Inspiring capable communities
Kate Maslan and Jordan Freeman, who were participants in I2N’s Accelerator Cohort 2023, are the co-founders of are of Ariel Community, a tech startup working to inspire advocacy for disability inclusion and access throughout Australian communities.
At I2N’s Startup Stories at I2N Hub Honeysuckle on Wednesday 7 February, Kate and Jordan shared how they their unwavering mission is to facilitate connections between individuals with disability and Australian businesses. With a vision focused on inspiring capable and inclusive communities, their aim is to open doors and improve access for the disability community, making a meaningful impact in the process.
Catch up on Startup Stories with Jordan and Kate
Top Takeaways
- People who are an excluded demographic should not be the ones forcing their own inclusion into the community, it needs to be community driven.
- The evolution of their platform was driven by direct user feedback and thorough market research, transitioning from a beta version to a comprehensive tool with a mobile app and tailored business registration features.
- A cohort based program was pivotal in gaining the right mentoring and being surrounded my people going through similar journeys to lean on.
- If you are wanting to build something in the tech space, make it a priority to either have a lot of money saved or have someone on your co-founding team who knows tech.
The University of Newcastle's I2N works with individuals and organisations from across the Hunter region and beyond to turn ideas and challenges into opportunity. As a leading driver of economic and business growth, the I2N cultivates an entrepreneurial mindset that is behind many of the region's most innovative businesses and leaders.
Keep up to date with future I2N events, programs and opportunities by subscribing to I2N's monthly newsletter or visit www.newcastle.edu.au/i2n
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