BTA Admin A Kenya-based accelerator is reshaping how assistive technology is built in Africa by embedding persons with disabilities directly into product design — a model gaining traction as demand for inclusive solutions rises.
Innovate Now, implemented by Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust, has unveiled its largest cohort yet, selecting 19 startups developing solutions across mobility, speech therapy, inclusive education, and caregiver support.
Addressing a Massive Access Gap
Across Africa, an estimated 200 million people require at least one assistive product, yet access remains severely limited.
High costs — often driven by imported devices — and poor localisation of global solutions continue to exclude many users. Technologies designed outside the continent frequently fail to reflect Africa’s infrastructure realities and cultural contexts.
A Shift to User-Led Design
Innovate Now is taking a different approach.
Through its “Live Labs” model, persons with disabilities are actively involved in testing prototypes, identifying usability challenges, and shaping product development from the earliest stages.
According to Bernard Chiira, this approach is critical to building meaningful solutions.
“Designing with users at the centre ensures products are not just innovative, but practical, accessible, and affordable,” he noted.
Hackathon Sparks New Solutions
The latest cohort includes startups emerging from a 72-hour AI for Accessibility hackathon, which brought together developers, students, and persons with disabilities to co-create solutions.
Fifteen ideas were developed during the event, with ten advancing into incubation alongside nine startups selected through an open call.
Spotlight on AI-Powered Speech Support
One standout innovation is Chacha, a Kenyan-developed platform that uses artificial intelligence to help children improve speech through real-time feedback and guided exercises.
Designed for children aged 0 to 8 with mild speech impairments, the platform addresses a critical shortage of speech therapy services across Africa.
Founder Peninah Gituku said user involvement fundamentally shaped the product.
“Caregivers helped us identify real challenges in everyday routines, which directly influenced how we built the platform,” she explained.
A More Inclusive Development Process
For many participants, the process represents a major shift from traditional tech development.
Caregivers and users report feeling more included, as their lived experiences directly influence how solutions are designed and refined.
Scaling Impact Across Africa
The selected startups will undergo an eight-month incubation programme, receiving mentorship, product development support, and continued user testing in collaboration with Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa.
Since its launch in 2019, Innovate Now has:
- Supported 88 assistive tech ventures
- Engaged over 200 founders
- Reached more than 40,000 users
Approximately 40% of supported startups have successfully launched products, while 38% have secured funding through grants and awards.
A New Model for African Innovation
As Africa’s tech ecosystem evolves, Innovate Now’s approach highlights a growing recognition: inclusive design is not optional — it is essential.
By putting users at the centre, the accelerator is not just building technology, but redefining how innovation happens on the continent.
