Alvar Aalto, a Finnish Architect and Designer who was designing in the mid-1900s, spoke of the journey of the seed of an idea to its execution. He once said, “Architecture in its details are in some way all part of biology. Perhaps they are like a salmon or trout – they’re not born fully grown, they’re not even born in the sea or the water where they normally live. They’re born hundreds of kilometres away from their home grounds, where the rivers narrow to tiny streams. Just as it takes time for a speck of fish spawn to mature into a fully-grown fish, so we need time for everything that develops and crystallises in our world of ideas”.
I love the thought of an idea developing from something somewhat small and insignificant but eventually reaching maturity and really changing the things we see that are broken in our world. I’ve heard others describe the path of an idea from the fringes and margins of society until it eventually becomes part of the centre – our mainstream, shared thought, part of the public agenda. It’s one of the reasons I love visiting art galleries and working with creatives. They draw our attention to issues using the medium of art. They give voice to areas of our society that need to change.
Remarkable is a division of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, and we believe that technology has a part to play in promoting an understanding of disability issues and mobilising support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. If you think about the way that powered wheelchairs have changed the independence of those with lower limb impairments, or cochlear implants have enabled others with hearing impairments, technology can play a role. Yet there is more we can do. We look towards disruptive technologies that remove barriers that disable people. So far, we have invested in startups creating technology in robotics, wearables, VR, real-time tracking, marketplaces, AI, gamification and more.
For us, we’re at the top of the stream – we have only been in existence for just over 18 months. However, we believe that the idea of Remarkable is starting to grow, and we’ve learned four things that enable ideas to take root, to give the most excellent chance of success:
1. Work with the end beneficiaries
Ideas fail because they are based on false assumptions and untested reality. We work with startups to ensure that they understand the assumptions they are making about their product, their business plan, and their future development. Then, we work with them to test these assumptions.
One of the best ways to begin validating your assumptions is to test products with real customers. Better yet, start your idea with your end beneficiaries as co-founders.
“Nothing about us, without us” was a phrase adopted by the disability activist movement in the 1990s, and it is the essence we want to instil in our founders.
Since March 2016, 62 people with disability have participated in Remarkable’s programs. 19% of founders in the Remarkable Accelerator and Startup Bootcamp live with a disability – a figure representative of the Australian population. 70% of startups from our accelerator programs and boot camp have a person with a disability in their founder team or on their board. We’re not there yet, but we are working on it.
How could your idea incorporate more input from end beneficiaries?
2. Align your idea to a growing market
They always say it is easier to turn a moving ship or to go with the flow in a fast-moving stream. Ideas won’t succeed when they are isolated. When startup expert Bill Gross studied 200 startups to find the reason some succeed and some fail, he found that the number one reason was not the idea or the team, but the timing[2].
We believe the time is right for Remarkable Startups. People with disabilities and their families have been calling for change for decades, and now we have a burgeoning market being created through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)—a $50bn/yr industry that is set to grow. Impact Investment is looking for investible enterprises.
So far, we have worked intensively with 12 startups. If you have an idea that uses technology to support people with disabilities, applications are now open for the 2018 Remarkable Accelerator program. Apply today, and if selected, you'll receive $35,000 in seed funding and 16 weeks of masterclasses, expert mentoring, investor introductions, and access to co-working space.
Does your idea have proximity to an area that is growing that you could align and harness?
3. Build a network for your idea
Ideas need to take root in people beyond you or your core team. Just like it takes a village to raise a child, it also takes a diverse community to see ideas become reality.
Remarkable has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of entrepreneurs, experts, mentors, technologists, and investors who are committed to diversity and inclusion. Sharing our vision has helped to create a community of support – knowledge, resources, funds – and has increased the likelihood of the startups’ success.
How can you best engage a network around your idea? Can you host a Meetup? Can you involve some volunteers?
4. Leverage powerful allies to grow your idea
Who are the people or companies who could also benefit from your idea? They may not be end beneficiaries, but when working in alliance with them, the net effect of the impact is more significant. Is there a way to increase the pie rather than eliminate your part? Is there a win-win partnership that could happen to increase the power of your idea?
We are working with corporate organisations to increase the impact. Startups creating disability tech is only one way to create change. Millions of products, technologies and services already exist that could be more inclusive. We’re working with them to better understand inclusive and universal design. So far, we’ve worked with 178 organisations, helping them see the benefits of designing to include a broader population diversity than those who simply fit the middle 50th percentile.
Who are the powerful allies with whom you could engage in your idea? What is the value proposition for them?
Ideas are the easy part—the challenge is how you deliver on them. If you're a startup driving innovation in the disability sector, applications are now open for the 2018 Remarkable Accelerator program. Apply today to get the tools, skills, and network you'll need to succeed and have a big social impact.
If you would like to read a case study on how to embed ideas for success using these four areas, the team from Remarkable has taken the brave step of starting the process of measuring how well we’re delivering on our idea through our Social Impact Review—you can download a copy here.
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Pete Horsely is the founder of Remarkable, which empowers Disability Tech innovators by providing the training, capital and networks they need to create a future that is accessible, equitable and inclusive for all. He has a penchant for good design, starting his career as a landscape architect. Now he eats way too many eggs and hopes to be an extra in a movie one day.
