Why Accessibility Isn’t Optional in Business (and What We’re Doing About It)

Why Accessibility Isn’t Optional in Business (and What We’re Doing About It)

When I started Inkie, it wasn’t because I loved business tools, tech, or even marketing. It was because I’d had enough, enough of feeling like I didn’t belong, like everything made for ‘successful’ entrepreneurs assumed you were confident, highly literate, comfortable with jargon and had hours to spare each week just to keep up. If you don’t tick those boxes, you’re left trying to fit yourself into a mould that was never designed for you. And I’m not the only one who knows how that feels: if you’re reading this, chances are you do too.

Accessibility is Essential, Not a Bonus

Let’s be brutally honest: so much of traditional business, especially the digital tools on offer, simply weren’t made with inclusion in mind. Accessibility gets tacked on, or left behind, because it’s seen as extra effort instead of being the bare minimum. That attitude leaves a huge number of founders and would-be entrepreneurs sidelined, from neurodivergent people to those with low literacy, low confidence, or little digital experience.

Here’s the truth: accessibility isn’t a side note. If your business or product isn’t accessible, it isn’t truly fit for purpose. Real inclusion isn’t about box ticking. It’s about designing from the ground up so everyone has a genuine shot at showing up as themselves, regardless of how they think, communicate, or learn.

Who Gets Left Out (And Why It Matters)

Younger me, undiagnosed, neurodiverse, muddling through school and business, felt invisible. I know how much energy goes into just keeping up when every tool feels like it’s in a foreign language. Research shows up to 40% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic, yet most platforms assume everyone is confident writing, reading, and navigating the jargon. Others struggle with digital confidence, or get overwhelmed by choice and complexity. This isn’t rare; it’s the reality for a massive part of the small business community.

Leaving people behind isn’t just a shame, it’s bad business. When tools or systems are hard to use, brilliant ideas are lost before they ever get off the ground. That’s not acceptable.

The Inkie Approach: Designed for Real People

So, why is Inkie different? Because we started by asking who’s missing, and why? I wanted a platform that my younger self could have used easily, one that didn’t bury me under lists, jargon, or endless boxes to fill out. Inkie is built specifically for:

• Founders who feel left out by conventional marketing tools

• Neurodivergent and non-traditional thinkers

• Anyone with low literacy or low confidence in their writing

• People who’ve been made to feel like they “just aren’t techy enough”

This isn’t a happy accident. It’s the why behind everything we do.

Accessibility Built In: Voice, Inclusivity, and Humanity

That commitment to accessibility runs through every part of Inkie. We’ve partnered with Joyfully Different, a brilliant community and consultancy championing neurodivergent founders and leaders, to make sure our platform isn’t just accessible in theory, but in practice. Thanks to support from the Innovation UK grant project, we’re rolling out new features that make accessibility central, not optional:

• Voice-led interaction: So you can literally speak your story. No typing required. No fear of spelling mistakes or blank page syndrome.

• Inclusive, easy design: Clear, welcoming chat interfaces instead of intimidating dashboards. Step-by-step guidance tailored to your pace.

• Human support, on your terms: Whether you want to chat with a real person, need a confidence boost, or just prefer talking to someone who “gets it”, we’re here, without judgement.

We’re building these tools with the people who use them, our tester recruitment is open for anyone who wants to shape the future of accessible business. (Find out how to apply on our Instagram profile.)

Accessibility is a Value, Not a Marketing Line

If there’s one thing I hope you take from this, it’s that accessibility is non-negotiable. Whether you’re a solo founder or scaling up, every person should feel that business-building is for them, not just those who fit a narrow definition of “entrepreneur”. And if you’re building something yourself, please know: building access in from the start doesn’t just help others, it enriches everything you do.

At Inkie, we’ll keep learning and evolving, always listening to those who are too often left out. Because accessibility isn’t an add-on. It’s the whole point.

Interested in helping shape a truly inclusive business platform? Partnerships like ours with Joyfully Different and the Innovation UK grant project depend on the voices and lived experience of people who’ve felt left out. That means you. Apply to join the Inkie testing group, details in our Instagram bio, or reach out and let us know your story. Let’s make business accessible for everyone, together.