In 2012, Prateek Madhav stood amidst a sea of spectators on the Blind Cricket World Cup, an occasion he had helped organise towards all odds. The second was greater than only a sporting victory; it was a turning level in his life. From a profitable company profession at Accenture to co-founding the Assistive Know-how Basis (ATF), the 49-year-old’s journey has been one in all transformation—each private and societal. Immediately, Bengaluru-based ATF is on the forefront of constructing India extra inclusive, significantly in Karnataka, by technological improvements and coverage advocacy. A lot in order that, in partnership with the IT-BT Division of Karnataka, ATF can be establishing one-of-its-kind Middle of Excellence for Assistive Know-how, devoted to assistive applied sciences for individuals with disabilities.
Madhav’s shift from the company world to the social affect sector was pushed by a realization: incapacity will not be the issue; inaccessibility is. Whereas volunteering with NGOs working in incapacity inclusion, he observed a evident hole — regardless of speedy technological developments, most assistive options have been both unavailable or unaffordable in India.
“The true problem is the dearth of an ecosystem that fosters innovation and ensures assistive know-how reaches the individuals who want it,” Madhav says. “We began ATF to bridge this hole by enabling startups to construct, check, and scale their options,” he provides.
Based in 2019, ATF operates as an enabler, connecting innovators with funding, mentorship, and distribution networks. In contrast to conventional incapacity welfare programmes, ATF takes a market-driven strategy, supporting know-how that may be sustainable and scalable.
The inclusivity panorama in Karnataka
Karnataka, dwelling to one in all India’s most dynamic know-how hubs, presents a blended image in relation to inclusivity. The state has been proactive in implementing insurance policies just like the Rights of Individuals with Disabilities Act, 2016, and has made progress in making public areas extra accessible. Nonetheless, Madhav believes there may be nonetheless a lot to be completed.
“In Bengaluru, now we have ramps in Metro stations, however what in regards to the final mile? Can an individual with a incapacity commute independently from the station to their office?” he asks.
Madhav says that although there’s a rising consciousness in regards to the scenario, “execution is the place we fall quick.”
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Past infrastructure, the employment price for individuals with disabilities stays low. Madhav argues that whereas MNCs have variety in hiring programmes, small and medium enterprises—the place a lot of the job alternatives lie — are but to completely combine accessibility into their hiring practices.
Authorities funding and funding methods
ATF has been actively participating with the federal government to push for higher funding mechanisms for assistive know-how startups. Whereas Karnataka has proven curiosity in incapacity welfare, Madhav factors out that assistive tech nonetheless doesn’t obtain the identical sort of funding as different sectors like fintech or AI. The priority additionally stems with Karnataka’s Congress authorities lowering the funding for incapacity welfare schemes by almost 80 per cent. This led to a finances lower from Rs 54 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 10 crore in 2024-25 fiscal 12 months.
“Startups on this house want affected person capital. A fintech product may attain profitability in two years, however an assistive system may take 5. We want public-private partnerships and devoted grants to assist this,” he explains.
Madhav acknowledges that schemes just like the ‘Startup India’ initiative have helped, however he seems ahead to extra targeted funding by establishments equivalent to SIDBI and state innovation funds. ATF itself has been working to create an Assistive Know-how Enterprise Fund, geared toward offering early-stage capital to promising startups within the sector.
ATF’s collaboration with startups
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One in all ATF’s most profitable initiatives has been its incubation program, which helps startups refine their merchandise and join with end-users. Corporations like Trestle Labs, which has developed a tool that converts printed textual content to speech for the visually impaired, have benefited from ATF’s assist.
“Our position is to make sure that these startups don’t simply develop know-how for the sake of it, however really resolve real-world issues,” Madhav explains. “We convey them in contact with the incapacity group early on, so their options are examined and validated by the individuals who will use them,” he mentions.
Past funding, ATF helps these startups navigate regulatory hurdles, scale manufacturing, and discover distribution companions. This complete strategy ensures that promising improvements don’t simply stay prototypes however attain the individuals who want them most,” he says.
NeoMotion, one in all ATF’s incubated startups, has designed customizable, motorized wheelchairs that improve mobility for customers in city and rural settings. One other startup, CogniAble, has leveraged AI to offer early analysis and intervention for youngsters with autism at an inexpensive value. One other ATF supported startup, Sparshmind Improvements, makes neuro-rehabilitation accessible to hundreds of thousands affected by mind accidents utilizing XR know-how, providing VR remedy, a grip coach for power, and a digital camera system for exact motion evaluation.
Centre of Excellence for Assistive Know-how
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ATF can be carefully working with the federal government to ascertain CoE devoted to assistive applied sciences for individuals with disabilities. Madhav envisions an area the place India’s main startups working in assistive tech come beneath one roof to drive innovation and affect. The CoE would function a hub for startups, policymakers, corporates, nonprofits, and people with disabilities. It additionally seeks to offer an expertise middle, permitting customers to check assistive applied sciences and perceive their sensible functions.
“We’re nonetheless within the early levels of building the CoE however the momentum is constructing. The extra we work collectively — startups, buyers, policymakers, and advocacy teams — the nearer we get to an inclusive future the place know-how empowers everybody,” he says.