Innovative AI-Powered Device for Visually Impaired People Launches Equity Crowdfunding

Overview

Maris Creative Design, based in Sumida, Tokyo, has initiated a crowdfunding campaign on FUNDINNO for its innovative walking assistance device called Seeker. This device aims to facilitate safe solo outings for visually impaired individuals. The funding process commenced on June 4, 2024, and the company is currently accepting investment applications.

Background and Implementation

The Seeker device has already been trialed in various locations including Fukuoka City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and Kitakyushu City. The company is working towards broader social implementation by collaborating with multiple local governments, including Shibuya, Tokyo. Notably, CNET Japan and other media outlets have covered this initiative, drawing attention to its significance.

Addressing Critical Safety Issues

Visually impaired individuals have traditionally relied on canes and guide dogs for mobility assistance. However, these methods have limitations, particularly when it comes to detecting hazards at chest or face level, preventing falls from train platforms, or recognizing traffic signals—situations that can pose serious risks to life.

The Seeker device employs edge AI technology, enabling real-time processing without cloud dependence. It detects obstacles and immediately alerts users through vibrations, serving as a 'second sense' to facilitate safe walking. The device's design is led by Yu Ariga, previously an art director for PlayStation®5, emphasizing aesthetic appeal without the typical look of assistive technology, making it more acceptable to younger users.

Target Audience and Business Expansion Plans

The Seeker is set to target various user groups with a phased approach:
1. Visually Impaired Individuals: Primarily individuals who are blind or have partial sight loss can benefit from the device at a personal expense of approximately 20,000 to 30,000 yen, utilizing available subsidy programs. Partnerships with several support organizations and local governments for distribution are already in progress.
2. Low-Vision and Elderly Individuals: A subscription model (Seeker Soft) will be introduced, integrated with monitoring apps, specifically aimed at older adults at risk of falls.
3. Elderly Care Facilities and Dependents: A necklace version of the Seeker, dubbed Seeker Care, is in the pipeline for corporate contracts alongside subsidies, aiming for infrastructural integration.

Progress on Trials and Social Implementation

The device has reached the trial phase in cities like Fukuoka and Yamanashi, and ongoing preparations for social implementation in Shibuya are in motion. By fiscal year 2025, the company anticipates producing 50 pre-production units, in conjunction with developing a monitoring SaaS called Seeker Link, aimed at creating a cross-disciplinary infrastructure model that combines welfare, technology, and urban development.

Crowdfunding Details

- Fundraising Period: June 4, 2024 – June 17, 2024
- Target Amount: 10 million yen (with a maximum of 80 million yen)
- FUNDINNO Project Page: FUNDINNO Project

Investors need to register as 'priority investors' to participate in funding. This can be done through the following link: Registration Link

Message from the CEO

Kazuhiro Wada, the CEO of Maris Creative Design, shares his vision:
"When visually impaired individuals wish to walk independently once again, does society provide the support required for that step? The Seeker is a product born from technology to respond to that ‘wish.’ With this capital raise, we aim to accelerate mass production and social implementation, turning mobility inclusion into a reality. We hope to break down the invisible walls in society together with our supporters."