Kenya-based nonprofit, Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust (AT4D), has partnered with the Judith Neilson Foundation to launch a $500,000 investment fund designed to support early-stage assistive technology startups across Africa.
The initiative, known as the Momentous Pilot Fund, will focus on digital innovations that improve mobility, communication, inclusive education, independent living, and digital accessibility for people living with disabilities.
The fund aims to address a longstanding gap in the continent’s technology ecosystem, where startups building solutions for people with disabilities often struggle to secure early-stage financing despite growing demand for assistive technologies.
“This is the first fund on the continent dedicated to investing in emerging assistive technology start-ups at the early stage. The Momentous Fund allows us to test an investment model that centres lived experience while strengthening the ecosystem required to scale disability innovation across Africa,” said Bernard Chiira, CEO of AT4D.
What you need to know
The launch comes as access to assistive technology across Africa remains severely limited. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 200 million people on the continent require at least one assistive product, yet only about one in ten individuals can access the devices they need.
Assistive technologies range from mobility aids and communication tools to digital platforms designed to improve accessibility for people with visual, hearing, cognitive, or physical impairments.
These innovations can significantly improve quality of life by enabling greater independence, access to education, and economic participation.
However, limited investment, infrastructure gaps, and a lack of specialised support programmes have historically slowed the growth of the sector in many African markets.
Supporting early-stage disability innovation
Through the Momentous Fund, up to five early-stage African assistive technology startups will receive a combination of financial and strategic support aimed at accelerating their development.
Selected ventures will gain access to:
- Catalytic investment capital
- Technical and venture-building assistance
- Strategic partnerships
- Mentorship and ecosystem support
According to Bernard Chiira, chief executive officer of AT4D, the fund is designed to address structural barriers that prevent many assistive technology innovators from accessing capital.
Changing perceptions around disability innovation
Beyond supporting individual startups, the fund will also serve as a pilot programme to test an Africa-led investment model focused specifically on assistive technologies.
Insights generated from the initiative are expected to inform the design of a second phase that could expand funding for disability-focused innovation across the continent.
For many investors, disability-related innovations are still perceived primarily as charitable initiatives rather than viable business opportunities.
Harry Ochieng, investment manager at AT4D, believes the Momentous Fund can help change that perception.
“Many investors still associate disability innovations with charity and donations,” Harry Ochieng, investment manager at AT4D, said. “The Momentous Fund is an opportunity to change that narrative and demonstrate that this sector presents real opportunities for investment, impact, and sustainable returns.”
Building an ecosystem for assistive tech startups
Founded in 2023 by Bernard Chiira, AT4D works to support innovators building technologies that improve accessibility for people with disabilities across Africa.
The organisation provides accelerator programmes, mentorship, and ecosystem-building support for early-stage startups developing assistive technologies.
One of its flagship initiatives is the Innovate Now accelerator, which has backed several emerging African startups working on disability-focused solutions.
These include Signvrse, a platform that uses artificial intelligence and 3D avatars to translate speech and text into real-time sign language, mobility device startup Linccell Technologies, and education technology platform Village2Nation.
By combining investment with venture support, the Momentous Pilot Fund aims to strengthen Africa’s assistive technology ecosystem while expanding access to innovations that can improve the lives of millions of people with disabilities across the continent.
Talking Points
It is encouraging to see Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust launch the Momentous Pilot Fund, a dedicated initiative aimed at supporting early-stage assistive technology startups across Africa.
By focusing on digital solutions that improve mobility, communication, inclusive education, and accessibility, the fund addresses an area of innovation that is often overlooked in mainstream technology investment. Yet these solutions have the potential to transform everyday life for millions of people across the continent.
At Techparley, we see initiatives like the Momentous Fund as a critical step toward strengthening Africa’s assistive technology ecosystem. As digital innovation accelerates across sectors, ensuring that people with disabilities are included in that progress is essential for building truly inclusive societies.
The fund’s approach, which combines catalytic investment with venture-building support and strategic partnerships, is particularly important for early-stage startups that need more than just capital to scale their ideas.
If the Momentous Fund proves successful, it could help reshape how investors view disability-focused innovation, moving it from a charity-driven narrative toward a viable and impactful technology sector capable of delivering both social impact and sustainable returns.
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