Innovate Now launched its largest cohort yet, selecting 19 assistive tech startups using Live Labs to co-design products with persons with disabilities.
Innovate Now, a Kenya-based assistive tech accelerator, has selected 19 startups for its largest cohort to date. The programme uses “Live Labs”, which means persons with disabilities test and shape products early, before launch.
Innovate Now, implemented by the Assistive Technologies for Disability Trust (AT4D), said the new cohort focuses on speech therapy, mobility, inclusive education, and caregiver support. These are areas where demand is growing, but locally adapted assistive products are still limited.
Assistive technology is any device or software that helps someone function day to day, like a wheelchair, a hearing aid, or a screen reader (a tool that reads text aloud). Many assistive devices used in African markets are imported. That often pushes prices up and makes repairs harder.
The accelerator’s Live Labs model is designed to reduce these gaps. Instead of building in isolation, founders involve users directly in early-stage development. Participants test prototypes, report usability problems, and influence design decisions while the product is still being built.
Across Africa, an estimated 200 million people need at least one assistive product, but access remains low. Cost is one barrier. Fit is another, since products designed outside the continent may not match local realities like uneven roads, limited access to spare parts, or different classroom setups.
For startups, direct user involvement can reduce wasted build cycles and help teams reach product market fit faster. For investors and operators, the cohort is a signal that disability tech is becoming a clearer category in the region, with structured support and a pipeline of early-stage companies.
Watch whether the 19 startups can move from prototypes to distribution, including partnerships with schools, clinics, and community organisations. Also watch pricing and maintenance plans, since accessibility depends on long-term use, not just initial purchase.
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