A trans-local program across Asia Pacific to elevate disability-led communities towards a more accessible entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Opening the Door to
Inclusive Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship ecosystems across Southeast Asia are growing fast. Yet for people with disabilities, the doors to those ecosystems are often closed, not by intent, but by overlooked design. Physical spaces, digital platforms, and support programs routinely exclude the very people who have the most to gain and to offer. Elevate exists to change that by mainstreaming accessibility.
This work is not new to us, first publishing Towards Inclusive Access with UNESCAP in 2024, to running BEAM, our first incubation program for women entrepreneurs with disabilities across three countries in 2025. Now, with the support of The Nippon Foundation, Elevate brings our disability inclusion work to four more countries across Asia, breaking down further barriers to access and opportunity.
People with disabilities are agents of change for economic
growth and innovation
Echoing our global network’s commitment, Elevate works with local ecosystem partners to improve physical spaces, make digital tools more accessible, and redesign support programs, ensuring that our spaces and communities actively and intentionally include people with disabilities.
We work across Jakarta, Manila, Phnom Penh, and Yangon to bring this work to life, grounded in local action and collaboration to expand opportunities for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
The Elevate Journey
Phase 1
Building the foudation
We begin by listening and working directly alongside disability-led communities to remove barriers across physical spaces, digital platforms, and program design.
More accessible spaces and stronger community belonging
Phase 2
Tailored Support
With accessible foundations in place, we deliver targeted incubation and mentorship o upskill entrepreneurs with disabilities and entrepreneurs providing impactful solutions to unlock positive economic and social outcomes.
Increased capacity and tangible entrepreneurial growth
Phase 3
Amplifying Impact
Our Content and Learning Hub provides a collection of lessons learned, best practices, and tailored support for organisations to adopt and scale disability-inclusive enterpreneurship.
A sustainable learning network for inclusive ecosystems
Year 1: Community at the Center
Inclusion doesn’t happen in isolation. We create and host accessible spaces for gathering,
honest listening, and meaningful collaboration to connect entrepreneurs with disabilities
to a wider network of innovators, partners, and changemakers across Asia Pacific.
“The Community Connect event, organized by the incredible The Spark Project and partners, was truly a wonderful experience. It was great catching up with my good friends from different participating organizations, making new ones, and sharing ideas to one another as part of our mutual goals to advocate for a more inclusive society for people of all abilities.”
Clarence, Best Buddies Philippines Ambassador, Nathan Studios Promo Team Member
Our impact so far
people engaged from 4 cities to shape the program from entrepreneurs with disabilities, organization of people with disabilities (OPDs), accessibility consultants
accessible facilities added in 4 spaces
accessibility assessments completed to improve physical space, digital platform, and event hosting
digital platforms made accessible
Our partners in change
Our accessibility experts
In our inclusion journey, we worked alongside consultants and individual experts, deepening our understanding of accessibility through training and guiding improvements across our physical and digital spaces through access consultations.
Connect with our team
Are you a local ESO or OPD?
We’re open to explore new opportunities
and collaborations for this initiative.
Have questions about the program?
Discover how we’re making entrepreneurship
across Asia more accessible for everyone.