Gurugram: Hyundai Motor India Foundation has partnered with AssisTech Foundation to launch Samarth UnnATi, a start-up scale-up programme aimed at helping Indian assistive-technology companies expand their operations, secure market access and bring accessibility solutions to more persons with disabilities.
The programme, launched under the foundation’s ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative, will provide grant support of ₹75 lakh alongside mentorship, capacity building, investor connections and access to industry and institutional networks.
Hyundai Motor India Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Hyundai Motor India Limited, said Samarth UnnATi would focus on high-potential, market-ready and revenue-generating start-ups developing assistive-technology products and services.
Assistive technology includes products and solutions intended to improve accessibility, independence and participation for persons with disabilities. While many such innovations demonstrate promise at an early stage, taking them from a prototype or limited deployment to a wider market can be considerably harder — innovation, after all, rarely scales on enthusiasm alone.
The programme seeks to address that gap by helping selected start-ups strengthen their business capabilities, connect with investors, develop ecosystem partnerships and expand the deployment of their solutions.
Speaking on the launch of the programme, Mr. Gopalakrishnan C S, Trustee, Hyundai Motor India Foundation, said, “At Hyundai, we believe that accessibility and innovation are powerful enablers of inclusion and progress. Through ‘Samarth by Hyundai’, we are committed to creating opportunities that empower persons with disabilities to participate more independently and confidently in society. The Samarth UnnATi – AT start-up scale-up program is an important step towards strengthening Assistive Technology ecosystem by supporting innovators who are developing impactful solutions to address real-world accessibility challenges. Through our partnership with AssisTech Foundation, we aim to accelerate the adoption of assistive technologies and help build a more inclusive society.”
AssisTech Foundation will work with Hyundai Motor India Foundation to support participating start-ups through industry knowledge, mentorship and connections across the assistive-technology ecosystem.
Prateek Madhav, CEO and Co-Founder, AssisTech Foundation (ATF), said, “By 2050, the need for assistive products in the global population is estimated to increase to 3.5 billion (UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology). To reach this breadth, innovation cannot be a standalone phenomenon. It must be nurtured, deployed at scale and reach the people who need it the most. Samarth UnnATi is the engine that drives this, bringing together these largely disparate efforts toward a more cohesive approach.”
According to the organisations, the ₹75 lakh grant will support market access, deployment and the scaling of assistive-technology solutions. The initiative is intended to help participating companies reach communities and individuals who may benefit from their products.
The programme will also focus on institutional capacity building and closer engagement with disability welfare institutions, government officials and other stakeholders. These linkages are expected to support the development of a more sustainable framework for the long-term adoption of assistive technologies.
For assistive-technology start-ups, access to capital is only part of the challenge. Building distribution networks, working with institutions and reaching users across different regions can determine whether a useful idea remains on a presentation slide or becomes part of everyday life.
Through Samarth UnnATi, Hyundai Motor India Foundation and AssisTech Foundation are seeking to create a pathway for promising accessibility solutions to move beyond limited pilots and achieve wider deployment. The programme’s broader significance will depend on how effectively supported start-ups translate funding and mentorship into affordable, practical technologies that improve independence and participation for persons with disabilities.
