The smart magnifying glass with deep social insight
While TikTok is filling up with absurd gadgets —pen-sized vacuum cleaners for cleaning keyboards (and leaving crumbs intact), machines that fold socks slower than your own hands, or toothpaste dispensers that promise hygiene but sneakily spray toothpaste—there are inventions that truly deserve to be taken up. LUP is one of them: a pocket-sized magnifying glass that converts text to speech in less than two seconds and in more than 30 languages. Designed for those who have lost the ability to read—due to age, low vision, or learning disabilities—this Basque startup demonstrates that there are innovations born with a clear and urgent purpose: to break down invisible barriers that continue to exclude millions of people.
It all began in 2021 as a final year project at Mondragón University. Apurva San Juan, then a Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation student, was looking for a project that would "put technology at the service of people." The initial idea was simple: to make reading easier for those who could no longer afford it. But the project evolved into an award-winning technology startup with a real impact.
Together with Eneko Calvo, a computer engineer and current CTO of the company, they developed a device that combines OCR and text-to-speech technology. "Our device captures images, detects alphanumeric characters, and translates them into speech," explains Apurva. The result is a device that doesn't require an internet connection, with few buttons and an interface designed for users unfamiliar with technology.
Today, LUP is sold through its website, opticians (such as the Fedeópticos network), and social care centers. The price is around 700 euros, depending on the model. Since its launch in October 2024, it has already reached libraries in Guecho, Ilunion day centers, and town councils such as Villarreal de Urrechua, and is beginning to generate stable revenue.
Lup can transform text into speech in 30 languages without an internet connection.
The main users are older people with low vision, although it's also being introduced in schools for children with dyslexia or visual impairments. "We're a startup dedicated to a group of people that I think society has forgotten: all people over 65 or 70, for whom technology is no longer being developed," the CEO points out.
Product design was one of the biggest challenges: "Constantly talking to users, understanding that the design is for them... creating thousands of prototypes until we arrived at what we know today as the pocket magnifying glass." The complete development of the hardware and software in Spain also meant a commitment to local manufacturing.
LUP has been recognized with awards such as the Dragon City Challenge, the Mapfre Foundation, and the Impact Social Cup. But their vision goes beyond recognition. "Social impact has to be the core of startups. For us, it's non-negotiable," says Apurva. They are already working on a complementary mobile app and plan to expand internationally by 2025. Their goal: to ensure accessibility is no longer an exception. "When you consider starting a business, the goal is to leave society better than you found it," she concludes.
ABC.es
