These startups are not only focusing on their core target of users with disabilities but are also exploring ways to expand their services to a larger market. This approach not only increases their potential revenue but also helps in spreading out the costs. Moreover, it allows these companies to adhere to the definition of accessibility, which is to be usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.
Key takeaways:
- Disability tech startups are gaining traction and attracting investments, with some leveraging AI to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
- Visualfy, a Spanish startup, uses AI to recognize sounds like fire alarms or a baby crying to assist people with hearing loss. The company has also entered the public sector with its product, Visualfy Places.
- Audus Technologies, a Dutch startup, has developed Knisper, a product that uses AI to make speech more intelligible in noisy environments, targeting people who won't wear hearing aids due to stigma or cost.
- Other startups like Whispp and Acapela are focusing on speech and voice technologies, with Whispp converting whispered speech into a natural voice in real time and Acapela facilitating voice banking for individuals at risk of losing their voice.