Solution Overview & Team Lead Details

Our Organization

Tatum Robotics

What is the name of your solution?

The Tatum T1

Provide a one-line summary of your solution.

Supporting DeafBlind individuals with their first independent communication tool that prioritizes their primary language, tactile sign.

In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?

Hudson, MA, USA

In what country is your solution team headquartered?

  • United States

What type of organization is your solution team?

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Film your elevator pitch.

What specific problem are you solving?

DeafBlind people can neither hear nor see. They use a tactile form of sign language, which they understand by placing a hand over the dominant hand of a signing partner while their signing partner signs. They understand the entirety of the language through the top of the dominant hand this way. Most people receive tactile American Sign Language (ASL) one-handed, though some use two hands to receive signs.  

Due to the lack of access to entertainment, community, and educational resources, the DeafBlind population experiences increased incidences of anxiety and depression linked to isolation and loneliness. 

DeafBlind children have limited education opportunities. They either attend specific DeafBlind programs, or struggle through mainstream schooling. Once DeafBlind students reach adulthood, opportunities for education are even further restricted; because independent education is so inaccessible (since the DeafBlind rarely can read braille), DeafBlind adults have no way of continuing their learning. Further, because of the difficulty of tactile communication for DeafBlind interaction, most hearing/sighted people are not willing to employ DeafBlind people. This is a problem exacerbated by their limited education, as few DeafBlind people earn college degrees. As a result, DeafBlind people struggle to participate in the workforce, causing lifelong financial dependence, social isolation, and a lack of broad purpose. 

Everyday activities that the sighted/hearing take advantage of each day are often completely inaccessible to the DeafBlind. They cannot consume movies, TV, or books. They cannot work virtually. They cannot call or FaceTime with family and friends. They cannot learn in their free time without a dedicated teacher for the DeafBlind, which results in poor general knowledge about history, culture, science, and other areas of life. They cannot even check the weather outside without opening the door and feeling the rain or the sunshine on their own skin. To achieve tasks like calling friends, reading books, or learning anything at all, severely DeafBlind folks must rely on those around them, making a lack of independence, autonomy, and privacy a serious issue. Family members, support providers, and professional interpreters help them with even the most mundane, everyday tasks.

What is your solution?

Tatum Robotics is developing a first-of-its-kind assistive communication device for the DeafBlind community. The robot, called the Tatum T1, translates English into tactile ASL output.  

The Tatum device can be connected to eBooks, emails, news sources, and texting services, making all of these sources accessible to DeafBlind people independently and in their preferred language for the first time. Established speech-to-text services will enable communication between the DeafBlind and non-signers without the need for an interpreter for every interaction.  

Tatum will have three main use areas: in households, to provide newfound access to news, entertainment, and socialization; in healthcare, to grant control over personal medical decisions; and in schools, to accommodate the needs of DeafBlind students. The potential for the device in schools cannot be understated—the device would allow DeafBlind students in grade schools and universities to socialize with non-signing peers without the need for a constant interpreter.  

A key feature of the Tatum T1 is its customizability. To account for the myriad of language needs within the DeafBlind community, the device can be set to a user’s individual preferences. Moreover, the user interface can be customized as well depending on whatever best suits a user. 

Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?

Tatum’s novel robotic system will be the first of its kind for tactile sign languages, the primary communication method of the 150 million DeafBlind individuals worldwide. In America, our beachhead market, there are 2.4 million severely DeafBlind people who use tactile ASL.

Children who are born DeafBlind must go through the entire schooling process without vision or hearing. According to the World Federation of the DeafBlind, DeafBlind children are less likely to be in school than children without disabilities. DeafBlind children are 38% less likely to have ever been enrolled in school than children with other disabilities. DeafBlind adults are half as likely to have a bachelor’s degree (14.6% vs. 33.4%) and over twice as likely to have less than a high school diploma (27.2% vs. 11.2%) than sighted and/or hearing people. These statistics are exacerbated outside of the US, where on average, children with deafblindness are up to 23 times less likely to be in school than children without disabilities.  

