Indian-origin boy Shubham Banerjee gets Intel funding for Braille printer - The Economic Times on Mobile
CALIFORNIA: Shubham Banerjee, a 13 year-old eighth grader, has probably become one of the youngest entrepreneurs to get venture capital funding. Indian origin Banerjee, based out of San Jose in California, has got funding from Intel Capital to develop a low-cost printer for the blind.
It was a flyer asking for donations for the blind that triggered Banerjee's interest in Braille in December last year. "When I asked my parents about how the blind read, they told me to Google it," quips Banerjee.
Marrying his love for building cars and planes using Lego blocks, Banerjee came up with a prototype for the Braille printer for his school science fair. This product was further developed based on the feedback that Banerjee got.
It was at Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco two months ago that Banerjee was told he will get funding for his startup Braigo Labs from Intel. "I was just trying to help people and did not know it will go so far," said Banerjee, who was born in Belgium.
Banerjee's parents have also been supporting him morally and financially on his startup quest. "He has smart people around him. We understand that to turn a project into a company takes more talent," said Rob Reuckert, managing director at Intel Capital, who will be advising Braigo going ahead.
His mother Malini is president of Braigo since Shubham is still a minor.His father Neil works for Kno, an education startup that Intel bought last year.Both were born in India and Banerjee's extended family still lives in the country where he makes summer trips.
Now Braigo Labs will use the undisclosed amount of funding from the venture capital arm of world's largest chipmaker Intel to roll out a better prototype and develop more products for the visually impaired. Braigo Labs' Braille printer is expected to cost $350-500 (Rs 21,000-30,000), as compared to the usual price of $2,000.
The printer is expected to find a lot of traction in developing markets due to its low cost and be used for education, teaching and home purposes.
But with funding, Banerjee does not have any plans to drop out of school. "I am going to finish high school and then go to college," he said.
CALIFORNIA: Shubham Banerjee, a 13 year-old eighth grader, has probably become one of the youngest entrepreneurs to get venture capital funding. Indian origin Banerjee, based out of San Jose in California, has got funding from Intel Capital to develop a low-cost printer for the blind.
It was a flyer asking for donations for the blind that triggered Banerjee's interest in Braille in December last year. "When I asked my parents about how the blind read, they told me to Google it," quips Banerjee.
Marrying his love for building cars and planes using Lego blocks, Banerjee came up with a prototype for the Braille printer for his school science fair. This product was further developed based on the feedback that Banerjee got.
It was at Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco two months ago that Banerjee was told he will get funding for his startup Braigo Labs from Intel. "I was just trying to help people and did not know it will go so far," said Banerjee, who was born in Belgium.
Banerjee's parents have also been supporting him morally and financially on his startup quest. "He has smart people around him. We understand that to turn a project into a company takes more talent," said Rob Reuckert, managing director at Intel Capital, who will be advising Braigo going ahead.
His mother Malini is president of Braigo since Shubham is still a minor.His father Neil works for Kno, an education startup that Intel bought last year.Both were born in India and Banerjee's extended family still lives in the country where he makes summer trips.
Now Braigo Labs will use the undisclosed amount of funding from the venture capital arm of world's largest chipmaker Intel to roll out a better prototype and develop more products for the visually impaired. Braigo Labs' Braille printer is expected to cost $350-500 (Rs 21,000-30,000), as compared to the usual price of $2,000.
The printer is expected to find a lot of traction in developing markets due to its low cost and be used for education, teaching and home purposes.
But with funding, Banerjee does not have any plans to drop out of school. "I am going to finish high school and then go to college," he said.
