Germany - For many people, moving through a room or crossing through a train station is a matter of routine. For blind and visually impaired people, those same everyday moments can quickly become a proper hurdle. The founders behind habric believe it is time for that to change.

With blind Sonar, the Munich-based startup is developing a smart, textile-based headband that helps blind and visually impaired people perceive their surroundings through haptic feedback. Using sensors, the device detects obstacles and translates spatial information into gentle vibrations, creating an intuitive sense of orientation in real time. The goal is simple, but ambitious: to give people more confidence, independence and freedom in everyday life.

From a Student Idea to a Social Startup

habric’s journey began long before the company was formally founded. The three founders first came together through formats such as Jugend forscht, StartupTeens and Jugend gründet. What started as a student project soon developed into a shared vision to build technology for people who need it most.

At a school for blind people in Stuttgart, the team saw up close how much potential there was for new approaches in assistive technology. They began asking themselves the million-dollar question: if modern technology can help machines understand space, why should people with visual impairments not benefit from that same progress in a more personal, accessible way?

The team set out to create a device that could support spatial awareness without replacing existing aids. blind Sonar is designed as a wearable headband that turns the surrounding environment into a form of information that can be felt.

How blind Sonar Works

blind Sonar scans the environment and detects obstacles around the wearer. This information is then translated into haptic signals, which are felt as vibrations.

The technology is designed to create a form of real-time spatial awareness. Users can receive earlier cues about what is around them. The result is a new sensory layer that can support safer and more confident movement through everyday spaces.

Built with Users, Not Just for Users

One of the most important lessons for the habric team has been that assistive technology cannot be developed in isolation. It must be shaped by the people who use it.

That is why testing and feedback play a central role in the startup’s development process. habric has announced that continuous testing is part of its work. By listening closely to blind and visually impaired users, the team can refine blind Sonar around real-world needs. That user-centred mindset has become part of habric’s identity as a young company. The company also offers a waiting list for people interested in early access and testing opportunities.

Anyone interested in testing the device or receiving early access can sign up through habric's waiting list here.

Recognition on the Road to Impact

Since its early days, habric has gained recognition across several innovation and startup programs: Jugend forscht in March 2023, StartupTeens soon after, and Jugend gründet in June 2024, where they prevailed against more than 1,000 teams. The prize included a trip to Silicon Valley, where the founders visited leading technology companies including Google and Nvidia. Another milestone followed in September 2024, when German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier invited the team to Schloss Bellevue. At the beginning of 2025, the founders officially established habric as a company.

How Solve for Tomorrow helped further shape the blind Sonar

habric’s mission found a strong fit in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program. In the 2025 German edition, the innovation competition focused on Sport & Tech. For habric, Solve for Tomorrow provided more than recognition. As one of the winning teams, the startup entered a six-month Impact Phase, receiving individual support from experts, Samsung mentors and program partner ekipa. During this phase, habric continued to refine blind Sonar and its broader business case.

From Berlin to Cortina

The culmination of the Solve for Tomorrow journey came on an international stage. In February 2026, habric joined SkillFIT and CYCLE YOU at the Demo Days in the German House during the Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo. There, the teams presented the progress of their solutions and exchanged ideas with representatives from sport, innovation and society.

For habric, the setting was especially meaningful. The company’s work contributes to greater inclusion and accessibility, themes that connect strongly with the values of sport and social participation.

Today, habric stands at the intersection of assistive technology, social entrepreneurship and deep tech. The team has launched a funding round to accelerate development and prepare for broader testing and market entry in 2027. They are building for a community whose needs are often underserved by mainstream innovation. They create a future where accessibility is designed with the same energy, sophistication and user focus as any other advanced consumer technology.

For young innovators inspired by stories like habric’s, Solve for Tomorrow offers a clear message: the next impactful idea can start small. With the right support, curiosity and courage however, it can grow into a solution that helps people experience the world differently.

About Samsung Solve for Tomorrow
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow is a global competition that empowers students to address real-world challenges in their communities through STEM. By fostering creativity and critical thinking, the program encourages students to innovate and develop impactful solutions to local and global issues.

Through hands-on projects, participants gain the skills and confidence to tackle complex problems, transforming their ideas into actionable solutions. The program nurtures the next generation of leaders while strengthening the global community by connecting young minds across borders to share knowledge and inspire collective progress.

To learn more, click here.