Motability Operations partnership launches programme for founders with disabilities
Motability Operations has partnered with tech growth platform Tech Nation to launch Creo, the first dedicated UK programme for founders with disabilities and those innovating for the disabled and neurodiverse communities.
The Creo programme will amplify and connect these entrepreneurs, providing them with the knowledge, connections, and tools to scale their startups.
One in four founders in the UK are disabled or neurodiverse, however they are 400 times less likely to receive venture capital funding, according to The Lilac Review.
The review also revealed 70 per cent of disabled founders said they lack role models, and 84 per cent feel they do not have equal access to the same opportunities and resources as non-disabled founders.
In addition, it finds reducing barriers for disabled founders could unlock an additional £230 billion in annual business turnover in the UK.
In this year’s Creo cohort, almost three-quarters of the founding team identify as disabled or neurodiverse, with many of the companies providing products or services for those that are disabled or neurodiverse.
They will all receive tailored support to directly springboard them to scale and grow via a programme of workshops, peer-to-peer support, and mentoring sessions over a four month period.
Beyond the initial programme, participating founders become part of a lifelong, close-knit community, with access to an online knowledge centre. Current cohorts and alumni can access the Creo network and tap into the skills, experience and expertise they need to continue their journey, creating a startup community that’s uniquely placed to understand and support disabled and neurodiverse founders.
Andrew Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Motability Operations said: “The launch of the Creo programme is a major milestone in our partnership with Tech Nation to break down barriers for disabled and neurodiverse founders in the UK.
“By bringing together this community of innovators and supporting their growth, we can increase the representation of disabled people in the startup community and put accessibility at the heart of innovation.”
Creo participants will also gain access to the global Founders Forum Group community, with access to its top-tier network of unicorn founders, CEOs, investors and government leaders, connections that can help catapult their scaling journeys at a key juncture.
The Creo Programme is aimed at pre-seed to Series A tech startups based in the UK. All participating startups must have at least one founder who self-identifies as disabled or neurodiverse, or are innovating around disability or neurodiversity.
Carolyn Dawson, CEO of Founders Forum Group, added: “Creo will help unlock the potential of disabled and neurodiverse founders across the UK through its tailored programme of support and mentoring. Together with our partner Motability Operations we can reduce barriers for some of our most ambitious founders and startups”.
Patrick Flynn, Chief Operating Officer, HSBC Innovation Banking UK, said: “The Creo programme is unique in its focus on not only supporting and connecting disabled and neurodiverse innovators, but also actively working towards providing tailored, inclusive solutions.
“We are proud to partner with Tech Nation on this incredibly important programme, and to help create a supportive ecosystem where entrepreneurs with disabilities can access the resources they need to supercharge their growth”.
Earlier this year, Lisa Thomas, Chief Marketing Officer at Motability Operations, delivered a keynote speech at MOVE 2024, the world’s premier tech mobility event, which focused on the urgent need to make the transition to electric vehicles more accessible for disabled drivers.
