Pathways to Zero Barriers

By Zero Project

Do you have a product or initiative that removes barriers for persons with disabilities? How can you expand or scale it to benefit more people?

Pathways to Zero Barriers takes you on a global journey ... more

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FAQs about Pathways to Zero Barriers:

How many episodes does Pathways to Zero Barriers have?

The podcast currently has 31 episodes available.

Pathways to Zero Barriers episodes:

December 03, 2025 Escaping nonprofit fatigue with Rebecca Hume
How do innovators stay motivated, balanced, and resilient when building solutions for inclusion in high-stakes environments?
In this episode, host Tom Butcher speaks with Rebecca “Becca” Hume, Founder and CEO of Inclutech and developer of the TapSOS app. Becca shares the ten-year journey behind building an inclusive, accessible way for people to contact emergency services, especially those who are deaf, non-verbal, or otherwise face communication barriers.
From a formative moment with a deaf colleague at age 16 to UK government accreditation and global scale-up ambitions, Rebecca reflects on the personal and professional milestones that shaped her path.
Resources & Links
🔗 Programme website: scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org
📄Transcript
✅ Key takeaways
🌐 Guest: Becca Hume
📩 Contact: Tapsos.com
Brought to you by
The Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, and Access to Success.
Credits
Host: Thomas Butcher
Production: Małgorzata Grobelna, Alessandro Gobello, and Judith Hermetter
Audio Engineering: Antina Zlatkova - Mediengarten
...more
32min
November 19, 2025 Milestones of the head and the heart with Rob van de Ven
How do innovators stay motivated, focused, and resilient while bringing a deeply human-centred solution to life? In this episode, host Tom Butcher reconnects with Rob van de Ven, Co-Founder of HappyBots and Zero Project Scaling Solutions alumnus, to explore the milestones—both strategic and emotional—that have shaped the journey of Felix, the social robot helping children communicate their feelings.
Rob shares the challenges of scaling a social enterprise in a niche disability-innovation market, the importance of partnerships, the power of celebrating small wins, and why staying focused on the core problem—rather than adding endless features—is essential for impact.
Resources & Links
🔗 Programme website: scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org
📄 Transcript
✅ Key Takeaways
🌐 Guest: Rob Van de Ven - HappyBots
📩 Contact: [email protected]
Brought to you by
The Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, and Access to Success.
Credits
Host: Thomas Butcher
Production: Małgorzata Grobelna, Alessandro Gobello, and Judith Hermetter
Audio Engineering: Antina Zlatkova - Mediengarten

...more
29min
November 05, 2025 Readiness to scale with Varun Chandak
How do you know when your innovation is ready to scale? In this episode, host Thomas Butcher speaks with Varun Chandak, Founder and Executive Director of Access to Success and the new implementation partner of the Zero Project Scaling Solutions Programme.
Varun shares his personal journey into disability innovation, what “readiness to scale” really means, and the key factors that influence whether a solution can grow—across countries, markets, and communities.

Resources & Links
🔗 Programme website: scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org
📄 Transcript
✅ Key Takeaways
🌐 Guest: Varun Chandak – Access to Success
📩 Contact: [email protected]
Brought to you by
The Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, and Access to Success.
Credits:
Host: Thomas Butcher
Production: Małgorzata Grobelna, Alessandro Gobello, and Judith Hermetter
Audio Engineering: Antina Zlatkova / Mediengarten

