Shows
Investing In AccessibilityAccessibility Sensei: Larry Goldberg on Innovation, Impact, and InclusionIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, we sit down with Larry Goldberg—media pioneer, policy shaper, and trusted advisor to the next generation of accessibility innovators. Larry shares his remarkable four-decade journey, from launching closed captioning at WGBH to shaping landmark accessibility legislation, leading corporate accessibility at Yahoo, and now mentoring mission-driven startups and nonprofits.Hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dig into Larry’s philosophy of “developed for people with disabilities, shared with the world,” exploring how startups can scale impact through inclusive design and thoughtful business models. This episode is packed with lessons...2025-06-2338 minInvesting In AccessibilityNavigating Disability, Policy & Progress: AnnMarie Killian, CEO at TDIforAccessIn this powerful episode, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with AnnMarie Killian, CEO of TDIforAccess, to explore her personal journey as a deaf woman and longtime advocate for accessibility and inclusion. AnnMarie shares her experience growing up in a hearing family, discovering American Sign Language later in life, and the challenges and triumphs that shaped her leadership.The conversation covers:The richness of Deaf culture and identityNavigating communication and relationships as a deaf individualThe importance of universal design that benefits everyoneHow lived experience drives policy and innovationTDI’s bipartisan advocacy work on...2025-06-0950 minInvesting In AccessibilityPurpose and Profit: Inside Samaritan Partners' Investment StrategyIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dive deep into the investment process at Samaritan Partners, exploring how they evaluate businesses in the disability sector. The conversation covers the fund's unique structure as a public benefit fund, focusing on social good while achieving strong financial returns.Chris breaks down the key criteria Samaritan Partners uses when considering potential investments, including the importance of social impact, the strength of the founding team, and the scalability of the business model. Kelvin and Chris also cover topics such as starting relationships with VCs early...2025-05-2743 minInvesting In AccessibilityDigital Accessibility: A Conversation with Mike Paciello, Chief Accessibility Officer, AudioEyeIn this powerful episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with digital accessibility pioneer Mike Paciello, Chief Accessibility Officer at AudioEye and founder of The Paciello Group. Mike shares his remarkable four-decade journey—from converting print documentation into Braille in the 1980s to shaping web accessibility standards and launching multiple successful ventures. Now at the forefront of scalable digital accessibility solutions, Mike explains why automation and AI are essential for meeting the growing digital needs of people with disabilities. He shares his vision for a future where accessibility is invisible, integrated, and...2025-05-1234 minInvesting In AccessibilityLifestyle vs Exit Business: An Entrepreneurial ChoiceIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dive into the difference between a Lifestyle business and Exit business. Kelvin shares his personal experience with his company, See Me Cane, explaining how he chose to build a Lifestyle business rather than pursue rapid growth through venture capital. He highlights the benefits of having more control, balancing social mission with financial goals, and the creative funding strategies that made his business successful. Chris elaborates on the decision-making process for entrepreneurs, discussing how market size, funding sources, and growth potential influence the choice between Lifestyle and...2025-04-2828 minInvesting In AccessibilityEmpowering the Blind & Low Vision Community: Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My EyesIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes, to explore how the company is blending cutting-edge technology with human kindness to empower the blind and low vision community. Mike shares his unconventional path from corporate consulting and angel investing to leading one of the most impactful accessibility tech companies in the world.Kelvin, a longtime user of Be My Eyes, offers firsthand insight into how the platform enhances independence in his day-to-day life—from pottery quality control to building unexpected customer relationships. Mi...2025-04-1432 minInvesting In AccessibilityGreetings From CSUN: A Conversation with GAAD Founders Joe Devon & Jennison AsuncionIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with two true leaders of the accessibility movement: Joe Devon and Jennison Asuncion, co-founders of Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD). Together, they share the incredible story of how a blog post, a tweet, and a Saturday night on Twitter sparked a global movement that now reaches over 200 million people annually.Joe and Jennison open up about their personal journeys—Joe’s path through tech and entrepreneurship, and Jennison’s lived experience as a blind technologist navigating a rapidly changing world. They reflect on the...2025-03-3131 minInvesting In AccessibilityBy the Numbers: Hale Pulsifer on Inclusion & Business TransformationIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome Hale Pulsifer, Vice President of Customer Insights, Inclusion, and Advocacy at Fidelity Investments, to explore the intersection of business, accessibility, and economic opportunity. Hale shares his transformative journey from corporate finance strategist to a leader in disability inclusion, revealing how companies that embrace accessibility aren’t just doing the right thing—they’re making a smart business decision.Backed by compelling data, Pulsifer highlights the untapped potential of disability-inclusive businesses. This episode is a must-listen for business leaders, investors, and advocates looking to unders...2025-03-1733 minInvesting In AccessibilityDisability-Driven Innovation: Bob Ludke & the Power of an Inclusive EconomyIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher speak with Bob Ludke, co-founder of Value Inclusion and author of "Case Studies in Disability-Driven Innovation." Bob shares his background in disability policy with Senator Tom Harkin and his journey through public policy, sustainability, and ESG.Universal Design as a Business Strategy:The heart of Bob's message is that universal design isn't just good for society but also a strategic business imperative that expands market reach and drives long-term profitability. He highlights companies like Microsoft, Apple, and Disney Shanghai as examples...2025-03-0332 minInvesting In AccessibilityMaking the World Accessible: Alvaro Silberstein & the Future of Inclusive TravelIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher speak with Alvaro Silberstein, co-founder and CEO of Wheel the World, an accessible travel platform revolutionizing the way people with disabilities experience the world. Alvaro shares his personal journey from Chile to the U.S., his experiences traveling as a quadriplegic, and how those challenges inspired him to create a company that ensures people with disabilities have the information and resources they need to travel confidently.From hiking in Patagonia to launching a global platform that maps accessible destinations, Alvaro discusses how Wheel the...2025-02-1733 minInvesting In AccessibilityInnovations in Disability and Age Tech: Steve Ewell, CTA Foundation Executive DirectorIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher speak with Steve Ewell, Executive Director of the CTA Foundation, about the evolution of technology in relation to accessibility and age tech. They explore Steve's background, the foundation's mission, the growth of accessibility at CES, and the importance of innovative startups in the disability space. The discussion also highlights the role of Samaritan Partners in supporting entrepreneurs serving the disability community, and the future plans for the CTA Foundation.If you are looking for more information on the CTA Foundation:CTA Foundation...2025-02-0326 minInvesting In AccessibilityEmpowering Inclusion: The Mission Behind Samaritan PartnersIn this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher discuss the importance of accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Chris shares his personal journey into the disability advocacy space, highlighting the challenges faced by his daughters and the motivation behind founding Samaritan Partners, a social impact venture fund. The conversation explores the significance of accessible products and services, the need for investment in disability innovations, and the vision for the future of Samaritan Partners. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to support accessibility initiatives.Learn more about Samaritan Partners at:2025-01-2020 minInvesting In AccessibilityThe DeafBlind Potter: Turning Challenges into Life-Saving InnovationWelcome to the first episode of the Investing in Accessibility podcast, with co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher.In this episode, Kelvin shares his personal journey from being diagnosed with severe hearing loss to becoming deafblind. He discusses the challenges he faced, including multiple life-threatening experiences, and how he found healing through pottery. Kelvin's advocacy work led him to entrepreneurship, where he created programs to support the visually impaired. He also innovated assistive technology, including a lighted cane designed to enhance safety for blind individuals. The conversation highlights the importance of resilience, community support, and the transformative...2025-01-0529 min