UWE Bristol graduate leads startup focused on improving e-scooter safety
By Education Correspondent
A UWE Bristol graduate has secured £350,000 in investment to develop innovative AI technologydesignedto make e-scooters safer for riders and pedestrians.
Faizan Mir, 24, founded Nearhuman, a technology startup based at UWE Bristol’s Launch Spaceincubator.
The company has developed a compact intelligent camera that fits inside the stem of rental e-scooters,using artificial intelligence to detect pavement riding, near-misses with pedestrians and roadhazards asthey happen.
The technology aims to help e-scooter operators improve safety while providing local councils with valuable information about the condition of roads, cycle lanes and pavements. The investment from SFC Capital will support further development of the system.
Mir was inspired to tackle e-scooter safety after a friend was struck by one.
He hopes the technology will help address growing concerns about accidents while supporting the use of environmentally friendly transport.
The system uses on-device AI, allowing it to operate without relying on cloud connectivity. Future developments could include technology that automatically adjusts an e-scooter’s speed in response to it's surroundings and rider behaviour.
A first-class Robotics graduate from UWE Bristol in 2024, Mir has received support from the university’s Student Ventures programme and Launch Space, which helps startups develop their businesses.
He also won the UWE Entrepreneurial Futures Award in 2025.
Mir said the university’s support and startup community had played an important role in helping him turn his idea into a business.
Nearhuman’s team includes several fellow UWE Bristol graduates, working across artificial intelligence, robotics, hardware development and cybersecurity.
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The company aims to help make shared e-scooters safer and provide better information to theorganisationsresponsible for managing urban streets.
