Empowering the Blind: SHG Technologies' Vision Revolution

Here's how SHG Technologies combines AI and empathy to develop Smart Vision Glasses, transforming lives of India's visually impaired.

May 16, 2025 - 10:48

Empowering the Blind: SHG Technologies' Vision Revolution

In a country where over 100 million people live with visual impairments, SHG Technologies Pvt. Ltd. stands out not just as a startup, but as a movement. Founded in 2020 in Bangalore by Ramu Muthangi, a former Indian Navy officer and IIT Kanpur alumnus, SHG Technologies emerged from a deeply personal tragedy: Muthangi's sister lost her vision to diabetic retinopathy. Her struggle with blindness inspired the creation of Smart Vision Glasses—an AI-powered wearable designed to restore independence and dignity to the visually impaired.

From Personal Pain to Technological Innovation

Ramu Muthangi's transition from the Indian Navy to global tech giants like Honeywell Aerospace and Polycom laid a strong foundation for his entrepreneurial journey. But it was his sister's battle with blindness that sparked a mission. Confronted by the lack of affordable assistive tech in India, Muthangi envisioned a solution that combined advanced technology with accessibility.

Smart Vision Glasses use AI, machine vision, and augmented reality to provide real-time voice feedback for object recognition, obstacle detection, text reading, facial identification, and navigation. Crucially, the device is built for Indian conditions—rugged, user-friendly, and supporting multiple regional languages.

A Startup Built on Purpose

The name SHG stands for Smart Health Global, reflecting its broader goal: leveraging intelligent technologies to improve health and human capability. With a core mission to create affordable, advanced assistive devices, SHG is changing how visually impaired individuals engage with the world.

Its lean team spans technology, outreach, marketing, and support. While Ramu Muthangi serves as CEO and CTO, co-founder Capt. DJ Raju manages operations. Together, they lead a mission-first organisation fueled by empathy, innovation, and grassroots engagement.

Addressing a Critical Gap

India has 20 million blind individuals and over 80 million with moderate to severe visual impairment. For many, assistive devices remain out of reach. SHG's Smart Vision Glasses directly confront this gap with affordability, regional customisation, and impactful partnerships.

Unlike global competitors, the same kind of product, which costs upward of ₹3.4 lakh, SHG's solution is priced nearly ten times lower. It offers additional features like LIDAR for enhanced spatial awareness and is tailored for India's linguistic and environmental landscape.

Building a Scalable Social Enterprise

SHG operates on a multi-pronged revenue model: direct and institutional sales, CSR partnerships, and global outreach. Clients include eye hospitals, NGOs, corporate CSR programs, and educational institutions. With support from Infosys Foundation, IOCL, Sony and others, SHG has already impacted over 7,000 lives across 20 Indian states.

Training, onboarding, and continuous support ensure high user retention. SHG also emphasises awareness campaigns, partnerships with eye care networks, and community engagement to bridge the accessibility gap.

Innovation Recognised and Rewarded

SHG Technologies has earned accolades, including the Infosys Aarohan Social Innovation Award (2023), Assistech Foundation’s Best Assistive Tech Startup, and recognition at the World Conference on Blindness. These honours underscore its growing impact and credibility.

The startup is expanding globally, with interest from countries in the Gulf and Southeast Asia. Its product line now includes Aura Vision Glasses for low vision users and Smart Vision Ultra for advanced features in a sleek form factor.

The Road Ahead

In the next 12 months, SHG plans to scale its regional support centres, deepen government and CSR collaborations, and expand its product ecosystem. Long-term goals include impacting 1 million lives and developing a comprehensive suite of assistive tools for independent living.

As Ramu Muthangi puts it, "When you’re driven by a mission, every barrier becomes a stepping stone. We’re not just building technology; we’re empowering the person who needs it."