HapWare Community Update — May 2026

Hi everyone,

The past month has been one of the most energizing stretches we have had as a company. We had the chance to share ALEYE with thousands of people across webinars, podcasts, and in-person events, and the momentum behind what we are building has never felt stronger. We wanted to take a moment to recap the highlights and share an opportunity for our early supporters to be among the very first to experience ALEYE.

BLINDY GIRL X HAPWARE WEBINAR

On April 15, we co-hosted a live webinar with Serina Gilbert (Blindy Girl), one of the most trusted voices in the blind community. Serina had the chance to demo ALEYE ahead of the session and shared her honest, firsthand perspective on what it felt like to access nonverbal cues in real time.

The conversation was rich, the questions from attendees were sharp, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Hearing community members describe how ALEYE could change everyday moments  from job interviews to first dates to classroom conversations. It reminded us exactly why we are doing this work. If you want to watch the webinar find it here!

AMERICAN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND PODCAST

We were honored to be featured on the American Council of the Blind (ACB) podcast, reaching one of the largest and most engaged audiences in the blind and low vision community. We had the opportunity to walk through ALEYE's mission, the technology behind real-time haptic feedback, and the road ahead toward shipping.

ACB has been a long-standing champion of accessibility innovation, and being invited onto the show is a powerful signal that ALEYE is resonating with the organizations that matter most. The response from listeners has already translated into new preorders and clarity in what we are building with ALEYE. Listen here.

BLIND PROFESSIONALS NETWORK CONFERENCE — HOUSTON

On April 23–25, we wrapped up our Texas tour with the Blind Professionals Network Conference in Houston. The room was full of working professionals, advocates, and leaders representing some of the most influential voices in the BLV workforce.

We conducted demos all weekend, and the response was extraordinary. Professionals told us, over and over, that ALEYE solves a problem they have been navigating to read the room in meetings, networking events, and high-stakes conversations.

THE MOMENTUM IS REAL

Between the Blindy Girl webinar, the ACB podcast, Houston, and the events that came before, ALEYE has been demoed to thousands of people in the past month alone. Preorders are accelerating, partnership conversations are deepening, and we are on track to begin shipping by the end of the year.

Every demo, every conversation, and every preorder is helping us build a product that the community actually wants — and that the community will help shape.

PREORDER NOW + GET BETA ACCESS TO THE ALEYE MOBILE APP

Here is the most important update: anyone who preorders ALEYE will receive beta access to the HapWare ALEYE mobile app.

The mobile app lets you start experiencing ALEYE today through Meta smart glasses or your iPhone, giving real-time insight into facial expressions, gestures, and body language — long before your wristband ships. Preorder customers are first in line, with priority access.

In other words, preordering is no longer just a reservation — it is the fastest way to experience ALEYE. Early supporters also lock in a discounted price and directly influence the features, cues, and design choices that ship at launch.

Preorder ALEYE here and join the beta.

FROM OUR COMMUNITY

A few resources worth your attention from friends, partners, and investors across the disability community:

Dollars and Sense — Trusts, Savings and Support (June 4). A free, practical webinar on ABLE accounts, True Link cards, Special Needs Trusts, Trump Accounts, and other savings options from Ability Central (HapWare partner). Open to all ages. Register here.

Disability Tech Index AT Experience Survey. CPARF and Remarkable U.S. are building the first free, public, searchable map of assistive technology — what exists, what works, and what is still missing. It is a 10–15 minute conversational interview (not a checkbox form), with tracks for people with disabilities, caregivers, and professionals. Take it at disabilitytechindex.org.

Ability Lane. A new platform from Brittany Tofinchio Palmer (HapWare Investor) connecting accessible tech startups with the disability, neurodivergent, aging, and caregiver communities, alongside investors backing inclusive innovation. Think Product Hunt, built for accessible tech. Explore it at abilitylane.com.

Thank you to everyone who attended a webinar, listened to the podcast, stopped by a booth, asked a question, preordered ALEYE or shared our work with someone else this month. None of this happens without you.

Best,

The HapWare Team