In the US, DeafBlind children often attend special schools like Perkins School for the Blind. These students need additional teaching than the school can provide; at Perkins, classes have roughly one teacher for every five DeafBlind students. Because 1:1 communication is the only way a DeafBlind student can access learning, even one teacher for five students is not personalized enough. These educators are often overwhelmed, and the students themselves miss out on valuable learning time. The Tatum T1 could be a valuable supplemental tool in schools for DeafBlind children who could continue learning even when their teacher is working with their peers.  

Most assistive technologies for DeafBlind people are braille-based. However, most DeafBlind people aren’t proficient in braille. Because braille is a medium of English, fluency in English—a language the DeafBlind have often never seen, heard, or read—is a major obstacle to braille learning. Furthermore, developing the finger sensitivity to read braille is a challenge for folks who are older, and maintaining that finger sensitivity requires constant braille practice. Braille technologies, as a result, fail to properly serve the needs of the DeafBlind population unless they are in the minority who are proficient with that medium. 

A lack of braille access leaves DeafBlind people reliant on in-person interpreting services. Interpreters have lead times of over three months because of the shortage of tactile interpreters. Interpreters, while efficient and clear, can limit a DeafBlind person’s sense of autonomy since they cannot communicate with much of the population without one. Interpreting services are also expensive; DeafBlind interpreting requires a team of two interpreters to combat interpreter fatigue, and each interpreter might charge between $75 – 100/hour. With the cost and the inconvenience of scheduling services, there is a need for assistive technology intervention.

How are you and your team well-positioned to deliver this solution?

The Tatum core team is made up of four full-time employees and several full-time contractors. Our full-time employees are 1) Samantha Johnson, Founder and CEO, who has experience with mechanical engineering, friends within the Deaf/DeafBlind community, and an affinity for confident leadership; 2) Todd Johnson, CTO, who has decades of experience building software and who himself has owned a company in the past; 3) Nicole Rich, linguist, who has a background in both English grammar and the linguistics of ASL and tactile ASL, allowing her to use both in our innovative translation software; and 4) Jon Markowitz, Robotics Engineer, with expertise in mechanical design and embedded circuitry.

Aside from our everyday employees and contractors, Tatum Robotics also employs several DeafBlind consultants. Creating technology for the DeafBlind is impossible without direct input from community members. The Team considers these perspectives invaluable, orienting design changes and improvements around the feedback from the community itself. 

Importantly, Tatum Robotics was founded in collaboration with the Deaf-Blind Contact Center (DBCC). The DBCC is Boston’s largest DeafBlind social group, consisting of approximately 30 DeafBlind members as well as other signers who support them. Tatum Robotics has hosted DBCC events, met DeafBlind members, and volunteered as support service providers (SSPs) for organization outings. Tatum Robotics’ Founder was voted Secretary for the group on the Executive Board twice, for the year of 2023 and 2024. Now just one of many DeafBlind organizations collaborating with Tatum Robotics, Boston’s DBCC remains an integral part of the team, hosting events with the community and helping us establish broader connections in the American DeafBlind community. Tatum Robotics also works alongside the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) which educates DeafBlind adults, and Perkins School for the Blind which educates DeafBlind children. Our team regularly meets with technology coordinators and classroom educators at both institutions.  

The Tatum team is the best team to bring this technology to life because all members are passionate about the mission. Several graduate students have turned their work at Tatum into their master’s thesis projects, and others stay after their co-op cycle has ended to continue working on what they started. Our location in Boston keeps us well networked, making it easy to select applicants who care about our goals the most.

Which dimension of the Challenge does your solution most closely address?

Use inclusive design to ensure engagement and better outcomes for learners with disabilities and neurodivergent learners, while benefiting all learners.

Which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals does your solution address?

  • 3. Good Health and Well-Being
  • 4. Quality Education
  • 8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • 10. Reduced Inequalities

What is your solution’s stage of development?

Prototype

Please share details about why you selected the stage above.

After nearly three years of designing and iterating, the technology is currently undergoing its fourth major redesign based on customer interviews with DeafBlind folks across the Northeast. We have shown the technology in person to over 50 DeafBlind individuals, gaining not only their support, but also the support of their families, friends, service providers, employers, and educators.  

