A wheelchair./PHOTO; Courtesy
A new funding initiative aimed at accelerating assistive technology innovation in Africa has been launched through a partnership between the Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust (AT4D) and the Judith Neilson Foundation.
The initiative, known as the Momentous Pilot Fund, will provide early-stage investment and technical support to African startups developing technologies for persons with disabilities.
Valued at approximately KSh 64 million (USD 500,000), the fund is designed to address a persistent financing gap facing innovators working in the assistive technology sector.
Assistive technologies include a wide range of tools and digital innovations that help people with disabilities live more independently and participate fully in education, employment, and social life.
These solutions can range from mobility devices and communication tools to digital accessibility platforms and learning technologies.
Through the Momentous Fund, up to five early-stage ventures from across Africa will receive a combination of catalytic funding, venture-building support, and technical assistance.
The programme will also connect innovators with strategic partners who can help scale their solutions to reach more users across the continent.
Organisers say the pilot marks the first dedicated early-stage investment initiative focused specifically on assistive technology innovation in Africa, a sector that has historically struggled to attract venture capital despite growing demand for inclusive solutions.
According to the World Health Organization, nearly 200 million people in Africa require at least one form of assistive product.
However, access remains severely limited, with only about one in ten people able to obtain the devices or services they need.
The lack of accessible assistive products has broad implications for social and economic inclusion.
Without tools that support mobility, communication, and independent living, many people with disabilities face barriers to education, employment, and community participation.
Bernard Chiira, founder and chief executive of AT4D, said the fund is intended to help close the gap between promising ideas and the financial support needed to bring them to scale.
Speaking about the challenges facing innovators in the sector, he explained that many early-stage ventures struggle to access the kind of capital typically available to technology startups.
“Early-stage assistive technology innovators across Africa face significant structural barriers to accessing capital,” Chiira said.
“This is the first fund on the continent dedicated to investing in emerging assistive technology start-ups at the early stage. The Momentous Fund allows us to test an investment model that centres lived experience while strengthening the ecosystem required to scale disability innovation across Africa.”
Beyond supporting individual startups, the initiative also aims to generate lessons that can inform future disability-focused investment strategies.
The pilot will test approaches to identifying viable innovations, providing tailored support, and connecting startups with broader investment networks.
Organisers say the findings will help shape the design of a second phase of the fund, to expand financing opportunities for disability innovation across Africa.
Industry observers note that assistive technology innovation is often perceived primarily through the lens of charity rather than investment, a perception that has limited capital flows into the sector.
Harry Ochieng, investment manager at AT4D, said the Momentous Fund is also intended to challenge this narrative by demonstrating that assistive technology can deliver both social impact and viable financial returns.
Reflecting on the broader significance of the initiative, he noted that investors are increasingly recognising the economic potential of inclusive innovation.
“Many investors still associate disability innovations with charity and donations,” Ochieng said.
“The Momentous Fund is an opportunity to change that narrative and demonstrate that this sector presents real opportunities for investment, impact, and sustainable returns.”
In addition to funding startups, the programme will support ecosystem development by fostering collaboration between innovators, investors, disability advocates, and policy actors.
By building stronger networks across the assistive technology landscape, AT4D and its partners hope to accelerate the development of scalable solutions that improve accessibility while expanding economic participation for persons with disabilities.
Organisers say insights from the pilot will ultimately guide the expansion of the Momentous initiative, positioning Africa as a leader in disability-focused technology innovation and inclusive investment models.
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