Disability-focused Assistive Technology Accelerator launches maiden programme

Assistive Technology Accelerator (ATA) has launched an accelerator programme for startups working on products and technologies that cater to differently-abled individuals.

The Bengaluru-based accelerator said in a statement that it has started accepting applications for the Summer 2019 cohort of the programme, which is called ATA Enable. 

The 16-week-long programme will begin in July, the statement added.

The accelerator, which is supported by the Karnataka government as well as corporates, will assist startups with product development and market access through a mentor pool and partner NGOs. ATA will also offer assistance with fundraising and building distribution channels.

Founded late last year by Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, the accelerator said it aims to improve the lives of millions of disabled people by creating an ecosystem that can bring about innovation, reduce costs and increase availability of assistive products. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, around 2.1 million people in India live with disabilities.

ATA’s leadership team comprises a number of industry veterans. These include Ravi Narayan, chief executive of T-Hub and former global director of Microsoft for Startups; and Jawahar Bekay, co-founder and ex-CEO, Microland & Planetasia and Collabera India.

Former Infosys executives  Krishnamoorthy Ananthasivam, Suryaprakash and Savio D’Souza are also part of the core team.

“We had been working with a few assistive technology startups and realised that this ecosystem needs a more strategic approach. This led us to launch ATA Enable to help these startups tackle the issues unique to this ecosystem,” said Prateek Madhav, chief executive officer of ATA.

Eye-D, InClov and Innovision are among the startups that ATA has worked with since its inception, the statement added.