Understanding motivations of entrepreneurs in the assistive technology market

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Fels, D.I.^{; *} | Gedeon, S.A.

Affiliations: Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Deborah Fels, Ryerson University, 350 Victoria St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5B 2K3. Tel.: +1 416 979 5000 ext. 7619; Fax: +1 416 979 5249; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Businesses in the assistive technology (AT) sector tend to be oriented to small, niche markets and can have lower profits and higher risk than those targeting large, mainstream markets. We carried out a study to examine the motivations and business practices of entrepreneurs in the AT market. It appears that a majority of AT entrepreneurs would be considered social entrepreneurs and are motivated by social factors such as helping society and people with disabilities rather than profit in starting and maintain their AT business. In addition, this personal motivation seems to translate into the achievement and expectation of social goals in monitoring company performance and in selecting supply chain partners.

Keywords: Social entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship, assistive technology, disability products

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2011-0314

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 53-64, 2011