Having access to software is becoming more of a necessity than a nice-to-have. Evinced is one of a wave of startups helping make that happen. The company plans to expand into Europe, where new accessibility regulations are about to go into effect, and has raised $55 million to fuel its expansion.
Evinced is a suite of tools that integrates into the entire software development stack and makes accessibility metrics and solutions available across the board. So when engineers build a UI or component, they don't have to wait for a monthly accessibility code review to find out it doesn't work with screen readers. Evinced's products monitor and flag processes and provide options on the fly.
As regulations and public opinion shift toward greater accessibility (a broad term that includes all types of disabilities and access issues), companies that have traditionally championed this principle are in pole position to grow their businesses.
“Technology trends are in our favor, legal trends are in our favor. Everyone knows this market is real, and our approach is winning. ” said Navin Thadani, CEO and Founder of Evinced. He noted that many Fortune 500 companies are Evinced's customers.
Specifically, he said the approach is one that tightly integrates with developers' existing processes and is not occasional or artificial. “We have expanded across the entire development lifecycle, from component library design and development to testing and operational monitoring.”
“There are many other service-like companies that offer advice on programs, devices, and products. There are also testing and auditing companies. But no one looks like us right now. “Right now, we are still the only pure technology company in the accessibility space,” Sadani asserted.
There is no doubt that his company is one of the most financially resourceful. Evinced raised $17 million in its early years in 2021 and another $38 million in 2022 to build its tools. And now we have this $55 million C round led by Insight Partners with participation from M12, BGV, Capital One Ventures, Engineering Capital, and new investor Vertex Ventures.
Mr Thadani was very clear about where this money was going, which undoubtedly pleased investors. “My company has a very specific plan, with three key investment areas,” he explained.
EvinceD CEO Navin Sadani Image credit: Evinced
The first is research and development, where Evinced is focused on building its generative AI product portfolio. Of course, we all do this to some extent, but coding with a focus on accessibility is where assistant AI can really help.
The second is “customer success,” or ongoing engagement with existing customers who need support, new products, etc. And the third is expansion into Europe.
“We have just passed the EAA and it will come into force in June 2025. Anyone doing business in Europe needs to have access to all their assets. This is a big deal and obviously This is a huge tailwind for our business,” said Sadani. “But a local market is a local market. You have to have sales and support on the ground. Europe is big, so you have to invest properly.”
As companies continue to realize that building with accessibility in mind is not just a law, but a good idea, we expect to see an acceleration in the adoption of accessibility-focused tools like Evinced.