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 welcome back Steve Ewell, Executive Director of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation, for a conversation about the growing presence of accessibility, disability inclusion, and age tech at CES 2027.
Steve, who was the podcast's very first guest, returns to share how the CTA Foundation continues to expand its efforts to bring accessibility and inclusive innovation to one of the world's largest technology events.
The conversation explores what's new at CES 2027, including the launch of a dedicated Accessibility Hub in Eureka Park, featuring five innovative startups selected by the CTA Foundation; the return of the award-winning Accessibility Stage; and two startup pitch competitions focused on caregiving and technologies supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Steve also shares several new initiatives designed to make CES itself more accessible, including accessible information kiosks and the introduction of a sensory room, along with the continued growth of the Accessibility Roundtable and networking opportunities that bring together entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and the disability community.
Throughout the conversation, Chris, Kelvin, and Steve discuss the importance of bringing accessibility innovation into the mainstream technology industry, reaching audiences beyond those already engaged in the disability community, and creating opportunities for collaboration that can drive meaningful change.
Whether you're an entrepreneur, investor, technology leader, or advocate for accessibility, this episode offers a preview of why CES 2027 is shaping up to be an exciting event for inclusive innovation.
Links & Resources:
Steve Ewell: LinkedIn
CTA Foundation: Website
CTA Pitch Competition at CES: Application Link
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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