To evaluate the robot, we first show the DeafBlind tester the customizability of the device, adjusting its speed and language complexity level until it is ideal for the individual’s use. Then, the robot fingerspells several short pre-programmed informational stories about topics the DeafBlind person is likely unfamiliar with based on research we have conducted about the general education level of DeafBlind adults. As the robot spells, the team observes if the user is understanding the sentences by asking questions. After, the DeafBlind person offers their opinion about the robot’s letters, transitions, and speed as well as the stories’ relevance, clarity, or enjoyability. The robot has been able to undergo this type of evaluation with seven individuals throughout one day—about 8 hours of use—without overheating, breaking, or sustaining any other wear and tear.  

After learning how to use the robot’s DeafBlind-friendly user interface, a DeafBlind user can access many different features. Tatum Robotics writes content to make available for DeafBlind folks to use as a learning tool. With feedback from DeafBlind users, we write content about history, American laws, important people in pop culture and politics, science concepts, and more. These custom made stories will soon be written through generative AI. In addition, they can access information about the weather for the next three days so that they can check the weather and plan or dress accordingly without having to step outside themselves or guess. They can access the news, which is reformatted in a way that they can understand given their priorities and language needs. They are also able to message others, using the robot to receive texts so they no longer have to strain their residual vision or struggle through braille to connect with friends and family across distance 

Recent improvements to the design focus on preparing for the beta pilot stage. Challenges largely revolve around user interface development. Designing a DeafBlind-friendly user interface is a unique challenge, as the team cannot rely on signals like lights, colors, images, text, or even braille to cue the user. Instead, we must carefully iterate an intuitive user interface alongside DeafBlind consultants while teaching them to use the device. One interface may be friendly to one user, but not another; this process requires much market research and user testing before a design can be finalized.

Why are you applying to Solve?

Tatum Robotics sees two main areas where MIT Solve’s help could be most beneficial. The first is in the legal area. We are specifically looking to learn about business structure, protecting intellectual property, and drafting and negotiating contracts. In addition, scaling the business will require expertise in ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, establishing investments, and mitigating any legal risks. We have no one on our existing team with legal expertise, but business growth cannot be separated from legal savvy. 

Secondly, we are developing a type of technology that has never made it to market. ASL robotics projects, because of the anthropomorphic design and language translation demands, have never been commercially available. Because the technical challenge is significant, software and hardware expertise are always welcomed by our ambitious and curious team. We have been fortunate to have office space at MassRobotics, a collaborative space where robotics engineers develop their startup technology; this space has allowed us to make invaluable connections with experts in engineering. However, additional technical input has the potential to revolutionize our technology. Establishing further connections with industry professionals in electronics, mechanical design, robotics, and haptics could massively affect the trajectory of our product. Because time requires money, speeding up our development timeline could ensure the success of the company. 

The first thing we would do with Solve funding is compensate DeafBlind consultants for the critical feedback that only they, as target users, can provide. Since our ethical impact is important to us, we want to make sure that each consultant is fairly compensated for the value of their perspective. Internally at Tatum Robotics, as development continues, we also want to bring on additional permanent DeafBlind employees for R&D and linguistics investigation. As a result, this funding will accelerate our development timeline by allowing us to work with DeafBlind individuals throughout the R&D and validation process to optimize our design. 

Additionally, we have found that traveling is especially critical for a technology startup’s success. Being able to travel to show stakeholders our technology in person has been a game changer in the past. Especially because our target user relies on in-person tactile communication, being able to travel to meet someone has been the difference between finding a new supporter and being ghosted online. Funding from this program would be instrumental to the company’s growth.

In which of the following areas do you most need partners or support?

  • Legal or Regulatory Matters
  • Technology (e.g. software or hardware, web development/design)

Who is the Team Lead for your solution?

Samantha Johnson

More About Your Solution

What makes your solution innovative?

