Empowering Disability Innovation: The Evolution of Inclusive Technology

The focus of a new initiative is ‘The Next Generation Of Radically Inclusive Technology,’ with the aim of supporting tech startups focused on individuals with disabilities. The initiative, called the Moonshot Disability Accelerator, was unveiled at the September 2022 Clinton Global Initiative. It seeks to empower entrepreneurs and strengthen the disability innovation ecosystem by concentrating on universal design and inclusion. Led by Regina Kline, the founder of SmartJob and managing partner of Enable Ventures, the initiative is supported by accelerator pioneer Village Capital. The goal is to create a sustainable and inclusive innovation ecosystem for individuals with disabilities by providing essential resources to existing accelerators and by supporting a fundraising campaign to further its mission.

The initiative has the potential to be financially rewarding, as products designed for people with disabilities have historically appealed to the broader market. According to Rachel Crawford, a special projects consultant at Village Capital, there is a potential $1.9 trillion GDP gap from unmet needs of people with disabilities, highlighting the economic importance of addressing accessibility and inclusion.

Among the 10 accelerators supported by the Moonshot Initiative is ATS Labs, founded by Varun Chandak, an individual who is hard of hearing and has Erb’s Palsy. The accelerator has been vital in creating a supportive network of entrepreneurs with disabilities and emphasizing the use of Village Capital’s online tool, Abacus ESO, to measure progress and ensure sustainability.

The report sponsored by JP Morgan Chase highlights key findings, showing a growing demand for change in the sector’s funding model, disparities in education and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and the need for increased investment capital. This underscores the significance of sustained philanthropic and investment capital in fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem focused on disability innovation.