...more
31min
July 09, 2025Scaling for dignified employment, sustainability, and autonomy
Brief Summary
In today's episode, Ana Yolanda from PanQAyuda shares how they pivoted during the COVID pandemic, creating a cricket-based superfood and landing a deal with an airline, all while staying true to their mission of dignified employment for persons with disabilities. Joined by Maria Ignacia from Fundación Descúbreme, they will explore what role do regional partnerships and local knowledge play when supporting inclusive innovations like PanQAyuda across Latin America.
Download Transcript
PDF: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E17_PanQAyuda_Descubreme_Transcript.pdf]
Word: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E17_PanQAyuda_Descubreme_Transcript.docx]
Guest information
Ana Yolanda Lopez Dominguez, Director General, PanQAyuda
Maria Ignacia Rodriguez, Deputy Manager, International Cooperation at Fundación Descúbreme
The key questions addressed in this episode are:
What challenges PanQAyuda faced during expansion — and how they overcame them?
What are the success stories from one of the regional expansions — and how they measured its impact?
What to do when something doesn’t go as planned?
Call to Action
Subscribe today for more insights into scaling disability-inclusive innovations.
Links to Mentioned Resources
PanQAyuda Website [https://panqayuda.com.mx]
Fundación Descúbreme Website [https://www.descubreme.cl]
Zero Project Scaling Solutions website: [scaling-solutions.zeroproject.org]
Contact Information
For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [email protected]
Sponsor/Partner Info
This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
...more
35min
June 25, 2025Founders with disabilities on leaderships, team dynamics, and business model shifts
Brief Summary
What does it take to lead as a founder with a disability? Not just at launch, but as your team scales and your product evolves. Hear from Ali Shabbar, the CEO of DeafTawk and Walter Tsui, the Co-Founder and CEO of CareER Association, about finding a leadership style, shifting from grand entrepreneur to a revenue mindset, and why you should love the problem you're solving..
Download Transcript
PDF: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E16_DeafTawk_Walter_Tsui.pdf]
Word: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E16_DeafTawk_Walter_Tsui.docx]
Guest Information
Ali Shabbar, CEO, DeafTawk
Walter Tsui, Co-Founder and CEO, CareER Association
The Key Questions Addressed in this Episode are:
What are one of DeafTawk’s most defining international expansion moments?
What are some of the biggest challenges organizations face when transferring accessibility services across borders?
When expanding into a new country, how do you assess whether your solution will fit culturally and operationally?
When working with DeafTawk, what stood out to you about how they navigated partnerships or adaptation during scaling efforts?
Looking back, is there a particular “lesson learned the hard way” that now shapes how you approach every new project or region?
What’s one insight or reflection you would offer to any organization preparing for its first major international transfer of services?
Call to Action
Subscribe today for more insights into scaling disability-inclusive innovations.
Links to Resources:
DeafTawk Website: [https://www.deaftawk.com/]
Walter Tsui’s personal website: [https://www.waltertsui.hk/]
Contact Information
For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [[email protected]]
Sponsor/Partner Info
This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
...more
29min
June 11, 2025Managing Risks when Scaling Access to Education
Brief Summary
How to manage risks and challenges when expanding access to education? Drawing on EduDown’s 25 years of experience, Paula Giacosa, EduDown’s National Director discusses the importance of adapting to regional cultural contexts, forming strategic local alliances, and engaging families as key partners. The episode also explores how social innovation, including circular economy approaches and AI, can help remove barriers, and highlights EduDown’s expansion goals to reach more regions in Chile and beyond.
Download Transcript
PDF: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E15_EduDown_Transcript.pdf]
Word: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E15_EduDown_Transcript.docx]
Guest Information
Paula Giacosa, National Director, EduDown
The Key Questions Addressed in this Episode are:
When expanding to regions with limited resources, what risks have been most important to anticipate and manage?
How to navigate the balance between exciting opposrtunities and the real challenges that underserved regions present?
Looking ahead, what goals can inspire organisations to expand inclusive education on a global scale?
Call to Action
Subscribe today for more insights into scaling disability-inclusive innovations.
Links to Mentioned Resources:
EduDown’s Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/edudownoficial/]
EduDown’s LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/company/edudown]
Paula Giacosa’s LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-giacosa-aa0a1a15a/]
Contact Information
For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [[email protected]]
Sponsor/Partner Info
This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
...more
23min
May 28, 2025Smart Design at Scale: Making Visual Content Inclusive and Sustainable
Brief Summary
What if accessibility and sustainability were embedded in design from the start? This conversation explores how Equivalent SVG is reshaping the future of inclusive visual content through scalable, smart SVG graphics. CEO Heather Neff shares how her lived experience as a designer with disabilities drives the creation of SVGs that adapt to users' accessibility settings—making graphics not just inclusive, but energy-efficient too. With insights from Carrie Chow of Atos, the episode highlights how strategic partnerships, user-centered innovation, and executive buy-in can scale accessible tech across sectors. Tune in to hear how smart design can reduce barriers, carbon footprints, and digital exclusion—all at once.
Download Transcript
PDF: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E14_Equivalent_Atos_Transcript.pdf]
