Hi Playmakers,

I want to take a break from the economic breakdowns and hot takes this week to share something more personal. It’s something I don’t talk about often, but it’s shaped every part of who I am — as a daughter, a venture capitalist, and now as a mother.

My dad is blind.

He was born that way.

For most of his life, the world has been relatively unreachable. Growing up, I didn’t think much of it. I was used to reading every label, planning every errand, driving him everywhere, and guiding him through every new place. He doesn’t know what I look like, nor has he ever seen my son Roman’s face.

But in the last few years, something incredible happened.

Technology finally caught up to him.

When Google Home came out, I preordered it immediately. I hoped it might make life a little easier. I was right. It opened up his world.

Then three years ago, he got his first iPhone — and sent his first text message at more than 60 years old. Within days, he was texting nonstop like the rest of us.

And today, he’s obsessed with his Meta Ray-Ban AI glasses. For him, these aren’t fun gadgets. For you and me, tech is convenience. For someone like my dad, it’s everything.

That’s why growing up with a blind father shaped who I am as a person and a venture capitalist. Learning how to adapt to these challenges first-hand has become a topic I cover often on LinkedIn or in my keynotes.

But here’s the thing: Accessibility isn’t a charity or a niche. It’s a massive, underserved market.

The global disability technology market was valued at more than $22 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to over $32 billion by 2030. Why? Simply put, the world is getting more disabled, as more and more people age. Vision loss alone is expected to increase by 55% by 2050.

There are 1.3 billion people globally living with a disability. Together, they represent more than $8 trillion in buying power. Many of the biggest consumer innovations of the past 20 years — voice assistants, text messaging, closed captions — were born from accessibility needs before going mainstream.

With AI, we’re about to see that pattern accelerate. There are even new VCs and angel investor syndicates launching to help accelerate technology for disabilities.

Founders who build for inclusivity won’t just do the right thing. They’ll build better, bigger, more universal products that reach that $8 trillion dollars in buying power. It’s simply good business.

So my ask to you this week is simple:

Don’t forget people like my dad. Your next feature could change someone’s life.

And, if you’re interested in hearing more about this story in my new keynote series, drop me a line. I’m booking out 2026 now.

Jenny

P.S. Was this breakdown helpful? Make sure to forward it to colleagues and friends.

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Shanea grew up in Baltimore and learned early that creating her own path was the only way forward. By nineteen, she had already launched her first business while earning dual degrees in Computer Science and Business.

After college, she set her sights on Google but was rejected four times. She kept going and finally got in on her fifth attempt, beginning a career across Google, eBay, Cloudflare, and more.

That experience lit a fire. She founded her own company, sold it, and today is building Empromptu AI to challenge an AI world run by a select few. She ignored the hype and focused on technology that works, giving thousands of people, especially women, the power to build real AI.

Meet Shanea Leven, co-founder and CEO of Empromptu AI.

Instead of gifting more stuff, I challenge you to teach someone you love how to use a piece of technology that could genuinely improve their life.

Help your mom set up voice commands on her phone.
Get your partner comfortable with AI tools that save them time.
Teach your grandparents how to video call, text, or use accessibility features.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to unlock something for them.

The challenge is simple: Give someone the gift of capability, not consumption.

This week’s spotlight goes to Emily Calandrelli aka @SpaceGal. Many know Emily as an astronaut and science educator for kids, but this week’s I’m spotlighting her for something completely different: her new legislative win in Congress!

After travelling as a breastfeeding mom recently, Emily was subjected to scrutiny from the TSA when carrying her chilled breastmilk through security. After sharing her story online, she learned that she was one of hundreds of stories of moms who had struggled to get through breastmilk through the TSA — despite it being legally allowed.

So, what did Emily do? She went to Congress! After working with Rep. Eric Swalwell on the effort for the past three years, the House of Representatives passed the Bottles and Breastfeeding Equipment Screening (BABES) Enhancement Act — a new legislation to protect mothers transporting breastmilk — unanimously on November 17.

Want to be featured next?

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