Inclusivity Business Resource Series: Access to Success (ATS) – the Accelerator for Accessibility Startups

Scaling an accessibility tech startup is hard. Whether you’ve been told “disability is a niche market” or “maybe venture capital funding is not for you”, you’re not alone. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place for answers – and $50,000 in funding.

Access to Success (ATS) runs Canada’s leading accelerator for accessibility startups. Their free, 3-month virtual program offers game-changing support designed specifically for startups working in accessibility, mental health, and aging. Participants learn from the world’s most successful accessibility entrepreneurs and innovators, who host masterclasses on topics like inclusive design, customer acquisition in the disability space, reimbursement models, and more.

Over a free, 3-month virtual accelerator, come join tailored masterclasses from leading accessibility entrepreneurs and access a vast global network of disability innovators. Let’s help you #EnableEveryone.

Applications for the ATS 2025 are open until June 30, 2025. The 2025 cohort will run from August to November 2025.

What to expect:

If you’re building technology that makes the world more accessible, this session offers a pathway to accelerating your startup’s growth and extending your reach to impact over 500,000 people with disabilities globally.

In this essential info session, you will:

• Hear directly from ATS’s founder and Executive Director, Varun Chandak, as he shares his inspiring personal journey with assistive tech and ATS’s unique approach with a strong focus on inclusive design.
• Learn how ATS empowers assistive technology and inclusive design startups to go from their first 10 customers to their next 1000.
• Discover how to access $50,000 in unrestricted cash grants available to participating startups—a significant boost for your development and growth.
  Explore ATS’s expansive global network of partners and advisors, offering unparalleled connections and mentorship opportunities within the accessibility ecosystem.
• Get your questions answered live by the ATS team, ensuring you have all the information you need to consider this transformative program for your venture.

Who should attend:

This info session is geared to founders of accessibility startups, that is, entrepreneurs building B2C or B2B products or services serving people with disabilities. This could also include agetech, caretech, healthtech, medtech, BCI and related startups.

Meet the speaker:

Varun Chandak – Founder @ Access to Success Incubator

Varun is the founder of ATS Labs, Canada’s first accelerator for accessibility startups. Motivated by his hearing loss and Erb’s Palsy, Varun has also co-founded a global alliance of disability tech accelerators, the world’s first support program for MBA students with disabilities, and several other unique initiatives. A sought-after speaker on inclusive design and accessibility, Varun was named a 2023 Top 50 Changemaker in Canada and received the inaugural Tom Wilson Leadership in Disability award.

About Access to Success

Access to Success (ATS) is a Toronto-based not-for-profit on a mission to Enable Everyone. It runs Canada’s leading accelerator for accessibility startups, providing unique programming, network and funding to help scale innovations in accessibility tech. As of January 2025, its 60 alumni startups from 6 countries have benefited over 1 million people with disabilities and raised over $35M in funding.

https://accesstosuccess.ca/

Want to be part of the Inclusivity Business Resource Series?

Work with Innovation Factory to help build a connected, accessible and inclusive innovation ecosystem for startups, scaling businesses and their customers. For more information, email [email protected]