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Disabled Founders Unlock Startup Gold as Accessibility Booms

Disabled entrepreneurs are poised to become the next big thing in venture capital, as investors wake up to the vast untapped opportunity in the "disability economy."

Globally, people with disabilities and their families represent over $13 trillion in annual spending power, according to Impact Alpha. And the assistive technology market is projected to grow from $30 billion today to over $60 billion by the early 2030s, driven by 6-9% annual growth.

Yet this dynamic sector has been largely overlooked by the venture capital world. A 2022 survey by Diversity VC found that zero of the 200 U.S. funds it studied had allocated any capital towards founders with disabilities.

"This gap - and the oversight it represents - is actually an opportunity," said Diego Mariscal, founder and CEO of 2Gether-International, a startup accelerator focused on disabled entrepreneurs. "Neurodiversity and disability drive innovation, risk-taking, and systems-level problem-solving."

High-profile examples abound. Richard Branson credits his dyslexia for his unconventional thinking. Cisco's former CEO John Chambers has discussed navigating dyslexia as a core part of his leadership journey. And Elon Musk has spoken openly about being on the autism spectrum.

For investors, the returns go beyond just impact and good PR. Funds that have embraced disabled founders, like Kapor Capital and Foundry Group, are reporting strong financial performance.

"There's a misconception that accessibility is a niche market," said Mariscal. "But the truth is, designing for disability benefits everyone. When you build for the extremes, you end up improving the core experience for all users."

Take the story of Haben Girma, a deaf-blind lawyer and advocate who has advised companies like Uber and Airbnb on inclusive design. Her startup, HaptiMap, is developing navigation tools for the visually impaired that have applications far beyond that community.

"Accessibility is not just the right thing to do - it's also a competitive advantage," said Girma. "Companies that prioritize universal design will be better positioned to serve the growing disability market."

As awareness grows, a wave of new funds and accelerators are emerging to back disabled founders. Kapor Capital, for instance, has built a portfolio of startups founded by autistic and dyslexic entrepreneurs. And Foundry Group has backed companies like Verbit, an AI-powered transcription platform founded by a deaf entrepreneur.

"This is the future of innovation," said Mariscal. "Investors who get in early will be positioned to reap the rewards."