Aarti Sahgal, Synergies Work — Building an Inclusive Path to Entrepreneurship
Aarti Sahgal is the founder and CEO of Synergies Work, a nonprofit that bridges the opportunity gap between the disability community and the business world. As a mother and relentless advocate, Aarti has turned personal purpose into a national platform that helps entrepreneurs with disabilities start and grow real, sustainable businesses.
Why she matters: Aarti is reframing entrepreneurship as a way of life—and proving that with equitable support, founders with disabilities not only participate, they outperform. Through Synergies Work’s incubator, mentorship, and micro-grants, she’s unlocking talent that too often gets overlooked.
Key Takeaways from the Episode:
Equity over access: Thousands of accelerators exist, yet very few serve entrepreneurs with disabilities; Synergies Work fills that gap with purpose-built support.
Proven outcomes: While general small-business five-year survival hovers around 50%, Aarti cites research showing 65% for businesses started by entrepreneurs with disabilities—and Synergies Work’s incubator reports only 4% failure among its alumni.
Structured support that lasts: A 10-week cohort (Wednesdays) plus 1:1 Fridays, Demo Day with business leaders, impact grants, and two years of ongoing office hours and mentorship.
All disabilities, real businesses: From non-speaking autistic founders offering peer counseling, to blind web-accessibility pros, to a crocheter who turned calming craft into an Etsy shop—this is micro-entrepreneurship with ripple effects on employment.
Mindset wins: Entrepreneurship is about leveraging limitations into strengths; optimism, tenacity, and community connections are the secret ingredients.
Memorable Quote:
“Entrepreneurship is a way of life—looking at challenges not as challenges, but as opportunities for growth.”