If you’ve created something original, you’ve created something valuable.
For Mavis Technologies, that idea started with a personal experience and a clear goal: to improve independence for blind and visually impaired people through innovative technology.
Today, the business is developing an obstacle detection system in the form of smart glasses. Designed to help blind and visually impaired people navigate the world more independently, the glasses identify hazards in real time, supporting safer, more confident movement.
We spoke to CEO and founder, David Sikharulidze, about the role intellectual property (IP) has played in protecting his innovation, while also building a strong brand that people can recognise and trust.
Turning personal experience into innovation
Mavis Technologies was founded in 2023 by David Sikharulidze, following his masters degree at the University of Northampton.
As someone who is visually impaired himself, David understood first-hand the challenges faced by people with low or no vision. That personal experience shaped the idea behind the business and its focus on practical, user-centred solutions.
David explains what makes his business stand out:
“Mavis Technologies is very personal […] we are working on a product that could change the lives of millions of people like me”
The company focuses on creating assistive technology that blends hardware and software to help users navigate the world more independently.
Getting the right support
While David was already aware of IP and how to protect it when he started his business, he highlighted the role the Business & IP Centre in Northampton played in helping him understand and navigate IP. Through the centre he accessed guidance and support, including one-to-one sessions which supported his approach to protecting his business’s IP.
For many small businesses, this kind of guidance can make it easier to understand what to protect and how to get started. Find the right support for your business here: Seeking intellectual property advice - GOV.UK
Building something people recognise
People don’t just buy from a business, they buy from a name they trust. That recognition is what sets you apart from competitors.
For Mavis Technologies, the product is only part of the story. The brand itself plays a key role in how customers connect with, and remember, the business.
The name “Mavis”, derived from “Magic” and “Vision”, reflects the company’s mission to empower people through technology. It represents both the purpose behind the product and the identity the business is building.
David has taken steps to protect his business's identity, such as registering trade marks for its logos and product names. This helps to ensure his customers can recognise the brand and distinguish it from others in the market.
Protecting what makes the business unique
If you run a business, the time and effort you invest creates something valuable, whether that's your product, your brand, or your ideas.
For Mavis Technologies, protecting that value has meant thinking carefully about how to protect their product along with their brand.
The business has obtained a UK patent and filed for an international patent application to protect its obstacle detection system.
David worked with IP attorneys, Adamson Jones, to support the application process. Getting the right advice early, particularly when dealing with more complex IP like patents, is something IPO strongly recommends.
Alongside the technology itself, Mavis Technologies has also protected how its product looks. The business has very wisely registered six designs, helping to protect the appearance and features of its smart glasses.
This is an important step for businesses developing physical products, where the design can play a big role in how customers recognise and choose a product. Read our free guidance to find out more about registering a design.
Why IP matters for growing businesses
For SMEs like Mavis Technologies, intellectual property is not just about protection. It also helps:
- build trust with customers
- strengthen brand recognition
- support future growth and investment
- prepare the business for scaling your innovation
Mavis Technologies has already seen how protecting its ideas can support its development, from securing its technology to fundraising.
Looking ahead
The business is now moving into its next phase, with plans to continue developing its technology and products already being sent to customers. David also intends to expand the businesses IP portfolio, ensuring that both its innovation and brand remain protected.
What other businesses can learn
Mavis Technologies shows that there isn’t a single approach to intellectual property – it’s about understanding what matters most to your business and taking steps to protect it as you grow.
For David, that has meant focusing on both the technology behind the product and the identity of the business, while working out what is possible at each stage.
His experience also highlights that protecting IP can take time and resource, so it’s important to plan ahead and get the right support where you can.
Find out how to protect what you’ve built with our simple, intellectual property step-by-step guidance.
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