As we collectively enter into another year filled with possibilities, we strive for growth and development in various aspects of life. In the 21st century, the fuel for growth and development is innovation and technology. At AssisTech Foundation (ATF), we have taken a resolution to accelerate Assistive Technology based start-ups who are leading innovation in assistive technologies.
While the world is still recovering from the collective economic and social trauma resulting due to the pandemic, we witnessed that ray of hope through ATF Enable Accelerator Program’s cohort 4 applications. These applications by Assistive Technology Start-ups reflect the idea of moving forward towards building an inclusive society through innovation and technology. These innovators aim at creating possibilities for the world of people with disabilities.
It has been an extremely exciting month for ATF with the ATF Cohort 4 program proving to be a stupendous success. 70+ aspiring disability start-ups applied for our Cohort 4 program, 15 of which were from tier 1 cities, 38 from tier 2 & 3 cities. We even had 6 international companies sending in their applications to be part of the program. It is more enriching that the applications are diverse in nature, covering all areas of disabilities, impact areas, and are in different stages of their start-up journeys.
- We have received applications from 25 cities across India
- 1 of our potential applicants have operational revenues
- 11 of them have been part of prior incubator programs
- 10 of them employ people with disabilities, totally walking the talk
- Ample representation from all disability segments such as cognitive, hearing, mobility, speech, and vision disability
Our sincere thanks to all our partners and well-wishers, Office of Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA), GoI, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras R2D2, IIT Kanpur, Start-up India, T-Hub, AGNii, iYWD Kerala, Kerala Start-up Mission (KSUM) and Millennium Alliance Network for their unwavering support.
ATF has reviewed and evaluated all our applicant companies. The process of evaluation was indeed a difficult one as it was more or less like a process of skimming an already skimmed set of start-ups. However, after detailed study of the applications, we shortlisted 19 of them for presentations to the ATF jury which will be happening over the course of the next few weeks.
The final ATF Cohort 4 start-ups will be announced after our extensive evaluation process – so stay tuned! We are looking forward to unleashing the full power of technology to meaningfully impact the lives of people with disabilities.
The ATF family wishes you all a very Happy New Year. We hope everyone walks closer towards their goals, unleash their full potential, enable growth and development along with making conscious efforts towards accelerating inclusion in society. Let us collectively create a world of joy by empowering every person with disability.