Many existing robotic hand systems are restricted to only three or four degrees of freedom to allow for gripping capabilities. Tatum's robotic hand is one-of-a-kind, fully compliant and anthropomorphic in order to achieve complex handshapes without ever harming a user by gripping with too much force. No other robotic signing hands or arms have made it to market because of the unique design challenges that ASL presents to technological imitators.  

Our device is made almost entirely of flexible materials so that users who cannot hear nor see will not be put in harm's way under any scenario while interacting with the device. Our team has also conducted grip force testing to ensure that the robotic hand cannot squeeze a person’s fingers tightly; this testing showed that the robotic fingers, when fully actuated, exert an average force of 5.5 N. This is significantly less than the amount of force it would require to break an egg (25 N), for example. 

Tatum Robotics’ technology critically combines the benefits of both braille tablets and interpreters. Braille tablets are convenient and independent tools, but they use a DeafBlind person’s second language; interpreters use a DeafBlind person’s primary language, but they are expensive, hard to access, and limit autonomy. Tatum Robotics’ device is an independent tool that prioritizes the community’s primary language.  

Another facet of Tatum Robotics’ work is linguistic research with the American DeafBlind community. Our eventual goal is to produce a translation system that can translate English text into not just fingerspelling, but tactile ASL itself. This translation system would be integrated with a second robot, currently under development, with shoulder and elbow joints in addition to a wrist and fingers. This second robot, called the Tatum Signing System (TSS) will be able to actuate full signed sentences. Though the TSS only exists in basic prototypes now, the language algorithm is two years into development and is seeing a success rate of 75% in its translation outputs.  

The robot’s operating system is entirely cloud based. Because the software of the product is stored in the cloud rather than on each individual robot, our team can control the robot’s functionality remotely. This allows for independent software updates as the robot improves. Additionally, every robot can be uniquely customized, and new content can be available on the robot as soon as it is published online. Text from the internet can be downloaded easily, and there is no lag time as messages get sent through the messaging function between a robot’s user and another person. Cloud processing also makes the system more affordable, and reduces maintenance costs since software maintenance will never take place with an individual robot.

Describe in simple terms how and why you expect your solution to have an impact on the problem.

We are offering the solution that DeafBlind people have wanted for decades, yet no one has been able to deliver. DeafBlind visitors to our office have cried tears of joy when they use the robot for the first time. From friends and families of the DeafBlind, the device has offered unprecedented connection. Parents of the DeafBlind who have never successfully communicated with their own children independently finally see a way to casually and easily connect. The service providers for DeafBlind clients, who are used to witnessing the ways DeafBlind people struggle with services the rest of us take advantage of every day, see the invaluable potential of the device. 

Educators of the DeafBlind have expressed similar support. Language acquisition is the emphasis of early DeafBlind education, and the Tatum T1 device could help children acquire language faster without the constant need for a teacher’s one-on-one support. These teachers, who are already overwhelmed in their classrooms, look forward to integrating the device into their lessons and the lives of their students. In a more long-term sense, smoother language acquisition will lead to greater academic potential for DeafBlind students. We anticipate Tatum Robotics technology helping DeafBlind students get to college, and even facilitating university settings.  

Tatum Robotics is in collaboration with the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC). DeafBlind adults stay at HKNC to learn independence skills like mobility and cooking. This learning institute also provides assistive technologies for the DeafBlind, and trains residents how to use them. Tatum Robotics is in collaboration with HKNC’s technology department and has confirmed their interest in providing Tatum Robotics’ device to residents there. The support and enthusiasm from such an important group proves that stakeholders intimately familiar with the struggles of deafblindness see potential in the product we offer.  

In 2023, Tatum Robotics established a relationship with Gallaudet University’s Technology Access Program (TAP). Gallaudet University is the first Deaf university in the world and remains an important cultural landmark for America’s Deaf community. The university has especially high enrollment of DeafBlind students—at the underclassman level all the way to the PhD level—compared to other universities across the country. So far, Tatum Robotics has visited Gallaudet University twice to showcase our technology to the TAP, which generates some of the most researched assistive technology for the Deaf in the country. Professors, students, and community members alike showed unanimous enthusiasm for the product during both visits. 

