Young Innovator: turning a School Project into a Social Business

From a classroom idea to award-winning innovation, three Lithuanian teens are redefining accessibility through AI.

Smiltė’s life took a powerful turn when she joined the European Institute of Innovation and Technology EIT’s Girls Go Circular programme. Alongside her best friends and teammates, Aistė Juodaitytė and Luknė Jucevičiūtė, she co-founded Sound Way, a startup dedicated to empowering visually impaired individuals to navigate public spaces independently. This was more than a school project, it was the first step in building a social impact business.

A successful journey

Their journey began in June 2024 when the team applied to the Girls Go Circular Student Challenge on AI, and decided to pitch an innovative concept: a bracelet that sends ultrasound echoes to detect obstacles. Though creative, they discovered a need to integrate actual artificial intelligence. So they pivoted, developing the idea of an AI-powered system capable of translating media into sign language.

Back at the LSMU Gymnasium in Kaunas, Smiltė and her teammates continued to iterate. In April 2025, during the National Educational Company Expo in Vilnius, they combined their technical innovation with human-centered insights, particularly after interviewing a Paralympic athlete. The athlete shared that head collisions were more concerning than obstacles at ground level. This eye-opening perspective led them to redesign their product as smart glasses, inspired by car parking sensor technology. The result? They took home awards for the most socially responsible business idea and the Best Educational Student Company (grades 5–8).

Girls Go Circular is worth it, fun, and inspiring! You learn so much about things you didn’t even know could be interesting. It’s the perfect place for girls who love competition and building a business idea

Smiltė Laučiūtė, Co-founder of Sound Way

Building Circular Futures in Barcelona

This entrepreneurial momentum carried Smiltė to the Girls Go Circular Summer Hackathon in Barcelona (27–30 June 2025). Smiltė helped develop Cycle Case, an eco-friendly phone cover made from biodegradable bioplastics, designed to fit any phone and built for longevity. Their idea landed them a strong third-place finish, proving that their creativity not only supports social good but also brings circular economy principles to life.

Their secret sauce? Friendship, clear roles, and shared passion. Smiltė leads the team as President and handles social media, Aistė manages finances and Luknė oversees product development.

A Journey of Growth & Lasting Impact

Winning their first competition taught them one critical lesson: this idea was worth pursuing. But the deeper transformation came from understanding the real needs of people with disabilities, a topic they had limited awareness of before joining the programme.

Girls Go Circular helped us grow personally and learn about the challenges people with disabilities face. We love travelling, and this journey was both exciting and inspiring, it gave birth to our startup

Smiltė Laučiūtė, Co-founder of Sound Way

Smiltė and her teammates continue shaping their goals and future with ambition and determination. 

Thanks to the programme we have a startup now and we continue working on the idea, we have a working prototype and, next year, we'll try to make a final product and maybe give it to people with sight disabilities to try it and give us their feedback. Our main goal for next year is to compete again in the national Expo, this time in the 9th to 12th grade competition category

Smiltė Laučiūtė, Co-founder of Sound Way

Through Girls Go Circular, Smiltė and her team discovered how to harness technology, entrepreneurship, and empathy to build a startup with purpose. Their journey shows that when young women are given confidence, creativity, and community, they can make a genuine social impact, and inspire others to follow.