Founder with limited vision raises €2m for accessibility start-up
Summary
Some roles are already open.Irish start-up Nexus Inclusion, which uses artificial intelligence to improve accessibility on the internet, has raised 2m from undisclosed private investors.Founded by Kyran OMahoney in 2024, Dublin-based Nexus Inclusion combines generative AI with the accessibility solutions for people with disabilities.OMahoney, who was born with 17pc vision, said he founded his start-up to change the world so no one is excluded because they are different.It is my firm belief that technology and, more importantly, the emergence of AI is the next thing to change the world for people excluded from digital products.Nexus Inclusion will launch just ahead of the European Accessibility Act, which is due to come into effect on 28 June this year.The EU-wide act aims to give people living with disabilities improved access to products and services at more competitive prices, fewer barriers to access transport, education and the labour market, and more jobs where accessibility expertise is needed.If you look at the banking sector, it is still incredibly inaccessible, yet we have an inherent right to financial independence and financial freedom, OMahoney said.Some elderly, vision-impaired or people with learning difficulties cant read their own bank statements. Nexus Inclusions solution will help with this issue.The start-ups AI tool summarises key information at a reading level appropriate for the user in a format they find comfortable. It automatically adds captions or transcripts and ensures that digital products work with assistive technologies.Every customer we onboard will make the world more digitally equal, OMahoney added.A report by the National Advocacy Service last year found that people with disabilities still face discrimination in Ireland while accessing basic financial services.It reported that digitalisation in the banking sector has exacerbated the lack of accessible information, further excluding people with disabilities.The report also stated instances when people with disabilities were required to prove their capacity to manage their money, and were not afforded access to their bank statements and even prohibited from closing their bank account.Nexus Inclusion, which employs seven people, plans to increase its workforce to 30 by the end of 2026. To me, this is inclusion.OMahoney previously worked at Vision Ireland as its group chief technology officer. In 2021, he founded Inclusion and Accessibility Labs, an IT consulting company, which he also led as CEO.Dont miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed.