GSMA Innovation Fund for Assistive Tech

The GSMA Innovation Fund for Assistive Tech was set up to find start-ups, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises in Africa and Asia that are driving the digital inclusion of people with disabilities by addressing one or more of the following barriers:

Access
Affordability
Relevance
Knowledge and skills
Safety and security

We received a total of 350 applications from 31 countries across Africa and Asia. After a rigorous evaluation process followed by selection from an independent panel of experts, we are now pleased to announce the four grantees:

DeafTawk | Pakistan | Provider of real-time, on demand access to sign language interpretation services.
I-STEM | India | Providers of AI-enabled digital services to provide high quality accessible documents for persons with disabilities.
Signs Media | Kenya | Provider of real-time, on demand access to sign language interpretation services.
SignAble Communications | India | Provider of real-time, on demand access to sign language interpretation services.

Learn more about the grantees here

Recent Blogs

Announcing the GSMA Innovation Fund for Assistive Tech Grantees

15 per cent of the world’s population, live with a form of disability, 80 per cent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). For persons living with a disability, access to assistive technology (AT) can be life changing. Yet around 90 per cent of persons with ...

GSMA Innovation Fund for Assistive Technology: Highlights from the Top Pitches

According to the World Bank more than a billion people worldwide, or 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with a form of disability. It is estimated that 80 per cent live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The World Health Organisation also estimates that ...

If you have any further questions, please email GSMAIF@gsma.com

This initiative is currently funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and supported by the GSMA and its members.