Seedstars and Visa Foundation launch first cohort of SEED Inclusivity Program in Hyderabad
The SEED Inclusivity cohort and Seedstars team wrapping up their bootcamp in Hyderabad
January 28, 2025, Hyderabad – Seedstars and Visa Foundation yesterday unveiled the inaugural cohort of the SEED Inclusivity Program at T-Hub Hyderabad, launching 15 technology ventures focused on transforming accessibility and inclusion across Asia.
The launch event showcased the startups founders, who were able to pitch and attend workshops, peer-peer sessions, and activities in T-Hub and T-Works. The agenda also included keynotes from Raj Kumar, Investor at Global Yunus Social Business and Prashanth Reddy, Founder and Managing Director at Anvayaa, Innovating Age-Tech Solutions & Services.
The program addresses a critical gap in Asia’s startup ecosystem, where entrepreneurs with disabilities are 400 times less likely to receive funding despite their unique insights into a market of 690 million people with disabilities in the Asia-Pacific region ( UNESCAP ).
“Traditional startup support often overlooks the tremendous potential of entrepreneurs with disabilities,” said Tom Sebastian, Regional Director – Asia at Seedstars. “Our first cohort proves that lived experience of disability drives innovation – these founders are creating solutions that others might never think of.”
The program’s launch in Hyderabad builds on the city’s growing role in accessibility innovation, with the event being held at T-Hub, the world’s largest innovation campus.
“Inclusive entrepreneurship is key to building accessible economies,” said Alisee de Tonnnac, CEO at Seedstars. “By supporting these innovative startups, we’re helping create solutions that can transform lives across Asia while tapping into a significant market opportunity.”
The inaugural cohort includes:
Grailmaker (Hyderabad): Develops Spacefelt, an innovative navigation solution making public spaces accessible for the visually impaired through QR codes and smartphone-based audio descriptions.
Infiheal (Pune): AI-powered mental healthcare platform offering personalized voice and chat-based therapy support accessible to people with diverse abilities, with a team of professionals including members with disabilities.
myUDAAN (Mumbai): Provides end-to-end mobility and care services for elderly and disabled people through an integrated platform combining technology, human assistance, and specialized transport services.
NeoMotion (Chennai): Creates high-quality, affordable mobility devices enhancing quality of life for people with disabilities and the elderly, serving communities across India through a team of professionals.
NextSkills 360 (Hyderabad): Builds affordable 21st-century skilling products for underprivileged school students and visually-impaired learners, empowering communities through accessible digital solutions.
Parakerja (Jakarta): Indonesia’s first comprehensive platform providing consulting, training, and employment services for people with disabilities, having trained over 1,000 individuals.
Phonologix (Kochi): Democratizes access to speech therapy through Speech Ally, combining e-learning platform and teletherapy services for children with communication disorders.
Signable (Bangalore): Enables seamless communication between deaf and hearing people through innovative digital sign language interpretation, serving 40+ enterprise clients.
SP@Home (Mumbai): AI-powered platform providing personalized assessments and learning support for children with special needs, reaching communities through accessible online learning.
SparshMind Innovations (New Delhi): Develops innovative healthcare technologies focused on brain and behavioral health solutions through their team of specialists.
Torchit (Ahmedabad): Creates affordable assistive technologies including the Saarthi smart cane and Jyoti AI glasses to enhance mobility and independence for visually impaired users, deployed across Asia and parts of Europe.
Trestle Labs (Bengaluru): Provides Kibo, an AI-powered technology converting printed, handwritten and digital content into audio across 60+ languages, supporting education and employment for people with print disabilities.
Vulcan Coalition (Bangkok): Develops AI-driven products and services empowering people with disabilities through employment opportunities, with a team of professionals.
XL Cinema (Gurugram): Makes entertainment accessible for visually and hearing impaired audiences through AI-powered synchronized audio descriptions and captioning, deployed in over 100 theaters across India.
The program will provide six months of intensive support through mentorship, masterclasses, and investment readiness preparation. Two additional cohorts will launch over the next three years, supporting a total of 45 high-impact founders with the goal of creating 540 quality jobs and impacting over 12,000 people with disabilities.
To follow these entrepreneurs’ journeys and stay updated on program developments, visit seedinclusivity.com .
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