The group iCanConnect (ICC) provides assistive technology to DeafBlind people at no personal cost. ICC pays for and distributes the technology itself and provides trainers to teach the DeafBlind how to use different devices. A DeafBlind person requests technology, and an ICC representative picks what available device best suits the individual’s needs based on their preferred communication methods and their residual sight or hearing ability. Representatives from ICC have confirmed interest in making Tatum Robotics’ technology available to DeafBlind folks requesting technology.  

What are your impact goals for your solution and how are you measuring your progress towards them?

Our impact goals revolve around a DeafBlind person’s capabilities using the device. With the device, a DeafBlind person will be able to: (1) Select unique content to suit the user’s interests, curiosity, and abilities, (2) Practice sign reception at their own pace and time, (3) Comfortably message another person, (4) Check the weather, (5) Get news updates, (6) Request content to be made available, (7) Privately communicate with a non-signer, in-person, and (8) Use the DeafBlind-friendly user interface comfortably.

While all of these impact goals seem simple to the hearing/sighted majority, these capabilities have never been independently available for this population.  

We will measure our progress using customer interviews. We are currently preparing for our beta pilot; we will install our robots in the homes of several DeafBlind people. We have allotted 100 hours to train each person using the device, after which the pilot will begin and we will gather data toward our goals. Our beta testers will update us during the program about which features they found comfortable and which were frustrating.  

Because the system is cloud-based, we can also see for ourselves which functions the testers spend the most time using. For example, if a DeafBlind person reads every educational story labeled with the “biography” tag, then we know that person is interested in biographies. If the person also reads every story with the “disability” tag, then we have an even better idea of what the user is interested in learning more about: in this case, disabled people’s biographies. If users read a high volume of the available stories, then we can consider the content successful. We can consider the time that a user spends using the robot each day to be a measure of the robot’s effectiveness as a tool.  

The Tatum device would grant DeafBlind people access without sacrificing privacy and independence. Never has tactile sign language been available for a DeafBlind person to receive privately. Tatum envisions a world in which DeafBlind people can access any media at their own convenience, learn anything they would like to whenever they want to, interact with non-signers or long-distance friends in their preferred language, and feel in control all the while. 

Describe the core technology that powers your solution.

The Tatum device has both novel hardware and software components; the hardware is comprised of a robotic hand system with 18 degrees of freedom that can achieve all 45 handshapes required for ASL signing. All parts of the device leverage advancements in 3D printing and are made of materials like TPU, nylon, and PETG. A Raspberry Pi incorporated into the base of the design along with 15 buttons make the device operable independently by a DeafBlind individual. The buttons have 3D printed tactile caps meant for recognition through touch. To ensure safety and compliance, the hand cannot exert more than 13N of force through its strongest grip, with an average grip force of only 5.5N. This force is well under the threshold for what might cause a user any pain or harm.

Each finger is printed as a solid piece, eliminating any pinch points where users' fingers could get stuck. This design prioritizes safety without compromising functionality. The manufacturing process is streamlined for ease and efficiency, allowing for scalability and low cost. The robots’ dexterity and anthropomorphic movements are achieved through a tendon-driven system like the human hand. The core technology of our robotic system centers around a robot client and robust cloud-processor. Storing software in the cloud allows the robot to be smaller and more cost-effective. Crucially, all sensitive and priority information remains securely stored off the robot, enhancing data privacy and security. This design not only optimizes the performance and agility of the robotic system but also significantly reduces the hardware and operational costs associated with deploying and maintaining the technology.  

We have a computer vision team developing a gesture recognition system that will be able to recognize the fingerspelling of DeafBlind users so that they can communicate with the device as it communicates to them. This system uses machine learning to compile models from training datasets of fluent signers’ fingerspelling.  

Tatum’s software translates English text into tactile ASL output, maintaining clarity and accuracy to ensure clear communication. For the past two years, the translation system has been reliant on manual rule creation, but with additional funding, the team will be able to implement NLP techniques to advance progress. The entire language system has been fully informed by interviews and analysis of DeafBlind natural language use; our team records and processes hours of video data to make our translations mirror the expression of the DeafBlind users themselves. 

