Transforming Assistive Technology

In partnership with

📊 Did You Know?

As part of WHO’s fact sheet about assistive technology, they referred to a joint report with UNICEF. They demonstrated that “as few as 3% of people in some low-income countries were reported to have access to the assistive products they need, in comparison to 90% in some high-income countries.” It shows a huge gap in the supply of assistive technology globally.

📖 The Story

Who, When, and Where — Context

Founded in 2020, AssisTech Foundation builds an Assistive Technology (AT) innovation ecosystem in India, focusing on supporting persons with disabilities through the development of innovative technology products and services.

Why — Challenge

Persons with disabilities face tangible challenges in their daily lives, leaving them dependent on external assistance and hindering them from being employed. Luckily, the recent evolution of assistive technology can open new doors for these individuals. However, blending innovation with practical solutions is not straightforward, and numerous people still don’t have access to necessary AT.

What and How — Tech Solution

To fill the gap, AssisTech Foundation runs an accelerator program nurturing startups in the space, providing them with mentorship, market access, and product-market fit strategies. The AT solutions in the AssisTech portfolio range from AI-driven speech devices that give voice to those unable to speak to innovations allowing the visually impaired to read and translate text. In their past 6 program cohorts, AssisTech Foundation has supported 54 startups, and the program led to the development of more than 100 AT products with 50+ patents.

💡 Key Insights

• ♿️ Assistive technology is a big area in which further investments should be made. Millions of people cannot enjoy technological advancement due to inaccessibility to devices.

• 🤝 Building an ecosystem through an accelerator program amplifies the impact of meaningful work at scale with various partners and program participants. It’s the approach to act as an intermediate who bridges multiple stakeholders.

• 🤖 Modern technologies like AI and computer vision have significantly contributed to the development of assistive technology. They make the impossible possible by boosting the human capacity in an unconventional way.

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✅ Try This

See AssisTech Foundation’s list of supported startups. Find uniqueness and similarities among the startups’ AT solutions.