An AI-powered assistive technology platform for people with visual impairment has been crowned the winner of the 2026 NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition.

Auralink is focused on developing an AI-powered assistive technology platform using smart glasses to enhance safety and independence for people with visual impairments. By combining smartphone software with smart glasses, the aim of the platform is to provide real-time environmental sensing, object recognition and navigation support through audio feedback.

The technology is being developed by two University College Dublin students – Scott Nagle, who has just completed his first year in economics and history, and Suyun Zheng, who has just completed her third year in medicine.

“While existing solutions provide valuable support for people with visual impairments, they offer limited information about the surrounding environment. Public transport for example remains challenging, especially when identifying platforms and reading timetables. We are focused on addressing this gap with software that runs on smartphones and smart glasses to make assistive technology more accessible in line with the UN SDGs of Good Health and Well-being and Reducing Inequalities,” Ms Zheng explained.

The NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition is open to participants in UCD’s accelerator programme, an intensive four-week course for emerging student entrepreneurs.

The annual accelerator programme is delivered by NovaUCD, the University’s hub of start-up and innovation activities. It is designed to support UCD undergraduate and postgraduate students who want to develop and grow business ideas into start-ups. The aim of the programme is to assist the students in refining their business ideas through a series of structured workshops, including taught content from industry experts, interactive workshops, regular mentoring, and pitching sessions.

Thirteen early-stage student ventures and 17 participants completed this year’s programme, which included workshops on customer development, value proposition, working in teams, design thinking, prototyping, environment mapping, financial planning, and effective fundraising.

As overall winners, Auralink received a prize fund of 3,000. The venture is now seeking additional investment to support further development.

Co-developer, Scott Nagle said: “I am delighted that Auralink has been named the winner of the One to Watch prize at the conclusion of the 2026 NovaUCD Student Enterprise Competition, especially as the pitches delivered by our fellow programme participants were excellent and of a very high standard.”

“We are now seeking funding support to help us to accelerate product development, user testing, pilot deployments and engagement with visually impaired communities in Ireland and internationally. We are also seeking mentors, industry connections and introductions to accessibility organisations, healthcare providers, transport operators and potential commercial partners. Such support would help us to refine our product, validate real-world impact and build a sustainable pathway to market to improve independence, safety and quality of life of people with visual impairments,” he said.

Simon Factor, Senior Manager of New Ventures at NovaUCD, said: “A key focus of this annual UCD accelerator programme is to provide the participating undergraduate and postgraduate students with the skills, the confidence, and the opportunity to further refine their ideas and hopefully in time launch start-ups at home and further afield.

“Building on our success in delivering the Student Enterprise Competition over the last 12 years, we are currently in the process of hiring a Student Entrepreneurship Programme Manager to join the NovaUCD team. The successful candidate will focus on spearheading the launch and delivery of a new three-year pilot programme designed to be the heartbeat of student innovation on the UCD campus, building a world-class ecosystem where student ambition meets venture-building support, and cultivating a vibrant community that bridges the gap between campus curiosity and commercial reality.”