The visually impaired entrepreneur revolutionising AI tech
Zülal Tannur’s personal experience with sight loss inspired her to close the gap between biological and artificial vision using AI.
“I was born with limited sight, so I first learned how to ‘see’ on the computer screen”, says Zülal, who would magnify images to help her recognise colours, objects, and even her parents’ faces.
“When I lost my vision completely at 10, I asked myself if there was any way to see with technology once again.”
Thanks to the support of Futuremakers entrepreneurship programme Future Lab, the 22-year-old CEO’s dream of building a synthetic vision system is now a reality.
Seeing the world through a virtual lens
According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, 295 million people globally live with moderate to severe visual impairment. Keenly aware of this challenge, Zülal founded FROM YOUR EYES (FYE) in Istanbul in 2022.
Using AI, FYE functions like a pair of virtual glasses that allows users with limited biological vision to ‘see’ in real-time.
With FYE Mobile, users from more than 40 countries can upload photos, videos and visual documents to an app. An AI assistant instantly processes the information they’ve shared to provide an audio description of what’s happening.
There’s also FYE Vehicle Vision, which takes images inside and outside cars to aid passengers and ensure their safety.
An inspiring journey
Taking her business to the next level was part of an already impressive journey for Zülal, a Microsoft-trained technology ambassador and one of Google’s Women Tech Makers.
Launching FYE after managing 59 markets at a Microsoft partner company, Zülal realised she needed to boost investment and growth. So, she applied for mentoring support from the Futuremakers Future Lab project run by the Habitat Association and supported by our partner NGO Youth Business International (YBI).
Enter Future Lab
Future Lab equips female entrepreneurs and other marginalised business owners in Turkey with the skills, resources, mentorship and networking opportunities needed to break through barriers and achieve success.
“We talked a lot about our expectations because the start-up ecosystem is quite harsh”, explains Zülal, “especially for young entrepreneurs”.
With the support of her mentors, she was able to demonstrate her business credentials and integrity to potential investors to secure additional funding . She also received practical advice on licensing her product application programming interface (API) and user experience and user interface changes.
A bright future
“This experience has really helped me develop my own leadership skills”, explains Zülal, “I also feel more comfortable sharing my own experiences. Being part of a community of entrepreneurs means I don’t feel alone.”
After establishing a parent company – NeuroVision AI Tech – in Silicon Valley, Zülal’s company is now headquartered there and she’s aiming to double her workforce this year, charging towards her dream of creating the most advanced, customisable AI ‘vision’ for use across all industries – from airports and eCommerce platforms through cameras and beyond.
What is Futuremakers?
Futuremakers by Standard Chartered is our economic empowerment initiative to support disadvantaged young people, especially young women and people with disabilities, to learn, earn and grow.
We believe that even small gestures can grow to have a big impact, and that social enterprises founded by young entrepreneurs like Zülal today can help create jobs in the future. Because with the right support, their businesses can thrive.
Between 2024-2030 we’ve committed to help create and sustain 140,000 jobs.
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