By Jennifer Allen

What do a deaf-blind potter and an accessible travel booking platform have in common? 

High return investment potential.

In the world of venture capital, accessibility has often been overlooked. But Chris Maher, founder and general partner of Samaritan Partners, is working to change that. His new podcast, Investing in Accessibility, delves into the intersection of accessibility, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and impact investing, highlighting the ways in which innovation can drive both social change and financial returns.

The Mission Behind the Podcast

Like many in the disability inclusion space, Chris Maher became an advocate through personal connection. As dad to two girls with disabilities, his perspective expanded to take in the gap in opportunities for people with disabilities. 

Samaritan Partners, is a social impact venture fund that exclusively supports early-stage, for-profit companies serving the disability community. These companies range from accessible travel businesses like Wheel the World to AI-driven ASL interpretation platforms.  Recognizing the vast potential of the disability market—comprising over 1.5 billion people globally—Maher launched Investing in Accessibility alongside co-host Kelvin Crosby to amplify conversations around accessible entrepreneurship and investing.

A key theme across the podcast is the vast economic potential of accessibility. Each episode features thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors who are making a difference in the disability space. 

 “The disposable income around that population is in the low trillions of dollars. And when you include family, friends, and caregivers, the market is significant, to say the least,” Chris shares.

Companies that prioritize inclusive design often find that their innovations benefit a much wider audience. Consider the curb-cut effect – “originally designed for wheelchair users, curb cuts are now essential for parents with strollers, delivery workers, and more.” We see this pattern continuously with inclusive design.

Moreover, businesses that embrace accessibility see significant financial benefits. In fact, Chris shares that “Companies that take an inclusive approach—whether for their employees or customers—see the benefits. Revenue and profitability go up. Customer retention improves. Employee engagement and productivity increase.” The financial sector, for example, is recognizing that as their customer base ages, accessibility will be critical for serving them effectively. 

The Journey So Far

Since launching the podcast, Maher and Crosby have covered a variety of topics, introducing listeners to inspiring stories and groundbreaking innovations. From the deaf-blind potter to the accessible travel booking platform, each episode explores how accessibility can drive business growth. There are consistent themes of market opportunity.

Future episodes will continue to feature leaders in inclusive design, financial services, and disability-focused entrepreneurship.

Expanding the Investment Landscape

One of Maher’s primary goals with both Samaritan Partners and Investing in Accessibility is to attract more investors to the disability sector. While there are a handful of disability-focused funds, funding for disabled entrepreneurs from general venture funds is nearly nonexistent. Historically, support for the disability community has come from nonprofits and government initiatives. Private investors have the opportunity to benefit financially while driving real change.

Chris believes this gap is due in part to the lack of disability representation in the VC space. Investors need to see the revenue – and that’s what this podcast aims to show them

By spotlighting successful entrepreneurs and investment opportunities, Investing in Accessibility aims to shift perceptions and encourage mainstream investors to recognize the value in this growing sector. 

Looking Ahead and DEI

As Maher and Crosby continue their journey with Investing in Accessibility, they hope to reach not just entrepreneurs and disability advocates but also institutional investors, venture capitalists, and corporate leaders. In a season when DEI is being pushed back, this podcast is reminding listeners that DEI was never about tokenism. The disability community doesn’t want to be handed opportunities just because they’re disabled, they want to be considered for opportunities based on their qualifications. This is where the overlooked money is –  investing in good, scalable business opportunities that are coming from a forgotten population.

The podcast is only five episodes in, but each episode is reinforcing the powerful message for investors that an investment in accessibility and inclusion is an investment for all.

Check out the podcast, here.