The grand finale of the máshumano Youth Award has been held once again this year, featuring 20 finalist teams of young entrepreneurs, selected among more than 120 projects that are committed to social entrepreneurship and innovation. PONS IP, partner of the project since 2018, has participated as a jury and was in charge of selecting the technological solution with the most innovative potential in the “Protection to Innovation” category, a distinction awarded to BlindBuy in this edition.
The project, which is in the acceleration stage and led by young students in the 1st year of high school at the Colegio Nazaret in Madrid, enables visually impaired people to carry out everyday tasks, such as shopping, independently and without the help of others thanks to a “guide car” with ultrasonic sensors that make it possible to avoid obstacles in commercial areas. In order to promote their project, PONS IP will offer BlindBuy a complete due diligence service that defines the intellectual property strategy of the project, and will make their R&D+i profitable while at the same time avoid possible infringements by third-parties.
In addition to BlindBuy, the winning projects of this edition according to the three established categories were:
El Corte Inglés Special Award for innovation on retail service:
Timpers: Project that promotes the integration of disability through the marketing, design, and manufacture of shoes made by blind people, with the aim of breaking any social stereotype.
Bankinter Special Award to the best solution for integrating and improving the well-being of disabled people:
Eyegress. Virtual cognitive rehabilitation platform that promotes the recovery of patients who have suffered neurological damage. Eyegress uses virtual reality headsets, which include everything from the patient’s own smartphone and a Google Cardboard, to the latest generation of virtual reality headsets to provide treatment for cognitive deficits.
máshumano Foundation Special Award to social innovation:
De Piso en Piso. An online platform, supported by artificial intelligence and social robot assistants, where people with special needs can offer a room in their home at an economic price, in exchange for being helped by the most suitable person. This way, both people receive help and social barriers are broken down.
On the other hand, all the finalists have qualified for additional runner-up prizes from companies that support social entrepreneurship. IBM special award for “Innovative use of technology in the service of people and society” was awarded to BlindBuy, project that also received the PONS IP award for “Protection of Innovation”. Furthermore, Socios Inversores have presented the award for “Máshumano Entrepreneur Plan”, focused on the Search for Economic Capital, to SOHUMAN.
The máshumano Youth award is an initiative of máshumano Foundation to promote and support Socially Responsible Talent in youth, offering them training, advice, and support through a guided and mentored accompaniment itinerary. In addition, all participants opt to obtain capital for their project. Participants can present innovative ideas or projects, related to Social Responsibility, that seek to improve companies and society.
For more information on the máshumano Youth Awards: https://premiomashumano.com/