Sensapath

Company description

Sensapath is developing a wearable, sensor-based assistive device for visually impaired individuals, using AI and computer vision to detect and recognize objects within a set radius and relay that information back to the user through haptic (vibration) and auditory feedback — designed to work hands-free as part of a person's daily routine, at home or at work. The pitch specifically targets affordability: the founders aim to price the device so it qualifies for government assistance programs like those offered by the Texas Workforce Commission, positioning it against pricier existing devices like the OrCam MyEye Pro, Envision Glasses, and Patriot ViewPoint. The company was one of six finalists at the September 12, 2024 Startup Texas SBIR/STTR Innovation Competition Demo Day, a program run by the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation (BCIC) in partnership with UTRGV's Entrepreneurship and Commercialization Center (ECC) and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES).

Sensapath was founded in November 2022 by two UTRGV students: Javier Becerril, who holds a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and was pursuing a Master's in Computer Science at the time of the application, with experience in mechanical design, software development, and a prior process engineering internship; and Fabian Hernandez, who holds a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering with a minor in applied mathematics and was also pursuing a Master's in Computer Science, with interests spanning robotics, machine learning, and embedded systems. The two had been working together for about a year and a half by the time of their May 2024 Startup Texas application, and had previously gone through the Regional NSF I-Corps program before applying to Startup Texas.

Founders: Javier Becerril (CEO) and Fabian Hernandez (Co-Founder)

Program: 2024 Startup Texas SBIR/STTR Innovation Competition