Innovate in truly essential sectors

Entrepreneurship with purpose is no longer a trend but an imperative necessity. In a world where technology advances at a rapid pace, there emerges a unique opportunity for startups to not only generate economic value but also address real problems affecting millions of people. At Foloou.me, we have chosen the sector of visual impairment as our field of action, not by chance, but by conviction.

Throughout our journey developing indoor navigation solutions for people with visual impairments, we have discovered that venturing into truly necessary sectors involves unique challenges but also extraordinary opportunities that go beyond traditional success metrics.

A growing market with real needs

The accessibility sector is experiencing rapid growth, primarily driven by Title I of Law 11/2023, which transposes the European Directive 2019/882. This regulatory framework not only establishes legal obligations but also raises awareness about the importance of accessibility in all areas of society.

According to the World Health Organisation, over 1.3 billion people worldwide have some form of disability, and in Spain, this figure is around 4.38 million. However, what defines this market is not just the numbers but the unmet needs.

At Foloou.me, we began by focusing on visual impairment. However, we soon recognised that the need for indoor orientation extends to a more diverse group of people: those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), intellectual disabilities, psychological difficulties in spatial orientation, and the elderly benefit greatly from our solutions. In other words, our innovative voice-guided system offers companies the opportunity to transform their environments into accessible and inclusive spaces, effectively addressing the different orientation needs of these communities.

The adaptability of our application to cater to various types of disabilities has become one of our main competitive advantages. This experience has taught us that by addressing a real and profound problem, a much larger market can be discovered than initially imagined.

Specific barriers: beyond the technical

Entrepreneurship in the accessibility sector presents unique barriers not found in other technological sectors.

The main challenge we face is technological validation. Unlike a conventional application, where you can quickly iterate based on general feedback, our solutions require an exhaustive validation process with real users who have very specific needs.

Foundations and organisations in the sector have been instrumental in this process. Thanks to their specialised teams, we have been able to validate our technologies efficiently, something that would be impossible to replicate internally. This collaboration has not only improved our product but also provided us with a deep understanding of real needs.

Another considerable challenge is the complexity of the stakeholder ecosystem. We must persuade not only the users but also the organisations representing them, the companies that need to implement our solutions, and the regulatory bodies overseeing compliance. Each of these actors has entirely different motivations, timelines, and evaluation criteria.

The challenge of funding: investors with purpose

Funding for startups with a social purpose presents particular characteristics. There are investment funds specialising in impact and events specifically dedicated to social entrepreneurship. Although these funds prioritise social impact and evaluate indicators such as impact KPIs and business purpose, they also analyse conventional financial indicators like any other investment fund.

This duality demands that startups develop hybrid metrics integrating both business KPIs and impact KPIs. In our case, we measure not only growth in active users and retention but also the number of spaces that become accessible, the impact on the personal autonomy of people with disabilities, among others.

Moreover, the company must include its impact purpose in its statutes, which involves greater legal and operational complexity.

Being an impact company offers advantages, such as access to specific grants and visibility opportunities, but also presents additional challenges in terms of management and reporting.

Sustainable business models: the perfect balance

One of our greatest lessons has been understanding that the challenge lies not only in improving the efficiency of accessibility solutions but also in making them attractive and profitable for companies.

Initially, we focused on developing the best possible technology. However, we quickly realised that it was necessary to create a model in which all involved parties found tangible value.

This understanding led us to pivot towards a more sustainable business model. We simplified our approach by moving from a complex installation model to a more accessible and straightforward one. Now, we offer our application under a payment scheme where companies have the option to finance these solutions for foundations as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) campaigns.

This approach creates a virtuous circle: foundations access the technology for free, end users enjoy its benefits at no cost, and companies gain visibility and reinforce their CSR commitment.

Moreover, by demonstrating that their environments are accessible, companies can attract more customers. For us, this model represents a sustainable source of income that does not solely rely on the limited budgets of organisations dedicated to disability.

Scalability with purpose: beyond exponential growth

In purpose-driven entrepreneurship, scalability is not only measured in terms of users or revenue but also in the breadth and depth of impact. At Foloou.me, we have learned that scaling means not just reaching more people but also making more spaces accessible and encouraging more companies to adopt inclusive practices.

Current technology offers great opportunities to implement solutions that truly help people with disabilities. What is needed is ingenuity, willingness, and, above all, a deep understanding of real needs. It's not about applying technology for its sake, but using it as a tool to solve genuine problems.

Additionally, a crucial aspect of scalability in our sector is market education. Many companies still do not fully understand the benefits of accessibility, both from a social and commercial perspective. Therefore, part of our work is to advocate the importance of accessibility, not only as a legal obligation but also as a valuable business opportunity.

Final reflections: the future of purpose-driven entrepreneurship

Purpose-driven entrepreneurship in sectors such as disability represents a unique opportunity to create both economic and social value. However, it requires a different mindset, greater patience for product validation and development, and the ability to navigate complex ecosystems with multiple stakeholders.

At Foloou.me, we have learned that when you solve a real, profound, and genuine problem, the market responds. Users become evangelists of your product, sector organisations turn into strategic allies, and companies find value in partnering with you beyond a simple commercial transaction.

The future of purpose-driven entrepreneurship does not lie in choosing between social impact and economic viability but in finding smart business models that make both objectives mutually reinforcing. Technology is just a tool; what truly makes a difference is the willingness to address problems that genuinely matter.

For entrepreneurs considering venturing into sectors with social purpose, my advice is clear: the learning curve is steeper, the challenges are more complex, but the reward transcends the numbers. You are building something that truly matters, something that improves lives tangibly. And that, at the end of the day, is what makes all the effort worthwhile.