South Africa - Startup under 3 years old

Describe your project or startup in a few words

It is a generative AI Software as a Service program that enables people to perform disability assessments for people with disabilities, build disability policies and research disability related issues in order to fully support people with disabilities

01.01 Describe your startup in more detail

IAS is an emerging disability services company committed to delivering high-quality and personalized support to individuals and organizations supporting individuals with disabilities. Established in 2023, IAS is becoming a trusted partner for clients seeking innovative and person-centered disability support services. Our Vision: To provide high-quality assistive technology products, disability support services, and exceptional research services anchored by technological innovation. Our Mission: To enhance access to work, play, education and society to people living with disabilities through the right assistive technology and support solutions. Our Objectives: We are at the forefront of assistive technology innovation to deliver services that are guided by international standards and perfectly suited for people with all types of disabilities. As such: • We strive to provide excellent service with cost – effective solutions. • We want to encourage accessibility through innovation.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The provision and access to disability support services including but not limited to disability training in higher education for support staff, provision of assistive technology, and training to people with disabilities. disability support mapping for companies looking to higher people with disabilities, as well as policy development and disability auditing to determine the right mechanisms to be used to provide support to people with disabilities.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your startup provides (at least 3).

The benefit are: Institutions will be able to assess disability requirements within a short space of time and documentation can be easily uploaded to ensure students don't have to wait for an appointment to deliver documents. Employment companies will be able to develop disability friendly/oriented policies to support staff with disabilities in the workplace. Lastly, the platform provides one with a one-stop solution for all disability-related support information and referral channels to get further support information and support.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your startup’s product/service is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

Educational Institutions: Institutions that serve students with disabilities and looking for educational resources, training, or assistive technology. Employers and Workplace Inclusion Programs: Companies and employers interested in creating inclusive work environments focusing on employment-related services or adaptive workplace solutions. Government and Nonprofit Organizations: Government agencies and nonprofit organizations involved in disability advocacy, and support. Individuals with Disabilities: They are people with various types of disabilities, such as physical disabilities, sensory impairments, cognitive disabilities, and mental health conditions. Families and Coordinators: Families and coordinators of individuals with disabilities interested in products or services that enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities.

01.05 When was your company established?

2023-01-06

01.06 Are you already selling your product/service?

Yes

01.07 How many other owners are there within your startup?

3

01.08 Among the other owners, how many are female?

2

01.09 Please describe the profile of the other owners within your startup (skills, experience, etc.)

Mr. Eric Mhlanga - Group Managing Director & Acting CEO of IAS - Expertise in Mathematics, Food preparation, Business administration and Disability services Mr. Lubabalo Tybosch - Group CIO & acting CEO of Uniqova - Expertise in IoT, and Business administration Mrs. Clarissa Mhlanga - Group COO - Expertise in Operations and R&D Mr. Maqekoane Shale - Group CFO - Expertise in Banking and Finance.

01.10 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link(s) here:

www.infas.co.za

01.11 Which industry best describes your project?

Other: Disability support

02.01.01 My startup contributes to the No poverty goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification for my startup

02.02.01 My startup contributes to the Zero hunger goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification for my startup

02.03.01 My startup contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification for my startup

We advocate for the support of people with disabilities and through our various services including psycho-social support we target mental health and disability

02.04.01 My startup contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification for my startup

The right type of assistive technology enables a person with a disability the ability to also actively participate in their learning mainly because its something that most people with disabilities to not have knowledge of or even access to, and our solution will enable them to have access to the right disability support and the right assistive technology for their learning needs.

02.05.01 My startup contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification for my startup

Of the 7.5% of the South African population afflicted with disabilities, a large number of them are women and therefore we are looking at ensuring that they will have equal opportunities to access employment and education through our SaaS tool.

02.06.01 My startup contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification for my startup

02.07.01 My startup contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification for my startup

02.08.01 My startup contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

6

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification for my startup

Our SaaS tool will enable potential employers to have and be able to develop disability support structure in order to fully recruit and support people with disabilities in the workplace.

02.09.01 My startup contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

5

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification for my startup

Our technology will enable academic institutions, employers, and the government to implement solutions that inclusive for people with disabilities. Our development will give them the tools and guidelines to do so.

02.10.01 My startup contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification for my startup

Our entire company is dedicated to developing solutions that help people with disabilitieies to equally participate in economic, academic, and social arenas similar to their peers.

02.11.01 My startup contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification for my startup

02.12.01 My startup contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification for my startup

02.13.01 My startup contributes to the Climate action goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification for my startup

02.14.01 My startup contributes to the Life below water goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification for my startup

02.15.01 My startup contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification for my startup

02.16.01 My startup contributes to the Peace Justice and Strong Institutions goal

5

02.16.02 Peace Justice and Strong Institutions- Justification for my startup

We are helping to build inclusive institutions and accessible societies for people with disabilities through our disability support services and our SaaS tool.

02.17.01 My startup contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification for my startup

06.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

2

06.02 The product/service represents an entirely new type of product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.03 The product/service could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.04 The product/service is an improvement on an existing product or service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.05 The product/service could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.06 The product/service responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

06.07 The product/service is a new version of an old product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

06.08 Justification for my startup

AbleBooth is the first of its kind of technology globally. No service is similar to it, and because it is new there are not many users.

06.09 Competitive Analysis

Our competitors are Sensory Solutions, and EditMicro Systems - 1. We provide a similar category of products, with a small variation on the services we provide. Our competitors are strictly assistive technology-driven. 2. We focus on a holistic disability support approach which includes: disability accessibility testing, nature of disability assessments, matching technology to disability, training of support staff on various disability aspects. 3. We use the power of AI to bring holistic disability support solutions to the market which our competitors are not doing.

11.05 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

No