Entrepreneurship Redefined

Synergies Work Inc.

Entrepreneurship Redefined

A digital platform empowering disabled entrepreneurs with skills, community, and capital to launch and grow sustainable businessesses.

Atlanta, GA, USA

USA

Nonprofit

We are working to solve the persistent exclusion of people with disabilities (PWDs) from economic opportunity—particularly through entrepreneurship. In the United States, over 70 million people identify as having a disability—1 in 4 Americans—making PWDs the largest and most intersectional minority group(CDC). Globally, the number exceeds 1.3 billion (WHO). Despite this, PWDs face the highest rates of unemployment and poverty, with U.S. employment rates stagnating at 21-23% for over 30 years—compared to 65–70% for the general population (USDOL). Poverty and disability are deeply intertwined, reinforcing each other over generations. Entrepreneurship is a proven way to reduce poverty, yet the systems that support new business creation were not designed for PWDs. While disabled individuals are twice as likely to pursue self-employment, they are far more likely to fail—not due to lack of potential, but because they lack access to business knowledge, networks, and capital. There is a growing awareness of the power of inclusive design and disability-led innovation. From the keyboard to captioning, accessibility has driven mainstream breakthroughs. Yet, this potential remains untapped—trapped in a fragmented, under-resourced system. There is no centralized infrastructure that supports disabled entrepreneurs at scale.

Our model combines two core tools: Business Fundamentals, a micro-learning program inspired by the Khan Academy model and co-created with disabled entrepreneurs. It delivers bite-sized, self-paced modules in accessible formats—audio, simplified text, visuals, and built-in assessments—to build foundational business skills and confidence. The Virtual Community Hub is a dynamic online space where founders connect with peers, mentors, service providers, and funders. It also enables ecosystem stakeholders—including organizations, institutions, and individual experts—to co-design products and services tailored to the needs of disabled entrepreneurs. From business registration and legal support to bookkeeping, financial products, marketing, and funding opportunities, the Hub serves as a one-stop resource that grows with the entrepreneur. Together, these platforms act as both a career exploration tool and a roadmap to entrepreneurship—used by individuals, job coaches, schools, and service providers to create inclusive, scalable pathways to economic independence. But our work goes beyond programs. We are ecosystem builders—enabling an environment where disabled-led startups can thrive. We foster critical social and financial capital from ideation to VC funding, and help stakeholders reimagine entrepreneurship through the lens of inclusive design, equity, and intersectionality. We’re not just teaching business—we’re democratizing access to entrepreneurship.

We serve all people with disabilities—anyone who self-identifies as disabled. This includes individuals with physical, sensory, cognitive, and mental health disabilities, as well as those with chronic conditions. But disability does not exist in isolation. It intersects with race, gender, class, and geography, compounding barriers to opportunity and deepening exclusion. People with disabilities face widespread challenges: inaccessible education, chronic unemployment, and exclusion from economic systems. Globally, 80% live in developing nations, and in the U.S., they make up over half of those living in long-term poverty. Despite this, they are often treated as an afterthought—rarely seen as founders, leaders, or innovators. Entrepreneurship offers a clear path to independence and inclusion—but remains largely inaccessible due to a lack of business knowledge, networks, and capital. Those who do launch ventures are often left isolated and unsupported. But a shift is happening. Disabled entrepreneurs are building inclusive, high-impact businesses. Entrepreneurs are demanding better tools, flexible funding, and a new way of supporting innovation. Our solution answers this call. We offer a scalable digital ecosystem—combining micro-learning, peer mentorship, and community support—to help entrepreneurs with disabilities not just launch businesses, but thrive.