AI and accessibility at the forefront of Remarkable’s 2024 disability tech cohort

Disability tech accelerator Remarkable has announced a mix of Australian and international startups for its 2024 cohort.

The 16-week program provides a mixture of training, networking and seed funding to help boost startups that are benefiting people with disabilities.

According to Remarkable, it has selected businesses that are post-product and post-revenue (with an exception made for early-stage medtech products) that have proven for-profit and for-purpose business structures with scalability.

The 2024 cohort contains startups offering a mixture of disability tech including SaaS platforms, mobility aids, AI and assistive hardware.

Some standouts include We Hear You, which is developing a range of accessible products, including one that can make nearly any door automatic.

And Leantime has developed a people-first project management system that combines AI with behavioural science to help those with ADHD, dyslexia, and autism to better manage their work.

“Disability tech is an industry bursting with possibility and we’re proud to work with some of the best-emerging technologies from around the world,” Remarkable founder Pete Horsley said to SmartCompany.

According to Remarkable, its 2023 cohort has seen strong success after participation in the accelerator. Some went from under 100 customers to over 78,000 and there has been a 4,400% increase in average monthly revenue across the board.

Another huge win has been for jobs, with over a 75% increase in the number of people with a disability being employed by their teams.
Remarkable’s support for disability tech startups beyond the early stage. Earlier this year, it announced a Scaler program that provides investment from seed through to Series A.

Unsurprisingly, one recurring theme in this year’s cohort is AI and machine learning, which is being used in startups across independent banking, skills-based hiring, orthopaedic care and more

“Disability tech, like all industries, is being transformed by AI. It will help, not just making experiences more customised to individuals’ needs and preferences, but will transform the speed of discovery of new interventions, preventions and treatments, as well as in enhancing existing solutions,” Horsley said.

“Disability is the essence of human diversity — it covers every race, age, gender, so when we see solutions that are able to better adapt to meet the needs of individuals, this can only be positive for the future of technology.”

One of these startups is Clu, which helps overlooked and under-utilised people identify their skills and find suitable jobs. Clu’s technology significantly improves candidate quality and experience across the hiring process.

“In this 2024 Remarkable cohort, it is obvious that AI is not just about the efficiency of information but is a powerful tool for transforming customer experiences in health, disability and ageing,” Horsley said.

When it comes to the future of disability tech, Remarkable sees more opportunities than challenges.

And perhaps that shouldn’t be surprising.

According to the World Health Organization, 3.5 billion people will require assistive products by 2050.

“It is a growing market opportunity globally as more people choose products and services that suit their needs, as well as an ageing population,” Horsley said.

“Remarkable is helping to connect markets and leaders globally through our Global Tech Summits, our +N Network, and thought leadership content like our Remarkable Insights Podcast. It is an exciting time to be in disability tech!”

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