Which of the following categories best describes your solution?

A new technology

How do you know that this technology works?

Initial prototypes of the technology in 2021 had a recognition rate of roughly 60% among DeafBlind testers. Now, as the technology has improved, the letter recognition rate is at 98% among testers, including at different speeds. DeafBlind testers like using the robot so much that after their first experience with it, they almost always ask us when they will be able to have their own robot in their home.  

The notable collaborations we have established, especially with HKNC and ICC, lend credibility to the device unlike any other metric could. HKNC, where experts train DeafBlind folks with technologies meant for their needs, only supports projects that are truly beneficial to the community served there. Likewise, the support of ICC, who will be paying for the device once it is ready for launch, proves that they believe in its impact and functionality. 

Our team is able to work with many experts in the robotics field. Our office space within MassRobotics, an organization that houses roughly 60 robotics startups, allows us to collaborate directly with other roboticists at resident companies. Similar robotics experts with diverse experience who lecture at Northeastern University provide counsel for our engineering team. In particular, the Northeastern University Institute for Experiential Robotics has made a big difference in our work over the years. The grant we were awarded through the National Science Foundation has also included professional help as we develop our solution. All of these collaborators in the robotics space help our team to ensure technical efficacy in our devices. 

For visual evidence of the robot’s success, see news pieces published about our work from CBS news (https://www.cbsnews.com/boston...) and Voice of America (https://www.voanews.com/a/robo... ). Also available is the paper written about this project by the Founder & CEO during her time at Northeastern University (https://ieeexplore-ieee-org.ezproxy.canberra.edu.au/st... ).

Please select the technologies currently used in your solution:

  • Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
  • Biomimicry
  • Biotechnology / Bioengineering
  • Manufacturing Technology
  • Robotics and Drones
  • Software and Mobile Applications

In which countries do you currently operate?

  • Canada
  • United States

Which, if any, additional countries will you be operating in within the next year?

  • United States
Your Team

How many people work on your solution team?

Tatum Robotics has 4 full-time team members. In addition, we have a rotating number of co-ops and other contractors depending on the season. Currently, Tatum Robotics has 3 co-ops in addition to our 4 full-time team members.  

Tatum Robotics also employs 2 DeafBlind consultants. These consultants are contractors that are paid hourly when they visit the office.  

How long have you been working on your solution?

Tatum Robotics was founded in September 2021. Prior to that, Tatum Robotics’ Founder & CEO developed an initial prototype and proof of concept as a master’s thesis project in May 2021. Following graduation from Northeastern University, she turned the project into a business with the support of the local DeafBlind community. 

Tell us about how you ensure that your team is diverse, minimizes barriers to opportunity for staff, and provides a welcoming and inclusive environment for all team members.

Tatum Robotics is a woman-owned small business. Of the 19 team members that have been involved with the company since its inception—whether full-time team members or semester-long volunteers—10 have been women. Including young female engineers and linguists was of paramount importance to the company’s Founder at the beginning of the Tatum Robotics journey and has remained a key part of hiring ever since. In addition, 9 people we have hired are people of color. By embracing diverse talent, we tap into a wealth of experiences and ideas that drive innovation. Our commitment to diversity is both a moral imperative and a strategic advantage, fostering an environment of innovation and social impact. 

Two full-time members of our team, including the Founder & CEO, are both fluent signers and attend community events regularly. These team members use a custom-made curriculum to teach non-signing engineers basic tactile ASL skills so that they can communicate with the DeafBlind community members that visit our office regularly. This way, DeafBlind people never have to feel alone or misunderstood when they are in a Tatum Robotics space; there will always be someone who will understand them and know how best to help them. Basic ASL education is a key component to a Tatum Robotics employee’s experience.  

Our advisory board, which is made up of DeafBlind community members, adds invaluable perspective on design requirements, system efficacy, and customer needs. Their input informs the next steps the team must take to create a device that will be useful and easy to use. This advisory board consists of DeafBlind adults who use ASL or tactile ASL as their primary communication method. We are committed to ensuring that discoveries are ethical and promote the advancement of all. 

