The Spanish startup LUP, creator of the first pocket-sized smart magnifier that converts text into audio to help people with vision problems read more easily, has opened a funding round totaling €475,000 (approximately $510,000).
The device, born in 2021 from a university project at Mondragón University’s Faculty of Business, is capable of transforming text into audio files in more than 30 languages in under two seconds, thanks to a combination of artificial intelligence and computer vision, bringing autonomous reading closer to people with reading difficulties such as low vision, visual fatigue, or dyslexia.
Created by two Basque entrepreneurs, Eneko Calvo and Apurva San Juan, LUP has been financed with founder capital alongside external funds sourced from awards and public subsidies, totaling €400,000 to date. With a cumulative revenue of €230,000 since its commercial launch in late 2024, the company aims to finish 2026 having surpassed €420,000. Currently, its magnifier is present in more than 250 opticians, 90 libraries, and 30 day centers.
More than 1.2 million people living with visual impairment
«In Spain, 1.2 million people live with some form of visual impairment, which makes daily access to reading difficult. At LUP, we have spent four years developing a Spain-made solution that enables autonomous reading. It is an easy-to-use product, designed for the user and tailored to their real needs. Launching this funding round is a clear commitment to continue improving and driving the social purpose that motivates us and defines our raison d’être,» says Apurva San Juan, CEO and co-founder of LUP.
As a complement to its pocket magnifier, LUP offers a mobile app designed to convert text into audio quickly, even from documents, photos, or web pages, without the need for an internet connection. With free and premium versions, the app allows users to scan, save, and share readings across multiple devices. The tool has 30,000 downloads, 2,000 active users, and 70 subscriptions.
The capital raised during the investment round will be allocated to improving the magnifier by optimizing manufacturing processes, as well as expanding its development and operations teams. In addition, the mobile app will be boosted, with the goal of reaching 150 subscribers during 2026.
In Spain, LUP’s growth strategy centers on deployment in new day centers, libraries, cultural spaces, and organizations linked to inclusion. Internationally, its effort focuses on consolidating operations in Argentina and Uruguay while preparing to enter new markets such as museums and cultural institutions.
