Empowering Innovation: Investing in Disabled Entrepreneurs 2024

By Joshua Wintersgill

An award-winning entrepreneur, technologist, speaker and lobbyist, Joshua Wintersgill founded easyTravelseat following the difficulties he faced when travelling as a wheelchair user. Deciding to make travelling safer for disabled passengers, in 2017, he invented a solution to improve how wheelchair users travel by air and started his business, designing and manufacturing equipment the market needed. Despite six hard months of planning and research to get the business off the ground, it still proved challenging to find suitable disability-specific channels that supported entrepreneurs with disabilities, which meant having to rely on existing entrepreneurship programmes.

In 2018, I came across a disability-related awards programme called the UK Disabled Entrepreneur Awards, run by the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and Leonard Cheshire. The awards provide cash grants to entrepreneurs with disabilities who have active businesses, so when I entered and won a prize, I received enough money to get support workers, equipment and transport costs funded through Access to Work, allowing me to transition from my full-time job into entrepreneurship. It was invaluable to my journey, and my success is attributed to the award. I, therefore, know first-hand how important cash grants and investments are for entrepreneurs with disabilities.

In the UK, 25% of small business owners are disabled or have a health condition, according to the FSB and yet are 400 times less likely to receive investment (Access2Funding). A huge untapped market has been neglected for far too long. Whether due to unconscious bias or barriers which remain in place for many people with disabilities, the excuses do not justify such figures. The investment space has been striving for more equality and inclusivity in recent years, recognising the potential of marginalised groups to make the business world more diverse. It’s thanks to Disability Power 100, Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Stelios UK Disabled Entrepreneur Awards, and Blue Badge Access Awards that recognise such talents. If investors are serious about wanting to expand their pool, they really must address this enormous gap. This article will make the case for why investment in disabled entrepreneurs makes good business sense.

New opportunities, new markets

One of the most compelling reasons to invest in disabled entrepreneurs is the untapped talent pool within this community. Making Space Media, Access Now, and Freedom One are fantastic examples of global impact companies born from disabled entrepreneurs. Disabled individuals often face barriers to traditional employment, which leads to many having no alternative but to explore entrepreneurship as a viable alternative. By supporting disabled entrepreneurs, investors gain access to diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences that can drive innovation and creativity within the business sector. Furthermore, disabled founders demonstrate resilience and can introduce investors to new markets and help increase products and services not just for disabled people.

Unique Perspectives Drive Innovation

Ideas born out of unique experiences lead to the creation of innovative and progressive businesses. Able Move UK was a company I built, born from an unmet need in the aviation industry. I was supported by the Founder of easyJet, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, who invested in my company. Disabled entrepreneurs often face unique challenges, which develop into problem-solving and creativity, and the companies that invest in such entrepreneurs benefit from fresh ideas.

Take Martyn Sibley from Purple Goat Agency, supported by The Goat Agency. Martyn has built up a multi-million-pound global marketing agency to increase disability representation in media and marketing simply from his mobile phone. He convinced The Goat Agency, and they have supported him in his vision to make it happen. This is a classic example of how an agency listened, understood, supported and profited from a disabled entrepreneur’s vision.

We are now seeing more and more investors, social impact funds and accelerators supporting disabled entrepreneurs. And wonderful charities such as Parallel Lifestyle with Purple Sock Day, where monies raised support under-represented founders & budding entrepreneurs to develop the knowledge, confidence, & skills needed to launch & grow a business.

Potential for high returns

The stories here are just some examples of successful stories from disabled entrepreneurs, and there are many, many more out there. According to a report by Access2Funding, investors are missing out on £500 million in annual returns by not disabled entrepreneurs. 

Disabled entrepreneurs must not be seen as an ‘act of charity’ and must be taken much more seriously. As the world progresses towards a more equitable and diverse future, or perhaps not in the eyes of Elon Musk, smart and open-minded investors will recognise the immense potential of supporting disabled entrepreneurs in driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and building a more inclusive business landscape.