Nirnitha Nannapuraju
An Incubator for People with Disability comes up in Hyderabad: Vasundhara a PwD, leads the initiative
Entrepreneurship is never easy, and for entrepreneurs with disabilities (EoW), the challenges can be even more daunting. To address this, Koppula Vasundhara, a visionary woman leader and a person with disabilities (PoW) herself, is on a mission to change the narrative. She has launched India’s first incubator dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs with disabilities, breaking barriers, and fostering inclusivity in the startup ecosystem. With unwavering determination and a vision to empower, she has made history by establishing India’s first-ever incubation Centre tailored specifically for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Vasundhara has launched D-Hub, a pioneering business incubator designed to break down societal and infrastructural barriers, fostering financial independence and entrepreneurial growth for PwDs. In an exclusive interview with MyStartupTV, Vasundhara passionately shared, “D-Hub is India’s first business incubator specifically designed for PwDs, aiming to foster financial independence for individuals who face societal and infrastructural barriers.” Through her trailblazing efforts, she is not only creating opportunities but also giving hope to those who have long been sidelined by society.
Also, Vasundhara claims, D-Hub India offers a 12-month program that provides accessible infrastructure and entrepreneurial development for PWDs. It offers co-working spaces for entrepreneurs, and for those with innovative ideas, there’s a maker space to help bring concepts to life. This initiative has been instrumental in training and nurturing PWD entrepreneurs.
Determination has no discrimination
Vasundhara’s journey has been one of resilience and overcoming challenges. She had to go through the discrimination and lack of opportunities that people with disabilities often encounter since she was the age of 2. She realized the harsh realities of trying to build a career with a disability. From inaccessible infrastructure to a lack of awareness and opportunities,
However, she chose to approach these challenges with determination and shifted from confrontation to education. Instead of fighting with people, Vasundhara decided to explain her needs and disabilities in a way that people could understand. This change in approach laid the foundation for her work at D-Hub.
Vasundhara as a social activist, has worked with community services, and over the years, she noticed that 80% of PWDs live in rural areas where job opportunities are scarce, and they cannot relocate to urban centres due to financial constraints. This brings her to the idea of setting up D-Hub to create an incubator that equips PWDs with the skills, tools, and resources needed to sustain themselves and thrive
Financial Support and Community Collaboration
Explaining about the funds of D-Hub. Vasundhara said, “D-Hub works with a range of organizations, including T-hub, V-hub, and T-works, to raise crowdfunding and secure collaborations.
Despite their progress, Vasundhara points out that PWD entrepreneurs still lack financial support from government bodies and investors. “There’s a misconception that people with disabilities are unfit for business or are unproductive. We need to change this perception and show that we are capable,” she asserts.
Vasundhara shared one of her first success stories is Oligamma, who is a 25-year-old woman with no formal education who learned tailoring from YouTube to support her livelihood. After joining D-Hub, she developed the idea of adaptive clothing, which allows her to cater to the unique needs of people with disabilities. Her story is an inspiring example of how determination can overcome barriers, and she’s now ready to launch her own business.
A Call for Accessibility in the Ecosystem
She shared her agony about the harsh reality, saying , “We don’t even have an accessible washroom in our office in an incubator space meant to foster innovation.” Despite her best efforts to collaborate with other incubators like T-hub and V-hub, she has not been able to secure accessible space. This issue of accessibility, both physical and in terms of resources, is something she believes needs urgent attention in the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Vasundhara’s plea to the government and private sector is simple: include PWD in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. “If there are 100 companies started, at least 10 should be for PWDs. It’s not just about physical infrastructure, but also about changing the mindset of investors, banks, and other stakeholders,” she emphasizes.
A Call for Systemic Change
The systemic barriers for PWD entrepreneurs are significant. Government policies, corporate sponsorships, and ecosystem support are largely absent for PWD entrepreneurs. “We need the government to recognize that PWDs have different needs. For us to be self-sustaining, we need accessible infrastructure, funding, and awareness,” Vasundhara explains.
She stresses that the government’s role is crucial in ensuring equal access to opportunities. For instance, even incubators with state-of-the-art infrastructure are not creating space for PWDs, which perpetuates the gap in the ecosystem. “The ecosystem will only become truly inclusive when people feel a responsibility to create accessible spaces for PWDs. Until then, we will continue to face these challenges.” Vasundhara shared that one of their first success stories is Oligamma, who is a 25-year-old woman with no formal education who learned tailoring from YouTube to support her livelihood. After joining D-Hub, she developed the idea of adaptive clothing, which allows her to cater to the unique needs of people with disabilities. Her story is an inspiring example of how determination can overcome barriers, and she’s now ready to launch her own business.
A Call for Accessibility in the Ecosystem
She shared her agony about the harsh reality, saying, “We don’t even have an accessible washroom in our office in an incubator space meant to foster innovation.” Despite her best efforts to collaborate with other incubators like T-hub and V-hub, she has not been able to secure accessible space. This issue of accessibility, both physical and in terms of resources, is something she believes needs urgent attention in the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Vasundhara’s plea to the government and private sector is simple: include PWD in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. “If there are 100 companies started, at least 10 should be for PWDs. It’s not just about physical infrastructure, but also about changing the mindset of investors, banks, and other stakeholders,” she emphasizes.
A Call for Systemic Change
The systemic barriers for PWD entrepreneurs are significant. Government policies, corporate sponsorships, and ecosystem support are largely absent for PWD entrepreneurs. “We need the government to recognize that PWDs have different needs. For us to be self-sustaining, we need accessible infrastructure, funding, and awareness,” Vasundhara explains.
She stresses that the government’s role is crucial in ensuring equal access to opportunities. For instance, even incubators with state-of-the-art infrastructure are not creating space for PWDs, which perpetuates the gap in the ecosystem. “The ecosystem will only become truly inclusive when people feel a responsibility to create accessible spaces for PWDs. Until then, we will continue to face these challenges.”
