Investing In Accessibility
Investing In Accessibility
Podcast Description
We aren't waiting for change, we are investing in it. Investing in Accessibility is dedicated to exploring the intersection of accessibility, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. Join hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher as they speak with entrepreneurs and thought leaders who are focused on empowering people with disabilities and creating a more accessible world.Kelvin Crosby is CEO of Smart Guider Inc., which develops navigation technology enabling deafblind individuals to travel independently. Known as The DeafBlind Potter, he funded his first invention, the See Me Cane, through pottery sales. Kelvin lives with Usher Syndrome type 2 and is a staunch advocate for accessibility.Chris Maher is the Founder & General Partner at Samaritan Partners, a public benefit venture fund that invests in the disability sector. Chris founded Samaritan after spending 25 years as an operator and multi-time CEO at a variety of venture capital backed companies, and 20 years raising two daughters with disabilities.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on various topics such as accessibility innovations, entrepreneurship in the disability sector, and impact investing strategies. Episode examples include discussions on the evolution of technology in accessibility with Steve Ewell from the CTA Foundation and personal stories from Kelvin Crosby about his journey and advocacy work. The show emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals with disabilities and highlights future possibilities for accessibility initiatives.
We aren’t waiting for change, we are investing in it. Investing in Accessibility is dedicated to exploring the intersection of accessibility, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. Join hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher as they speak with entrepreneurs and thought leaders who are focused on empowering people with disabilities and creating a more accessible world.
Kelvin Crosby is CEO of Smart Guider Inc., which develops navigation technology enabling deafblind individuals to travel independently. Known as The DeafBlind Potter, he funded his first invention, the See Me Cane, through pottery sales. Kelvin lives with Usher Syndrome type 2 and is a staunch advocate for accessibility.
Chris Maher is the Founder & General Partner at Samaritan Partners, a public benefit venture fund that invests in the disability sector. Chris founded Samaritan after spending 25 years as an operator and multi-time CEO at a variety of venture capital-backed companies, and 20 years raising two daughters with disabilities.
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Matt Eldridge, Executive Director of Realize Impact, for a fascinating conversation about unlocking philanthropic capital to fuel for-profit innovation and social impact.
Matt shares his unique career journey—from nonprofit leadership and startup entrepreneurship to leading an organization that helps move charitable dollars into mission-driven businesses and investment funds. The discussion explores how donor-advised funds (DAFs) and philanthropic capital can be used to support for-profit companies creating meaningful social and environmental impact.
Chris and Matt break down the mechanics of impact investing in simple terms, explaining how entrepreneurs, fund managers, and investors can access a largely untapped pool of capital that has traditionally been reserved for charitable giving. They also discuss the rapid growth of impact investing, the importance of taking thoughtful risks with philanthropic dollars, and why sectors like accessibility and disability innovation are well positioned to benefit from these emerging funding pathways.
Whether you're an entrepreneur raising capital, an investor looking to align your assets with your values, or simply curious about the future of impact investing, this episode offers practical insights and a fresh perspective on how philanthropic capital can be used to drive meaningful change.
Linkes & Resources:
Matt Eldridge: LinkedIn / [email protected]
Realize Impact: Website
COMING SOON!
American Sign Language (ASL) and Captioning for each episode will be provided on our YouTube channel. Go to handle @SamaritanPartners.
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