Beyond What I Can Hear: Turning Lived Experience Into a Vision for Spatial Intelligence

For as long as I can remember, I've experienced the world differently.

I grew up wearing hearing aids. While they helped me hear, they couldn't always tell me where a sound was coming from, how close it was, or whether it was something I needed to pay attention to.

Imagine hearing something behind you but not knowing what it is.

Imagine constantly looking around to understand what others might recognize almost instantly. Imagine having to rely on your eyes to fill in the information your ears cannot always provide.

For many people, these moments are barely noticeable.

For me, they've been part of everyday life.

But I never imagined those experiences would eventually become the foundation of something much bigger.

The Experiences That Shaped Me

Growing up with hearing impairment taught me to become observant, independent, and adaptable.

It also taught me something about accessibility that I carry with me today: sometimes, the biggest challenges aren't immediately visible to the people around us.

People often assume that wearing hearing aids means you can hear and understand everything just like everyone else.

But hearing a sound and understanding what that sound means are two very different things.

There is a difference between knowing that something is happening and knowing where it is happening, how close it is, and whether you need to respond.

That distinction stayed with me throughout my life.

For years, I simply accepted that I had to navigate certain situations differently.

Eventually, though, I started asking myself a different question.

Why should people have to work so hard to understand an environment that technology might help make more accessible?

That question changed the direction of my life.

From the Road to Entrepreneurship

My professional journey hasn't been traditional.

Before becoming a technology founder, I spent years working in commercial transportation, including time-sensitive freight operations.

Trucking taught me responsibility, discipline, and the importance of understanding the environment around me. It also exposed me to the realities of working in places where awareness, communication, and timely information matter.

I didn't begin my career with a technology company or a clear roadmap into entrepreneurship.

My journey has involved exploring different industries, learning new skills, and discovering interests I might never have imagined pursuing.

At times, I've found myself entering rooms where other people had far more experience than I did.

There were things I didn't understand. Questions I was afraid to ask. Moments when I wondered whether I belonged.

But I kept learning.

And somewhere along the way, I realized that leadership doesn't require having every answer before you begin.

Sometimes, it begins with recognizing a problem that matters deeply to you and being willing to pursue a solution.

The Beginning of Somar360

That realization eventually led me to found Somar360.

Somar360 is an early-stage technology company working toward a vision I call Spatial Intelligence for Humans.

Our goal is to explore how artificial intelligence, environmental sensing, and accessible feedback can help people better understand what's happening around them.

We're beginning with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, a population whose experiences are deeply connected to my own.

Our initial vision centers on a wrist-worn wearable and companion mobile application designed to translate meaningful environmental information into more accessible cues, including haptic feedback.

Imagine being able to receive information about an important environmental sound without having to constantly search for its source.

Imagine technology helping you understand not only that something is happening but also potentially where it is happening and why it may matter.

That's the direction we're working toward.

Somar360 is still in its early development stage. There is research to conduct, technology to build, assumptions to test, and meaningful user feedback to gather.

I don't pretend that we have solved every challenge.

But I believe the problem is worth solving.

And while accessibility is where our journey begins, my long-term vision is broader.

I envision spatial intelligence becoming useful to people across different abilities, occupations, and environments.

Because the need to understand the world around us is universal.

What Being a Woman in Technology Has Taught Me

One of the most challenging parts of my journey has been learning to trust my own voice.

As a woman entering the technology and startup ecosystem, I've encountered situations where I was still learning the language, the expectations, and the complexities of building something new.

I've had to remind myself that being inexperienced in one area doesn't erase the knowledge I've gained through years of lived and professional experience.

I may not know everything about engineering, artificial intelligence, or building a company.

But I understand the problem that inspired Somar360.

I understand what it feels like to live with uncertainty about your environment.

And I understand why making the world more accessible matters.

I've learned to seek guidance from people with experience while also recognizing the value of my own perspective.

Today, alongside building Somar360, I support emerging founders through my roles as a Deal Flow Partner with LvlUp Ventures and a Venture Scout with Flashpoint. I also contribute to disability inclusion through my global advisory work.

These experiences continue to teach me that leadership isn't about being the loudest person in the room.

It's about listening, learning, making thoughtful decisions, and having the courage to stand behind a meaningful vision.

Success Means Something Different to Me

When I think about success, I don't think only about recognition, financial milestones, or professional titles.

I think about impact.

I think about the people who may one day benefit from technology inspired by experiences they recognize in themselves.

I think about the women who are hesitant to pursue an unfamiliar career because they believe they lack the qualifications, resources, or connections.

I think about people living with disabilities who have been made to feel that their challenges are limitations rather than experiences that might inspire meaningful innovation.

And I think about how much can change when someone finally decides to try.

My faith in Allah has been a source of strength throughout this journey. It reminds me that challenges can carry lessons we may not understand immediately and that perseverance requires patience as well as determination.

I've learned that progress isn't always a straight line.

There are setbacks. There are moments of doubt. There are seasons when life requires us to slow down.

But none of those moments necessarily mean the journey is over.

To Every Woman Who Is Still Finding Her Way

If there's one thing I hope another woman takes away from my story, it's this: You don't need to have a perfect beginning to create a meaningful future.

Your background doesn't have to look like everyone else's.

Your experiences don't have to fit neatly into a traditional career path.

And you don't need to know everything before you give yourself permission to begin.

Ask questions.

Find people who believe in your potential.

Keep learning.

Don't allow someone else's definition of leadership to determine what you're capable of becoming.

Most importantly, don't underestimate the value of your lived experience.

Sometimes, the very thing that made your journey different is what allows you to see a possibility others have overlooked.

I didn't choose to grow up with hearing impairment.

But I can choose what I do with the perspective it has given me.

And today, I'm choosing to build something meaningful from it.

Somar360 was born from lived experience. But the vision is to build something for everyone.

My journey is still being written. And I'm only getting started.

Fareha Ali

Founder & CEO, Somar360

Spatial Intelligence for Humans