At the height of the Covid-19 lockdown, many of us suddenly felt a sense of wanderlust in the face of travel restrictions. For Brittany Palmer, a bilateral amputee, the lockdown caused her to reflect on access issues affecting people with disabilities.
Palmer created Beeyonder, a platform that offers more than 450 virtual tours from around the world.
“I created Beeyonder because I love to travel and experience new places and cultures, but as someone with a disability who experiences severe joint pain when walking long distances, I understand what it’s like to have conditions and be in situations that prevent or limit travel,” Palmer wrote on the Beeyonder website. “I wanted to provide people with the ability to see the world, regardless of their situation.”
The platform, which launched in December 2020, allows users to remotely follow along and ask questions as local experts lead walking tours of unique destinations like Venice, Italy; Siem Reap, Cambodia; and Canada’s Banff National Park. The tours, which span more than 55 countries, often have historical and cultural themes. One virtual presentation, for example, explores Argentina’s LGBTQ+ history.
Palmer is one of eight early-stage tech startup founders chosen to participate in 2Gether-International, a nine-week accelerator for entrepreneurs with disabilities. According to a spokesperson for 2Gether-International, Palmer is unable to participate in this cohort.
Keevin O’Rourke, 2Gether-International’s managing director, said in a statement that the accelerator will provide the founders with resources, guidance and access to mentors and potential investors. The program, which began Monday and runs through May 22, will culminate in a pitch competition where entrepreneurs can earn up to $10,000 in seed funding.
“Our accelerator will complement their respective professional journeys, offering an enriching peer-to-peer and mentorship approach, as well as connections so our founders can potentially access additional capital to help to grow their companies,” O’Rourke said.
Other tech startups founded by individuals with disabilities participating in the program this year, including Mizaru co-founder Jason Corning, Symbionic co-founder and CEO Rishi Krishna, Therapy IQ co-founder and CEO Nate Maingi, Frenalytics co-founder and CEO Anthony Giovanniello, Firstly founder and CEO Kevin Hu, EVT founder and CEO Monal Parmar and AXS Lab founder and president Jason DaSilva.
