Kavisree Dhamotharan: The Sixth Grader Behind a Smart Walking Stick for the Visually and Hearing Impaired
When 11-year-old Kavisree Dhamotharan, a Class 6 student from Sreenidhi International School, Hyderabad, first walked into Bower School’s SEED camp, she didn’t expect that a weekend programme would one day lead her to build a product that could transform the lives of people with disabilities. But curiosity, empathy, and her growing love for entrepreneurship and robotics ended up sparking something powerful.
At SEED, she teamed up with her fellow student Dhairya Jaiswal, and together they went on to develop Pathfinder, a smart walking stick designed to support people who are visually and hearing impaired.
Her journey began when her school introduced her to the idea of entrepreneurship. “My head of school emailed me one day about a class related to entrepreneurship. I was really curious about entrepreneurship and robotics at that time, so I joined Bower.”
A Real-Life Problem Sparked a Real Innovation
The idea for Pathfinder wasn’t hypothetical or assigned. It came from a moment of empathy that stayed with both Kavisree and Dhairya.
“It was a real-life situation. We saw an elderly man who was both deaf and blind struggling to walk because he couldn’t hear or see anything,” she shared. That moment shaped their mission to build something meaningful for people who face these challenges every day.
Learning to Think Like an Entrepreneur
Building Pathfinder required more than creativity. Inside the SEED programme, Kavisree found the right structure and support to turn an idea into a prototype.
“My teacher really helped me understand how to make a business canvas model, how market positioning works, and how to develop a revenue and pricing strategy for this idea.”
For a sixth grader, these concepts could feel heavy. Even her parents, she admits, were initially surprised to see a young student learning such advanced concepts. However, Kavisree stayed determined to make the most out of her experience at Bower: “It wasn’t too difficult or too easy. It took me some time to understand. But my teacher was the best help. They made everything practical-based, which was interesting.”
From Weekends to a Working Prototype
Even though classes were held only on Sundays, the project stayed alive in her mind throughout the week. “Whenever I got a bit of time, I would think and write something to add to my idea,” she added.
And the experience made an impact beyond Pathfinder, as she notes: “Bower School was very real-life based, and it helped me in many subjects. It helped me with strategy writing, connecting things to real life, and even in math.”
Why Helping Others Matters to Her
Kavisree may be young, but her goals are clear. For her, entrepreneurship is closely tied to social responsibility. “Helping people helps them grow, and it also builds empathy and collaboration. If you have the chance to help your surroundings, you should—especially by making a product that can create a positive change,” she proudly shares.
A Young Innovator With a Big Heart
Kavisree’s story is a reminder that innovation does not depend on age—it depends on awareness, compassion, and the courage to act. Pathfinder, built by Kavisree Dhamotharan and Dhairya Jaiswal, isn’t just a school project—it’s a potential lifeline for people who navigate the world with visual or hearing impairment.
From noticing a struggling elderly man to designing a thoughtful solution, Kavisree embodies Bower School’s mission: empowering young minds to think boldly, build confidently, and care deeply.