Word: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E14_Equivalent_Atos_Transcript.docx]
Guest Information
Heather Neff, CEO, Equivalent SVG
Carrie Chow, Global Accessibility Evangelist, Atos.
The Key Questions Addressed in this Episode are:
What are the challenges of scaling graphics technology-driven solutions into different markets?
What are the primary issues or barriers to anticipate when this kind of technology is introduced to the world?
What is Equivalent’s long-term vision for integrating Smart SVG into global accessibility standards?
Call to Action
Subscribe today for more insights into scaling disability-inclusive innovations.
Links to Mentioned Resources:
Equivalent’s website: https://equivalentsvg.io/
Heather Neff’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathersneff/
Contact Information
For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [[email protected]]
Sponsor/Partner Info
This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
...more
36min
May 14, 2025Designing to Scale: Building Inclusive Innovation Networks
Brief Summary
What if scaling was part of the plan from day one? This conversation explores TOM Global's bold approach to global collaboration, why networks matter more than partnerships, and how values shape every yes and no along the way. Join in the conversation with Gideon (Gidi) Grinstein from TOM Global and Ron Sargent from Prama Global to hear their advice on building impactful networks.
Download Transcript
PDF: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E13_TOM_Gidi_Ron_Transcript.pdf]
Word: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E13_TOM_Gidi_Ron_Transcript.docx]
Guest Information
Gideon (Gidi) Grinstein, Founder of the Reut Group and Founder and President of TOM Global
Ron Sargent, Executive Director, Prama Global
The Key Questions Addressed in this Episode are:
How do you build a support network that spans local and international levels?
How do partnerships help maintain shared disability inclusion values?
What is essential for maintaining partnerships as your initiative scales?
Call to Action
Subscribe today for more insights into scaling disability-inclusive innovations.
Links to Mentioned Resources:
TOM Global Website: [https://tomglobal.org/]
Contact Information
For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [[email protected]]
Sponsor/Partner Info
This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
...more
28min
April 30, 2025Designing Dignity: Scaling Inclusive Playgrounds and adaptive fashion in India
Brief Summary
How do you scale inclusion without losing sight of community? In this episode, we explore what it takes to design for dignity—from inclusive playgrounds that prioritize local voices to adaptive fashion that redefines access in India. We hear from Aditi Agrawal, Co-Founder of Gudgudee, and advisor Mehul Pancholi about the power of partnerships, cultural adaptation, and why listening is as important as innovation.
Download Transcript
PDF: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E12_Aditi_Mehul_Transcript.pdf]
Word: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E12_Aditi_Mehul_Transcript.docx]
Guest Information
Aditi Agrawal, Co-Founder of Gudgudee, a design studio specializing in inclusive play spaces in India.
Mehul Pancholi, Advisor on inclusive design and community engagement, supporting scale-up efforts through localized strategies.
The Key Questions Addressed in this Episode are:
How do you identify and build partnerships that support inclusive design goals?
What role do local communities play in shaping successful playgrounds and adaptive products?
How can cultural context shift the direction of design—without compromising inclusion?
Call to Action
Subscribe today for more insights into scaling disability-inclusive innovations.
Links to Mentioned Resources:
Gudgudee Website: [https://www.gudgudee.in]
Gudgudee Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/studio_gudgudee]
Contact Information
For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [[email protected]]
Sponsor/Partner Info
This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
...more
32min
April 16, 2025Designing Against Silence: Scaling Safety Tech with Women with Disabilities
Brief Summary
How do you grow a safety solution in a system that wasn’t designed to protect you? In this episode, we hear from the team behind App Morada—a platform co-designed with women with disabilities to address gender-based violence in Mexico. From building trust to navigating policy gaps, we explore what it takes to grow a local innovation without losing sight of the people it's built for.
Download Transcript
PDF: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E11_CIDIP_Yereli-Valeria_Transcript.pdf]
Word: [https://zeroproject.org/fileadmin/root_zeroproject/ZPSCALE/podcasts/Pathways_transcripts/Pathways_E11_CIDIP_Yereli-Valeria_Transcript.docx]
Guest Information
Valeria Duflot, a Fractional Executive, Impact Advisor, and Scaling Solutions Programme Advisor.
Yereli Rolander, Executive Director at the Interdisciplinary Center for Rights, Childhood, and Parenthood (CIDIP) in Mexico.
Adriana Garcia, Administrator at the Interdisciplinary Center for Rights, Childhood, and Parenthood (CIDIP) in Mexico.
They Key Questions Addressed in this Episode are:
How do partnerships contribute to expanding the Morada App to new regions?
What are the challenges in aligning partner goals with the app's mission?
How do you build and maintain a strong support network for your policy work?
Call to Action
Subscribe today for in-depth conversations on scaling impactful solutions worldwide.
Links to Mentioned Resources:
CIDIP Website: [https://cidip.org.mx]
CIDIP Facebook: [https://www.facebook.com/CidipDerechos]
CIDIP Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/c.i.d.i.p/]
Contact Information
For questions or feedback, reach out to us at: [[email protected]]
Sponsor/Partner Info
This episode is brought to you by the Zero Project with the support of the Essl Foundation, Fundación Descúbreme, GIZ on behalf of BMZ, Atos, EnAble India, and Inclusive Creation.
...more
40min

FAQs about Pathways to Zero Barriers:

How many episodes does Pathways to Zero Barriers have?

The podcast currently has 31 episodes available.