This will connect the blind with a network of sighted people through live mobile video.
"Be My Eyes represents a new generation of startups that is putting social responsibility at the core of the company at its founding," said Mikkel Svane, Zendesk founder and CEO. "We want to share our resources and experience so that even more socially minded entrepreneurs around the world can mobilise people to help others through technology and new business models."
Be My Eyes is based in Copenhagen, where Zendesk was originally founded in 2007 and today has a local product development and sales office.
The new initiative for socially conscious startups falls under the umbrella of the Zendesk Loves Startups program, which assists qualified startups with free software for a year. Starting with Be My Eyes, select startups can also qualify for a $25,000 financial contribution and support to help them build and scale their socially minded business
"Our partnership with Zendesk will help us expand our mission of making the world more accessible," said Christian Erfurt, CEO of Be My Eyes. "We will be working together to improve the user experience and product features so even more people can help others through technology."
Be My Eyes launched a mobile app last year that allows people with a visual impairment to get in contact with sighted helpers via a direct video call. It has connected more than 26,000 blind people with more than 350,000 sighted helpers in more than 140 countries.
The planned integration of Be My Eyes' crowdsourced volunteer model advances both companies' belief that the today's workforce is motivated to give back through micro-volunteering opportunities. products.
Startups interested in Zendesk's new initiative can apply here
Click here for further information on Be My Eyes
