artificial intelligence in its solutions and plans to integrate NEC’s computer-vision technology into the next generation of its smart mobility products. Led by CEO Gokhan Mericliler, WeWALK focuses on enhancing independence and navigation for visually impaired people. The company is based in London, UK and holds patents on its smart cane technology. WeWalk develops a GPS-enabled smart cane and companion smartphone app that detects sidewalk obstacles and provides turn-by-turn navigation with vibration and sound alerts. The cane retails at roughly $600 and has integrations with local transit data via a partnership with Moovit. The company was founded in London in 2019 and has been recognized by Time for its Smart Cane. With a fresh £2 million in venture funding, WeWalk plans to add computer-vision capabilities—aiming to read road signs, identify bus numbers, and recognise objects—developed with Imperial College London and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). The initiative may leverage Microsoft’s AI for Accessibility program and could integrate with Seeing AI or Azure ML. WeWalk has recruited about 30 people to build and test the new hardware and software and aims to have a market-ready product by 2024 while also expanding into adaptive mobility aids for older people.