April 11 marks the 2nd annual EDDIE Awards, an event hosted by Synergies Work that recognizes and celebrates entrepreneurs with disabilities from across the nation. This is why we thought this would be a great time to talk to Synergies Work CEO and Founder Aarti Sahgal about the nonprofit, its important work, and its mission of building one world where people with disabilities belong.
Hi, Aarti! Can you tell us more about Synergies Work?
AS: Synergies Work is dedicated to bridging the disability wealth gap by nurturing entrepreneurship within the disability community. We’re the largest startup hub in the United States for disability-led businesses and to date have served over 300 founders through our accelerator and incubator programs. By supporting founders at every stage of their journey, we’re working to build an ecosystem for disabled founders to thrive.
This short video tells more about our mission and story.
Synergies Work is gearing up for its 2nd annual EDDIE Awards on April 11. What are the EDDIEs?
AS: We’re excited about our upcoming EDDIE Awards as we see it not just as an awards event but as giving visibility to a wide range of talented people with disabilities.
The EDDIE Awards (Entrepreneurs Dedicated to Diverse & Inclusive Excellence) highlight the significant contributions of these entrepreneurs, who are championing inclusivity, changing perceptions, and inspiring others to succeed.
To learn more about this year’s EDDIE Awards, including ticket information, go here.
You just announced a partnership with Synergies SEED Fund. What is this and why is there a need for it?
AS: The reality is that, often due to barriers in the labor market, people with disabilities are more likely to start their own business compared to their non-disabled peers—yet they are also more likely to fail due to lack of access to fair sources of capital and support. Synergies SEED Fund is a new 501(c)(3) community development financial institution (CDFI) offering loans to help address the unique financial challenges faced by entrepreneurs with disabilities.
Synergies Work’s affiliation and close collaboration with Synergies SEED Fund will give its loan recipients full access to our services, including our award-winning programs, mentor matching, and personalized coaching to help place them on a trajectory for success.
Synergies Work has received a number of accolades—can you name some of them?
We’ve received the Dave Hammis Innovation Award from the APSE (Association of People Supporting Employment First) as well as 2nd Place and Audience Favorite grants from Truist Foundation’s Inspire Awards. Synergies Work is also part of the Moonshot Initiative in partnership with SmartJob and Enable Ventures which was announced at last year’s Clinton Global Initiative.
Is there a way to get involved in Synergies Work’s mission of enabling entrepreneurs with disabilities?
AS: Synergies Work and the Synergies SEED Fund are always in search of corporate-level donors and partners. For more information on ways to get involved, visit www.synergieswork.org or contact us at synergies@synergieswork.org.
Of course, simply attending the EDDIE Awards next month is also a great way to support us.
Thanks so much, Aarti, and best of luck with this year’s EDDIE Awards! (We also want to note that Aarti was recognized by Atlanta Magazine in its 2023 Women Making a Mark feature for her leadership achievements. Carabiner Communications is pleased to provide marketing and PR services to Synergies Work.)