Synergies Work is Leveling the Playing Field for Entrepreneurs with Disabilities

The National Business Association says that small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They create two out of every three new jobs in the country. They also make up almost half of all the money and goods that America produces each year. Many organizations support small businesses through funding, connections, and mentorship. But until 2016, none of these groups chose to include business owners who have disabilities.

Synergies Work was launched in 2016 to close the opportunity and wealth gaps between the disability and business communities. Founder and CEO Aarti Sahgal wanted to create a welcoming place where people with disabilities could get the help they need to use their skills and turn them into real opportunities “Everyone has a gift, whether of the head, hand, or heart,” said Sahgal.

Synergies Work has grown into a national organization. According to its website, it is the largest startup hub for disability-led businesses in the U.S. It has helped over 300 entrepreneurs with disabilities use their unique talents to build successful businesses to support themselves. Their businesses grow and give customers more choices, create new jobs, and help the economy. “Innovation is rooted in the disability community,” said Sahgal. Many everyday inventions that we use all the time, like touchscreens and voice-to-text, were first made to help people with disabilities. “When we take care of the margins, the center lifts automatically.”

Dan Parker, The Blind Machinist, courtesy of Synergies WorkOne way Synergies supports entrepreneurs with disabilities is through its Igniting Ideas Accelerator. This 12-week program helps business owners turn their ideas into strong businesses. It uses group classes, personal coaching, and support from other entrepreneurs. Synergies is partnering with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities for the Fall 2025 Cohort. Applications are open and you can apply on the Synergies website.

Many business owners with disabilities are leading the way in new inventions, but their success is not often spotlighted. Synergies Work’s annual EDDIE (Entrepreneurs Dedicated to Diverse and Inclusive Excellence) Awards honors innovative business founders with disabilities and raises awareness of disability-led businesses.

This year’s EDDIE’s, held on September 25th, honored:

• Techpreneur and Entrepreneur of the Year: Rebecca Rosenberg, Founder of ReBoKeh Vision Technologies ($10,000 award)
• Creativity: Alexandra Adlawan, Founder of Amazing Artists LLC
• Social Impact: Russell Lehmann, Founder of Russell Lehmann
• Community Champion: Fernando Olivarez
• Newcomer: Marissa Ditkowsky, Founder of National Disabled Legal Professionals Association

Ashton Gilbert, UnBoxed Recycling, courtesy of Synergies WorkIn addition, the EDDIE Awards presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for the first time. Andrew Young was recognized for his lifetime of civil rights leadership and for paving the way for current entrepreneurs with disabilities. He has always championed the strength and talent of the disability community: “Disability forces you to become more creative and insightful.”

At the EDDIE Awards, Keynote Speaker Maria Town, President & CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, highlighted how supports like Medicaid are strongly linked to economic success. She explained how Medicaid policies force people with disabilities to limit themselves. “If we succeed, we risk losing the benefits that help us live…The risk of success is often greater than the risk of failure.”

Getting funding is one of the biggest barriers for entrepreneurs. And for entrepreneurs with disabilities, the barrier is even higher. To help solve this problem, Synergies launched the Synergies SEED Fund, the nation’s first Community Development Financial Institution dedicated to disability-led businesses. The SEED Fund gives money to help businesses grow. They can lend anywhere from $1,000 to $30,000, which helps business owners get the money they need to succeed.

Paola Blanco, Pixels n Paper, courtesy of Synergies WorkCommunity is another cornerstone of Synergies. Business owners know that knowing the right people can help them succeed. But for people with disabilities, it's often harder to meet those people. Synergies Work's Community Hub is a website that helps business owners connect with mentors, investors, other business owners, and coaches who can help them.

Paola Blanco, Founder of Pixels n Paper and now Program Manager for the Synergies SEED Fund, said it best. “I found a community, I found a support system.” With that support, Blanco was able to step away from her business to welcome her newborn son. This is something every entrepreneur, regardless of ability, should be able to do. “That was something I could do because I felt confident in my career.”