I-Stem

The company

I-Stem offers AI-enabled digital services to provide high-quality accessible documents for people with disabilities.

The problem

Most people with visual impairments, especially students and employees, face challenges with inaccessible documents, media and apps. Lack of awareness of assistive technologies and lack of access to digital information limit access to opportunities and impede the growth of persons with visual and hearing impairments.

GSMA project

In July 2021, I-Stem received a GSMA grant to convert the I-Stem web portal into a mobile app that leverages AI to provide document and audio-visual accessibility services, helping users with visual and hearing impairments.

In April 2024, I-Stem received an additional GSMA grant through the Accelerated Growth Fund to provide a voice-powered interface in local languages to help people access digital resources and complete tasks that are otherwise inaccessible through the internet or mobile apps. These services are provided through WhatsApp and IVR, enabling I-Stem to serve a broad user base, including individuals in semi-urban and rural areas.

Outcomes

Received a grant in February 2025 from Meta and The Nudge Institute to scale its current AI solution and pilot a new solution.

Traction

I-Stem has just over 31,000 users on its mobile app, providing access to document, audio, video and app accessibility services. Nearly 9,000 of these users are women.

A message from the founder

“When you do not provide access to online information for someone who is blind or low vision or otherwise print disabled, then you’re basically not providing them the opportunity to succeed.”

– Kartik Sawhney, Co-founder, @istemindia