WASHINGTON DC / ACCESSWIRE / June 28, 2024 / Comcast Corporation: Comcast NBCUniversal and 2Gether-International (2GI), a leading 501c3 nonprofit and startup accelerator run by and for entrepreneurs with disabilities, announced an extension of their partnership. Comcast will expand its organizational support by awarding $1.5 million to support 2GI’s programs through 2025. The funding will help provide startup founders with disabilities with the tools and resources they need to become leaders in their respective industries. The grant will further 2GI’s efforts to better employ and support people with disabilities, particularly those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, across all programs and initiatives.
Comcast’s donation is part of Project UP, the company’s $1 billion initiative to connect people to the internet, foster economic mobility and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators.
Our ongoing partnership with 2Gether-International is proving to be transformative not only for the disability community but also the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Dalila Wilson Scott
Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation; President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation
Entrepreneurship is an increasingly viable option for people with disabilities to pursue a meaningful career. According to a 2022 report from the National Institute on Disability (NDI), “there are 1.8 million business owners with disabilities in the United States,” and “because a significant percentage of people with disabilities (74%) are not in the workforce, entrepreneurship is an important employment option for this demographic.” The report goes on to say that people with disabilities “are often hindered by limited access to affordable start-up capital and a lack of supports, services, and programs tailored to their unique needs and challenges.”
“We are excited and grateful for Comcast’s solid commitment and partnership.” Diego Mariscal, CEO and Founder of 2Gether-International, said: “Our organization’s goal is to build a pipeline that supports 3,000-5,000 entrepreneurs with disabilities annually by 2030, and Comcast’s support will go a long way in helping us achieve this goal. With their support, 2GI has already seen significant increases in program enrollment, community engagement and awareness. We look forward to reaching even more people and addressing the systemic barriers faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities.”
2GI will continue to innovate and expand its programs to meet the changing needs of entrepreneurs with disabilities at every stage of their business journey. The organization’s current initiatives include, but are not limited to:
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Cohort for Disabled Founders: Selected participants, all disabled founders of early-stage, fast-growing tech startups, will immerse themselves in 2GI’s 10-week accelerator program to refine their pitches and business models. The accelerator program culminates in a pitch competition, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to win seed funding. Since 2GI’s first accelerator launched in 2019, more than 80 startups have participated, and these companies have raised a total of approximately $70 million in funding from external investor investments, revenue and acquisitions.
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Apprenticeship Program: 2GI is partnering with BuildWithin, a venture-backed technology company and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) apprenticeship broker, to create the first-of-its-kind apprenticeship program designed for entrepreneurs with disabilities and aspiring startup executives. The effort is the first of its kind focused on supporting entrepreneurs with on-the-job training and curriculum aligned to startup CEO and CFO roles. The new program is supported by the U.S. Department of Labor and is being incubated at the Apprenticeship Building America Innovation Hub in Washington, DC.
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First Disability Venture Capital Fund: Launching the first VC fund dedicated to startup founders with disabilities. 2GI is currently working to raise $5 million in philanthropic funding for this effort.
In 2022, 2GI and Comcast partnered for the first time to facilitate the launch of 2GI’s Cohort Accelerator program, which provided participants with resources including mentorship, coaching and connections to investors. Alumni have since raised millions of dollars in investment capital, created new jobs and developed accessible technologies that improve the life experiences of people with disabilities.
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