The first cohort of the Ready2Scale Acceleration Program has already ended, and the second cohort is about to start. Last year, over a six-month period, 15 deep-tech startups received mentorship, resources, and a €60,000 grant to help them scale. One of the first cohort startups was .lumen, a company developing Pedestrian Autonomous Driving AI (PAD AI) that was first showcased in the Glasses for the Blind. Let’s take a closer look at their journey.
The following questions are answered by Cornel Amariei (Founder & CEO), and Endre Hunnyadi, (Business Developer & R2S Project Manager).
How did you come up with the idea to create a startup?
Cornel Amariei: I was born into a family where both of my parents have disabilities. Growing up in this environment made me realize how much technology can help people with disabilities and how little technology is out there for them.
What have been the biggest challenges/failures and the biggest wins so far?
Cornel Amariei: Leading a deep-tech startup comes with big challenges on a daily basis; it would not be fair to name only one, as it’s the sum of them that makes it the biggest challenge. At .lumen, we have received a tremendous amount of recognition in the four years since we were established, the latest being the closing of a 5M EUR investment round.
What sets your startup apart from competitors?
Endre Hunnyadi: While solutions have emerged for many problems that blind people face, when it comes to mobility, the same two-thousand-year-old solutions persist: the guide dog and the white cane. The guide dog is recognized as a great solution, but it has disadvantages—it requires complex care and can cost up to €60,000. This explains why there are only 28,000 guide dogs available for the hundreds of millions of visually impaired people.This is where .lumen comes in—we created the Glasses for the Blind, which replicate the main mobility features of a guide dog but without the disadvantages that make it non-scalable.
Why would you recommend the Ready2Scale Acceleration Program to other startups?
Endre Hunnyadi: I would recommend the program due to its market-oriented approach and flexibility. This is a program that you can feel is designed for startups!
Where do you see your startup in 1 year? And where in 5 years?
Cornel Amariei:
In 1 year, we will be helping people.
In 5 years, we will be changing everything about pedestrian mobility.
Which books/podcasts/publications and influencers in your field do you follow and would recommend to other aspiring entrepreneurs?
Cornel Amariei: I have no time for books, podcasts, or publications—just work.
Endre Hunnyadi: I agree with Cornel.
If you’d get a chance to meet with Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, what would you ask them?
Cornel Amariei: I would ask Jeff Bezos about scalability in the new space race and the EU’s role in it.
.lumen is expanding and looking for passionate individuals to join their team in business, technology, and engineering roles. If you’re inspired by .lumen’s mission and want to contribute to the company’s success, check out their latest job openings on LinkedIn to learn more and apply! For more information about the company, visit https://www.dotlumen.com.