Ankit Ratan

Indian social entrepreneur who developed assistive tech for visually impaired individuals

Ankit Ratan (b. 1990) revolutionized accessibility through his 2015 startup Drishti Technologies. His 'Drishti' smartphone app uses AI to help visually impaired users identify objects and navigate environments, reaching 500,000+ users by 2019. During this period, he partnered with UNESCO's Disability Inclusion Initiative, expanding his solutions to 23 countries. His 2017 TEDx talk 'How AI is Restoring Sight to the Blind' became a catalyst for global tech accessibility discussions. Ratan's 2018 collaboration with MIT Media Lab produced low-cost braille devices, reducing costs by 70%. His work was featured in WIRED India's 2019 'Top 10 Social Innovators' list, influencing policy changes in India's National Education Policy 2020.