Your Business Model & Funding

What is your business model?

Tatum Robotics technology will be purchased and distributed by iCanConnect (ICC), an FCC-funded program that provides relevant technologies to DeafBlind Americans. This sales channel will access DeafBlind individuals at no direct cost to the consumer. Through conversations with ICC representatives, our team has confirmed ICC interest in making our product available to consumers through their established system.  Our price points and product lifetimes are set by iCanConnect, ensuring we will fit into their programs. Our planned list price for the Tatum fingerspelling hand is $6,000, reflecting the cost of existing assistive technologies for the blind that ICC provides. We anticipate a useful product life of 2 – 3 years, like similar durable medical goods. Selling upgrades and updates to our system will create a continuous revenue stream for the business.

Once this device is offered through the ICC catalog, we will then focus on revenue streams through partnerships with key organizations such as the Helen Keller National Center, a learning institution which supports 5,000 DeafBlind students per year. Importantly, we are also working with government organizations such as the Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure greater accessibility for this device. ED would help to fund our products in school systems without high costs, and DHS programs would ensure emergency notifications and alerts are accessible.

We plan to first launch our product for the at-home market as we continue gathering usage data and refining the technology’s design. After entering the US at-home market (5% market saturation, $600M), we will focus on secondary revenue streams in the US (10% market saturation into education and healthcare, $200M). We will use a one-time purchase model for at-home use and a subscription model for B2B sales, maintaining a 60% gross margin.   

We see Tatum Robotics’ growth happening quickly. With gross profits on the Tatum T1 of 60%, additional product lines will help to ensure additional revenue going forward. This Tatum T1 base model is only the first product in the pipeline, with additional R&D already in the works for further development of signing robotics. We will continue to fundraise through government-based grants until the successful completion of our beta, after which we will fundraise for launch.

Do you primarily provide products or services directly to individuals, to other organizations, or to the government?

Individual consumers or stakeholders (B2C)

What is your plan for becoming financially sustainable, and what evidence can you provide that this plan has been successful so far?

Tatum Robotics plans to fundraise via several avenues. Following our success with the National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the team plans to continue applying for grants through government programs like the Department of Education and the Administration of Community Living. In addition, grant programs that focus on diversity and social good have been a longstanding supporter of Tatum Robotics; we have won 8 of these awards as of this submission (including the Women Who Empower award, the Quin Impact award, the Robert J. Crowley Eddie award, the MassChallenge award, and the Massachusetts Next Generation award). In addition to the funding from the NSF, these awards have kept Tatum Robotics afloat for the last two years. Now that our team has begun the pilot stages of our device, more of these grant opportunities are available since the technology and the market are de-risked. 

The company anticipates financial support through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Engagement with DHS programs will guarantee that emergency notifications and alerts are readily accessible to the DeafBlind community. These partnerships not only provide financial backing but also facilitate greater accessibility and usability of the company’s device. With support from DHS, the device can move into the homes of DeafBlind individuals through several avenues and provide crucial support within their community. This financial backing, coupled with strategic partnerships, demonstrates the company's commitment to enhancing accessibility and inclusion for the DeafBlind population.   

Ensuring the long-term financial viability of the company involves several strategic initiatives, starting with the early launch of the Tatum T1 and subsequent revenue generation. Even before mass manufacturing, the company anticipates revenue from the initial iterations of the Tatum T1. The gross profits forecasted at 60% for the Tatum T1 indicate a promising revenue stream from this flagship product. Moreover, the introduction of additional product lines will further bolster revenue streams in the future, diversifying the company's income sources and reducing dependency on a single product. 

While the Tatum T1 serves as the foundational product, it represents just the beginning of the company's product development roadmap. In addition to direct consumer sales, the company foresees lucrative revenue streams in the education and healthcare sectors. These institutional sales represent high-value opportunities that can significantly bolster the company's financial performance and long-term sustainability. By strategically targeting these sectors, the company aims to diversify its revenue streams and maximize profitability in key market segments. We can provide forecasts upon request; we anticipate positive EBITA by year 3.

Solution Team

 
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