The Opportunity

Hope Tech, a UK-based tech startup founded by a Kenyan entrepreneur, is planning a UK and European launch in 2024 of its latest product, ‘The Sixth Sense’, a new, innovative wearable assistive technology mobility device set to help hundreds of thousands of blind and partially sighted people to lead more independent lives;

Product is set to transform lives by offering a hands-free solution with haptic sensors that absorb data and information in real-time from the wearer's surroundings. Through advances in AI, machine learning and sonar, sensors communicate potential everyday hazards to users thereby freeing individuals from reliance on traditional tools such as the white cane or need to meet relatively high costs of a guide dog or caregiver;

Company has published patents and trademarks and, at inception, received grants from the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering;

Global demand for assistive tech for visually impaired people stands at a market value of $4.2 billion in 2023 and is forecast to rise at an astronomical 13.1% CAGR from 2023 to 2033. There are +285 million visually impaired people globally, almost 5% of the world's total population, and the number is rising as is the need to advance the rights of people with disabilities.

My Role

  • Investor relations support in run up to UK/Europe market entry

  • Research and competitor analysis identifying customer needs and market drivers

  • Explore ways to leverage user trials being conducted in UK and Austria following earlier trials in Kenya, Australia and India

  • Establishing strategic partnerships with UK and international networks for the blind, government departments, distributors, corporates, marketing agencies, conference organisers, media and other suppliers / intermediaries

  • Defining brand architecture, purpose, value proposition, comms strategy and KPIs

  • Strategic planning for future (2024-25) global markets’ roll-out

Results

  • Delivery of successful investor launch event at Royal Academy of Engineering in London

  • Hundreds of thousands of £s in seed funding raised via angel investors, bringing total to +£1 million

  • Development of new company logos and website, including ‘wait list’ to capture early adopter demand

  • Establishing greater intensity and brand coherence of comms across the company’s social media channels, helping to drive awareness of launch and product benefits while also encouraging production of podcast and video content

  • Effected introductions to digital content marketing agencies; film makers; podcast producers; broadcasters and more besides

  • Set actionable, measurable and stretching KPIs across company’s brand and communications channels

Hope Tech CEO, Brian Mwenda, on stage at the inABLE Inclusive Africa Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, on 29 - 31 May 2023.