Tactopus

Based in Bengaluru, India, Tactopus Learning Solutions Private Limited operates in the assistive technologies domain, focusing on inclusive education for children. The company was founded in 2018 by Saloni Mehta, Chandni Rajendran, and Karen D'Mello. The founding emerged from a design project at IIT Bombay, where Mehta and Rajendran aimed to improve access to learning for all children. Saloni Mehta, the current CEO, is an engineer and user-experience designer from IIT Bombay with a background at Flipkart and Samsung. Co-founder Chandni Rajendran, who also studied Interaction Design at IIT Bombay and has a background in architecture, was instrumental in the initial development, driven by her experiences in designing for the visually impaired.

Tactopus targets the challenge of providing educational resources for children with disabilities, including visual impairments, learning disabilities, and developmental delays. The business addresses a market where an estimated one in six children in urban India may be a slow learner or have a developmental delay. Its business model encompasses both direct-to-consumer sales of physical products and providing online, one-on-one developmental therapy services. The company serves parents, teachers, and schools, including partnerships with government bodies and over 35 schools in India and Singapore.

The core of Tactopus's offering is a multi-sensory learning system that combines physical, tactile products with interactive digital technology. Products include tactile books, flashcards, puzzles, and games that are designed to be explored through touch. These physical items are augmented by a mobile application that uses image processing to recognize the objects and provide context-aware audio guides, descriptions, and instructions. This synergy of touch, sound, and vision accelerates learning for all children, creating an inclusive environment where children with and without disabilities can learn together. Initially focused on visual impairment, the company expanded its services to offer online speech therapy, occupational therapy, special education, and counseling, creating a comprehensive one-stop solution for childhood developmental needs.

Keywords: assistive technology, special education, inclusive learning, edtech, multi-sensory learning, tactile graphics, childhood development, learning disabilities, visual impairment, developmental therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, educational toys, interactive learning, parent support, special needs services, India, Bengaluru, Saloni Mehta, Chandni Rajendran