On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities month, Seedstars and Visa Foundation welcome fifteen innovative businesses to its inaugural SEED (Seedstars Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Development) Inclusivity program, marking a milestone in the journey to support entrepreneurs with disabilities and assistive technology solutions across Asia.
Following a rigorous selection process that drew numerous applications across Asia, these ventures showcase the depth of innovation in addressing disability challenges across the region. Each selected company brings unique solutions to the market across various sectors, from assistive technology to workforce inclusion. The selected ventures are:
- Brajma Intelligent Systems (India) – Makes entertainment accessible for visually impaired audiences through XL Cinema, an app providing synchronized audio descriptions and multi-language support for theaters and OTT platforms.
- Grailmaker Innovations (India) – Develops Spacefelt, a navigation solution that makes public spaces accessible for the visually impaired using QR codes and smartphone-based audio descriptions.
- Infiheal HealthTech (India) – Provides Healo, an AI-powered mental healthcare platform offering personalized voice and chat-based therapy support, reaching over 75,000 users in six months with a 91% positive feedback rate.
- Vulcan Coalition (India) – Develops AI-driven products and services to empower people with disabilities and enhance inclusivity.
- NeoMotion Assistive Solutions (India) – Creates high-quality, affordable mobility devices that enhance quality of life for people with disabilities and the elderly.
- Next Skills 360 (India) – Builds affordable 21st-century skilling products for underprivileged school students and visually-impaired learners.
- Parakerja (Indonesia) – Provides consulting and training services to empower people with disabilities through skills development and employment opportunities, having trained over 1,000 individuals.
- Phonologix Health Solutions (India) – Democratizes access to speech therapy through Speech Ally, an e-learning platform combined with teletherapy services for children with communication disorders.
- SIGNABLE COMMUNICATIONS (India) – Enables seamless communication between deaf and hearing people through live interpreters.
- SparshMind Innovations (India) – Develops innovative healthcare technologies focused on brain and behavioral health solutions.
- Tekra Solutions (myUDAAN) (India) – Provides end-to-end mobility and care services for elderly and disabled people through an integrated platform combining technology, human assistance, and specialized transport.
- Torchit Electronics (India) – Creates affordable assistive technologies including the Saarthi smart cane and Jyoti AI glasses to enhance mobility and independence for visually impaired users.
- Trestle Labs (India) – Provides Kibo, an AI-powered technology that converts printed, handwritten and digital content into audio across 60+ languages to support education and employment for people with print disabilities.
- Vidi Labs (Seekr) (Hong Kong SAR) – Develops a compact, wearable AI device that assists elderly and visually impaired individuals by converting visual information into audio cues.
- Vrudhi Educational and Technological Services (India) – Offers SPEED 2.1, an AI-powered platform providing personalized assessments and learning support for children with special needs.
“What stood out in these applications was the firsthand understanding these founders bring to solving real challenges for people living with disabilities,” said Alisée de Tonnac, Co-Founder and CEO of Seedstars. “These 15 ventures show what’s possible when we break down barriers for entrepreneurs with disabilities.“
The launch of this cohort comes at a critical moment for Asia-Pacific’s 690 million persons with disabilities – two-thirds of the global total (UNESCAP). Within this vast community, entrepreneurs with disabilities face considerable barriers, from limited access to finance to persistent societal stigmas.
“As someone who built a disability-focused business, I know the challenges these founders face,” said Ryan Gersava, Founder of Virtualahan and selection jury member. These founders are not just solving problems; they are transforming lived experiences into groundbreaking innovations.”
The cohort will begin their journey in January 2025, with an intensive kickoff event in India. This gathering will connect founders with mentors and industry experts, launching a six-month growth program featuring expert-led masterclasses, personalized mentorship, investor networking, and strategic support for sustainable growth. Alongside venture development, the program will engage key stakeholders through advocacy initiatives to build awareness and support for disability-inclusive entrepreneurship across the region.
This inaugural cohort launches the first of three planned under the SEED Inclusivity Program. Over three years, the program aims to support 45 high-impact founders, with targets of 40% being entrepreneurs with disabilities and 30% women-led ventures.
To follow these entrepreneurs’ journeys and stay updated on program developments, visit seedinclusivity.com.
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