DeafTawk, a Pakistani startup that provides facilities for deaf people, has launched the second cohort of its Innovation Challenge Futuremakers (ICF) program. The program is a fast-track acceleration program for entrepreneurs with disabilities, and it provides them with the tools and resources they need to start and grow their businesses.
![Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Showcase Sartups](https://techprenour.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/side-view-businesswomen-using-sign-language-1024x576.jpg)
The eight startups selected for the second cohort of the ICF program are:
- Assistive Tour Companion: A company that provides comprehensive support for visually impaired travelers.
- Inclusive Hill: An e-commerce marketplace tailored to the unique needs of individuals with disabilities.
- Deaf Art Wala: A venture that specializes in selling captivating calligraphy and digital frames.
- Hira’s Kitchen: A restaurant that provides a welcoming place for quality food and socializing for the deaf community.
- Aqua Orient Water Solutions: A company that serves to reduce health risks, save lives, and ensure clean drinking water.
- SK Studio and Training Centre: A digital courses and training center addressing the lack of opportunities for people with disabilities.
- ATMIS: An app-based solution for the secure collection and distribution of assistive devices.
- Speaker Better: A company that provides assistance to children with speech disorders, focusing on articulation and phonological disorders.
Startups begin a transformative journey with six months of mentorship, workshops, and investor pitches for funding.
The ICF program breaks barriers, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs with disabilities, showcasing Pakistan’s inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
DeafTawk: A company that is making a difference
![DeafTawk: A company that is making a difference](https://techprenour.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/1000_F_398850237_M3ShcWehdRXbij7NZMI9wtCPzQw0gCBs-1.jpg)
DeafTawk is a company that is passionate about making a difference in the lives of deaf people. It was founded in 2019 by Ali Shabbar, who himself is deaf. Shabbar was inspired to start DeafTawk after he experienced the challenges of being deaf firsthand.
DeafTawk provides a variety of services to deaf people, including:
- Video chat interpretation: DeafTawk provides video chat interpretation services that allow deaf people to communicate with hearing people in real time.
- Online courses: DeafTawk offers a variety of online courses to help deaf people learn new skills and develop their careers.
- Job placement assistance: DeafTawk provides job placement assistance to help deaf individuals discover positions that align with their skills and interests.
DeafTawk is dedicated to building a world where deaf individuals enjoy equal opportunities and can achieve their fullest potential. The ICF program is just one of the many ways that DeafTawk is working to achieve this goal.
The importance of supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities
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Entrepreneurs with disabilities face a number of challenges that their non-disabled counterparts do not. These challenges can include:
- Discrimination: Entrepreneurs with disabilities often face discrimination from investors, customers, and other stakeholders.
- Lack of access to resources: Entrepreneurs with disabilities may have difficulty accessing the resources they need to start and grow their businesses, such as funding, mentorship, and training.
- Lack of awareness: Many people lack awareness of the challenges faced by disabled entrepreneurs and may not know about their successful businesses.
It is important to support entrepreneurs with disabilities because they bring unique perspectives and experiences to the business world. They are also more likely to hire other people with disabilities, which helps to create jobs and boost the economy.
How you can support entrepreneurs with disabilities
There are a number of ways that you can support entrepreneurs with disabilities:
- If you’re an investor, think about investing in businesses owned and operated by people with disabilities.
- Support businesses owned and operated by people with disabilities by becoming their customer.
- Mentor them: If you have experience in business, mentor entrepreneurs with disabilities and help them to succeed.
- Spread the word: Raise awareness of the challenges that entrepreneurs with disabilities face and the many successful businesses that they have started.
By supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities, we can help to create a more inclusive and equitable world.