What is the name of your organization?
TORCH smart urban solutions SL
What is the name of your solution?
TORCH: Mobility for All
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
AI-powered solar bus stop that speaks to users and delivers real-time, personalized mobility and safety information.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
08980 Sant Feliu de Llobregat, Barcelona, España
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Spain
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?
Public transport is one of the most powerful tools for social inclusion, enabling access to jobs, education and essential services. But paradoxically, those who depend on it most, such as people with disabilities, older adults, migrants or digitally excluded individuals, are often those left behind.
Across Europe, 70 percent of bus stops remain analog, offering no real-time information, safety features or accessible communication. Even in advanced cities like Barcelona, nearly half a million people face barriers at bus stops every day. Without real-time updates, contextual support or emergency assistance, these users are excluded from a system that should serve them.
Torch responds to this challenge by transforming existing bus stops into solar-powered, intelligent hubs that talk to people. With voice-based AI, IoT sensors and a modular, off-grid design, Torch empowers anyone, regardless of language, ability or digital literacy, to travel independently and safely.
We do not design adapted infrastructure. We design for everyone. Inclusive design does not mean differentiation, it means integration. By placing those most affected at the center, we improve the experience for all. What is at stake is more than mobility. It is the right to move freely, safely and with dignity in public space.
What is your solution?
We have developed an intelligent, customizable and modular system with interchangeable components that transforms existing bus stop poles into fully accessible, safe and inclusive hubs, powered by intelligent systems, sensor networks and sustainable energy sources.
Users can speak to Torch as if it were a person, receiving relevant real-time guidance for their trip, including directions, changes or local tips, through our multichannel system. This natural interaction allows anyone, regardless of language, ability or digital literacy, to navigate with autonomy and confidence.
Torch also collects data in real time and uses machine learning to improve transit services over time. It enhances safety through smart lighting, contextual sensors and remote emergency assistance.
The entire system runs on solar energy and operates autonomously, without requiring electrical connections or civil works. This enables rapid, sustainable and scalable deployment in all contexts.
Torch directly supports several Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to accessibility, clean energy and inclusive urban environments.
Our technology turns a passive urban element into a proactive public service tool that improves mobility experiences for all users while generating actionable data for municipalities and transit operators.
By designing for those most excluded, we create smarter, more human cities that serve everyone better.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Our solution is designed for groups who are often excluded by the traditional design of bus stops: people with disabilities (visual, auditory, cognitive or motor), older adults, individuals who do not speak the local language, communities in vulnerable situations and those affected by the digital divide.
These groups rely heavily on public transport for their daily autonomy, yet current infrastructure creates barriers that limit their access to real-time information and safe, understandable environments.
We are not proposing a solution that is adapted for them. We are proposing a unified solution designed for everyone. Designing from inclusion does not mean creating separate features, it means integrating all needs from the start.
By placing those most affected at the center, we create public spaces that benefit everyone, not just those with specific needs. Tourists, occasional users and anyone who finds themselves disoriented, anxious or in need of support can also benefit from accessible, intuitive and safe infrastructure.
Torch makes public mobility more human, more equitable and more responsive. It gives voice, guidance and protection to those who need it most, while improving the overall experience for all citizens, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
