March 2023 — The university spark
Brailly began as a university project rooted in accessibility and inclusion. We set out to build something that let blind and low-vision learners feel every braille pattern without waiting for a sighted translation.
Summer 2023 — Proof of concept to real validation
What started as a proof of concept quickly picked up momentum. We produced our first prototype and validated it with visually impaired learners, working alongside families and specialists who challenged every detail of the tactile experience.
October 2023 — Maker Faire Rome
Armed with a second-iteration prototype, we demoed Brailly to more than 200 visitors at Maker Faire Rome. The encouraging feedback—and long line of curious testers—gave the team the energy to keep pushing.
November 2023 — Web Summit Lisbon
We took the updated build to Web Summit in Lisbon. Meeting investors, founders, and accessibility advocates made it clear we were onto something, even if we weren’t ready to raise capital just yet.
Early 2024 — Aalto pre-accelerator
We joined Aalto University’s Startup Center pre-accelerator, refining the business model while keeping accessibility at the core of every decision.
Mid 2024 — Masters finished, focus sharpened
By mid-year the whole team had completed our master’s degrees. Heïdi’s thesis on accessible braille technology now informs both our hardware design and our research partnerships.
Late 2024 — EIT x SIBB incubator
Through the EIT-backed program at SIBB in Berlin, we pressure-tested our go-to-market plan, broadened our mentor circle, and mapped the path from pilots to production.
Today — Smarter coaching, ready for production
We’ve bundled everything we learned into the latest Brailly build: smarter sensing, personalised coaching, and the production-ready architecture to deliver Brailly devices to the families and educators who’ve been cheering us on since 2023.
Want to follow the journey or help us ship the first batch? Reach out at hello@brailly.eu.