Investing In Accessibility
We aren't waiting for change, we are investing in it. Investing in Accessibility is dedicated to exploring the intersection of accessibility, entrepreneurship, and impact investing. Join hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher as they speak with entrepreneurs and thought leaders who are focused on empowering people with disabilities and creating a more accessible world.
Kelvin Crosby is CEO of Smart Guider Inc., which develops navigation technology enabling deafblind individuals to travel independently. Known as The DeafBlind Potter, he funded his first invention, the See Me Cane, through pottery sales. Kelvin lives with Usher Syndrome type 2 and is a staunch advocate for accessibility.
Chris Maher is the Founder & General Partner at Samaritan Partners, a public benefit venture fund that invests in the disability sector. Chris founded Samaritan after spending 25 years as an operator and multi-time CEO at a variety of venture capital-backed companies, and 20 years raising two daughters with disabilities.
Episodes
32 episodes
Accelerator Series Part 3: Molly Lazarus, Remarkable
In this installment of our Accelerator Series, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Molly Lazarus, Director of the U.S. accelerator at Remarkable—a global nonprofit funding and supporting startups building in...
Accelerator Series Part 2: Diego Mariscal, 2Gether-International
In this installment of our Accelerator Series, Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Diego Mariscal, Founder and CEO of 2Gether-International—the largest accelerator supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities.
Accelerator Series Part 1: Varun Chandak, Access To Success
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher launch the first installment of their new Accelerator Series, highlighting organizations that help disability-focused startups grow and scale ...
CES 2026 Panel: Investing in Accessibility
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher take you behind the scenes at CES in Las Vegas—where accessibility took a major step forward with the first-ever dedicated Accessibility St...
The Three B's of Amazon: Lauren Lobrano, Head of Accessibility and Global Disability Inclusion IXT group
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Lauren Lobrano, Head of Accessibility and Global Disability Inclusion at Amazon’s Inclusive Experiences and Technology (IXT) gro...
Are ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini Accessible? A Revealing Conversation with Joe Devon
In this in-person episode of Investing in Accessibility, Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher are joined by returning guest Joe Devon—accessibility pioneer, GAAD co-founder, and longtime technologist—for a deep dive into one of the mos...
CES All-Stars: Disability Startups and the Future of Accessibility
In this “CES All-Stars” episode, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher team up as they track down the most exciting accessibility innovations on the CES Expo floor. From the company that helped spark this very podcast, to product...
Investing in Accessibility: Year-End Wrap-Up with Kelvin & Chris
In this special year-end episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher take a moment to reflect, celebrate, and look ahead.As 2025 comes to a close, Kelvin and Chris revisit highlights from the podca...
From Deficit to Advantage: Angela Lean, Senior Accessibility Program Lead at Microsoft
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Angela Lean, Senior Accessibility Program Lead at Microsoft, for a powerful conversation about turning disability into a true co...
RALLY Innovation 2025: Accessible Innovation Panel
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher kick off the holiday season with something special: a recorded panel from the RALLY Innovation Conferen...
Raising Resilience: A Father–Daughter Journey Through Disability
In this episode, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome a very special guest: Chris’s oldest daughter, Charlotte Maher—an EMT-turned-emergency management professional whose life with spastic hemiplegia has forged extraordinary resilienc...
The Power of Storytelling: A Conversation with Cara Yar Khan, CEO of The Purple Practice
Join hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher for an inspiring conversation with Cara Yar Khan, founder & CEO of The Purple Practice, former UNICEF humanitarian, filmmaker, and fierce disability advocate. Cara traces her multicultu...
Inside The Accessibility Lab: Shaping the Future of Accessible Hospitality
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher explore how The Accessibility Lab at The Schoolhouse Hotel in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia is transforming the travel and hospit...
50 Years of Innovation: Chris Soukup, CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD)
In this inspiring episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Chris Soukup, CEO of Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD), for a powerful conversation about advocacy, ...
There's Always a Way: The Remarkable Journey of Mike May
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome Mike May—entrepreneur, Paralympic athlete, navigation technology pioneer, and, as Chris calls him, “the most interesting man in the world...
From Compliance to Value: A Conversation With Josh Miller, Co-CEO of 3Play Media
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dive into the evolution of accessibility tech with Josh Miller, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of 3Play Media—a leading media accessibility company...
Wawability Summit: Panel Discussion on Design, Capital, and Impact
In this dynamic episode of Investing in Accessibility, Host Kelvin Crosby introduces a special panel session from the Wawability 2025 Summit, celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Title...
From Academia to Prosthetic Innovation: Levin Sliker, Co-Founder & CEO of Point Designs
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome Levin Sliker, co-founder and CEO of Point Designs, a pioneering company that creates durable, 3D-printed prosthetic fingers. Levin shares...
From Personal to Professional: Ben Ogilvie, Head of Accessibility at ArcTouch
In this powerful episode of Investing in Accessibility, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher welcome Ben Ogilvie, Head of Accessibility at ArcTouch and board member of the GAAD Foundation. Ben shares his deeply personal journey into acc...
Accessibility Sensei: Larry Goldberg on Innovation, Impact, and Inclusion
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, we sit down with Larry Goldberg—media pioneer, policy shaper, and trusted advisor to the next generation of accessibility innovators. Larry shares his remarkable four-decade journey...
Navigating Disability, Policy & Progress: AnnMarie Killian, CEO of TDIforAccess
In this powerful episode, hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with AnnMarie Killian, CEO of TDIforAccess, to explore her personal journey as a deaf woman and longtime advocate for accessibility and inclusion. AnnMarie shares her...
Purpose and Profit: Inside Samaritan Partners' Investment Strategy
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dive deep into the investment process at Samaritan Partners, exploring how they evaluate businesses in the disability sector. The conversation covers...
Digital Accessibility: A Conversation with Mike Paciello, Chief Accessibility Officer, AudioEye
In this powerful episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with digital accessibility pioneer Mike Paciello, Chief Accessibility Officer at AudioEye and founder of The Paciello Group. Mike s...
Lifestyle vs Exit Business: An Entrepreneurial Choice
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher dive into the difference between a Lifestyle business and Exit business. Kelvin shares his personal experience with his company, See Me Cane, explain...
Empowering the Blind & Low Vision Community: Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes
In this episode of Investing in Accessibility, co-hosts Kelvin Crosby and Chris Maher sit down with Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes, to explore how the company is blending cutting-edge technology with human kindness to empower...