Digital accessibility platform Fable has raised $25 million in Series B funding to expand its mission of creating more inclusive technology. The round, led by Five Elms Capital, will help the Toronto-based startup tackle the growing need for accessible products in the age of AI.
Fable's platform connects companies with people with disabilities to test and provide feedback on digital products. This approach ensures that websites, apps, and other technologies are usable by everyone, including those with visual, motor, hearing, and cognitive impairments.
The funding comes at a critical time as AI rapidly transforms various industries. While AI has the potential to bridge accessibility gaps, it also risks perpetuating digital exclusion if not developed with inclusivity in mind.
Alwar Pillai, CEO and co-founder of Fable, emphasized this challenge: "AI is penetrating every field. This may be a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish new norms for accessibility that truly reduce the digital divide. But there's also a clear danger if we fail to embrace inclusive design in AI."
To address this, Fable plans to use the new capital to:
- Expand its tester community to include individuals with hearing and cognitive disabilities
- Develop AI accessibility best practices
- Create inclusive datasets for AI training
- Offer specialized training for R&D teams on accessible AI
The company already works with major tech giants like Microsoft, Meta, and Walmart. Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Microsoft's Chief Accessibility Officer, highlighted the value of this collaboration: "Fable's work has been valuable in helping us bridge the disability divide through their community of accessibility testers and training solutions."
Fable's approach goes beyond compliance, focusing on how inclusive design can benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities and aiming to make inclusive design the norm for every product team. This shift is crucial, as traditional research methods often overlook the needs of people with disabilities, who make up a significant portion of the global population.
Also, by expanding into the areas of cognitive and hearing accessibility, Fable aims to address the diverse needs of nearly 20% of the global population affected by hearing loss and the 13% of Americans who could benefit from cognitive accessibility solutions. The company is also leading a new Cognitive Accessibility Working Group to establish best practices for involving individuals with cognitive disabilities in product development.
The funding will also support Fable's global expansion, particularly in Europe, where new regulations like the European Accessibility Act will soon require accessible digital experiences.
Fable's $25 million Series B funding is a significant milestone, not just for the company, but for the broader movement towards digital inclusivity. As more companies integrate AI into their products, it is important that we ensure that accessibility is embedded at every stage of product development, helping to close the digital divide and create a more inclusive world for everyone.