Thinkerbell Labs: Revolutionizing Braille Literacy Through Innovation

In a country that’s home to 20% of the world’s visually impaired population, Braille literacy in India stands at a disheartening 1%. This gap inspired a group of BITS Pilani graduates to take action. In 2016, Sanskriti Dawle, Aman Srivastava, Dilip Ramesh, and Saif Shaikh founded Thinkerbell Labs, a Bangalore-based tech-driven startup dedicated to transforming learning outcomes for the visually impaired.

The seeds of Thinkerbell Labs were sown during their college days at BITS Pilani’s Goa Campus, where the team worked on ‘Project Mudra’, an early initiative to simplify Braille education. Using a Raspberry Pi—a compact, credit-card-sized computer—along with audio guides, they created a prototype that resonated deeply with visually impaired students and their teachers. The enthusiastic feedback they received convinced them that this was the foundation of something revolutionary.

This vision materialized into Annie, the world’s first self-learning Braille literacy device. Named after Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller’s legendary teacher, Annie is designed to tackle the core challenges of Braille education. It combines tactile hardware modules with audio guidance, offering an interactive, gamified, and self-paced learning experience. What sets Annie apart is its ability to provide instant feedback, eliminating the need for constant supervision and empowering learners to progress independently.

Thinkerbell Labs’ innovation quickly caught the attention of investors and incubators. In 2016, they were incubated by MassChallenge UK and even had the opportunity to showcase Annie to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Backing from prominent figures like Anand Mahindra and the Indian Angel Network further fueled their mission, helping them scale their impact.

By 2022, over 500 Annie devices had been installed in 50+ smart classes across 16 Indian states, thanks to collaborations with state governments, including Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. These partnerships have enabled countless visually impaired children to access self-learning, interactive tools that make Braille literacy engaging and effective.

The company’s groundbreaking work hasn’t gone unnoticed. In 2020, Thinkerbell Labs won the 1st edition of Techbharat 2020. In 2022, Annie was featured in TIME’s list of Best Innovations, and the team even earned a shoutout from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Digital India Week 2022.

Their journey reached a wider audience when the founders appeared on Shark Tank India’s debut season. A compelling demo by 10-year-old Prathamesh Sinha, a visually impaired Braille student, showcased how quickly Annie accelerates learning. The sharks—Anupam Mittal, Namita Thapar, and Peyush Bansal—were so impressed by the company’s vision that they invested ₹1.05 crore for 3% equity, marking another milestone in Thinkerbell Labs’ growth.

Today, Annie supports over 15 languages, ensuring accessibility across diverse linguistic backgrounds. With $1.08 million raised over six funding rounds, including investments from LetsVenture and the Government of Karnataka, Thinkerbell Labs continues to push the boundaries of assistive technology. By blending innovation with inclusivity, Thinkerbell Labs is reshaping the future of education for the visually impaired.