Headquartered in India’s southern city of Hyderabad, Ducere Technologies‘ Le-chal (Colloquial Hindi: take me along), the world’s first interactive haptic footwear, gives vision to millions of visually challenged across the world to navigate through the sense of touch.
Founded in 2011 by electrical engineers Anirudh Sharma, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Krispian Lawrence, a graduate from the University of Michigan, the business has grown to a team of 110 engineers, designers, assembly operators, and sales staff.
The product can be synced to a user’s smartphone through bluetooth via the Lechal app that uses Google Maps to provide navigational directions towards the destination through vibrations and sensations. Subsequently, the company decided to expand the user base by innovating further and marketing it as a product anyone could easily use.
Ducere teamed with Hi-Tec Shoes, Europe, for co-branding and supplying insoles for Hi-Tec navigator shoes meant for hiking. It has distributors in India and North America. Its products are also available on Amazon, reports Outlook Business.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
