Adaptation Ventures

What Adaptation Ventures does

Adaptation Ventures LLC is a U.S.-domiciled, privately held pre-seed venture capital fund founded in 2025 and co-founded by Managing Partner Brittany Palmer and Co-founder Rich Palmer. The firm invests exclusively in early-stage companies developing software and hardware technologies for disability, neurodivergence, caregiving, and diagnostics, anchored to a thesis that 2 billion people globally live with significant disability and that the disability community and its supporters control approximately $18 trillion in annual spending power — a market the fund describes as the world's largest overlooked category, receiving less than 1% of venture capital.

The fund's core "product" is capital plus curated ecosystem access at the pre-seed stage, with selective co-investment in seed rounds. Operating mechanics include a self-serve website application portal, quarterly pitch forums accepting up to four companies per meeting, a 2-3 week diligence cycle, and structured conference-driven sourcing across CES, ATIA, CSUN, Disability:IN, Neurotech Frontiers Summit, and other venues. Supporting infrastructure comprises the Adaptation Ventures Journal newsletter, a public resource library (pitching guides, reading list, investor catalog, accelerator directory, conference calendar, white papers), and partnerships with Perkins School for the Blind's Howe Innovation Center, Disability:IN, Ability Lane, MassBio, New England VC Association, and Babson College.

The revenue model is traditional venture fund economics: management fees on committed LP capital and carried interest on successful portfolio exits via acquisition or IPO, with the fund targeting market-rate returns alongside measurable social impact. Founders do not pay to apply or pitch. The fund does not develop proprietary technology products; its competitive advantage is sourced from the founders' lived disability experience (limb difference, brain aneurysm recovery, neurodivergence), prior exits (Beeyonder, Gravyty), and a curated network of disability-focused co-investors, accelerators (Remarkable, 2Gether-International, AARP Innovation Labs, ATS Labs, TechStars Equitech), and user-community partners that portfolio companies can access.

Name

Adaptation Ventures

Legal name

Adaptation Ventures LLC

Website

https://adaptation.vc

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Adaptation Ventures is a 2025-vintage U.S. pre-seed venture capital fund that invests in early-stage software and hardware companies serving disability, neurodivergence, caregiving, and diagnostics markets, providing capital, diligence, and ecosystem access to founders in these verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)

Keywords

• Venture capital fund
• Pre-seed investing
• Disability tech
• Neurodivergence investing
• Assistive technology

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Venture Capital Returns (Carried Interest): The fund generates returns through traditional venture capital economics: carried interest on successful portfolio exits, which typically occur through acquisitions or IPOs. The fund targets market-rate returns alongside measurable impact.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Adaptation Ventures is a pre-seed venture capital fund that invests in early-stage startups developing technologies for disability, neurodivergence, caregiving, and diagnostics. The fund leads pre-seed rounds and co-invests in seed rounds, providing capital along with network access, mentorship, subject-matter expertise, and syndication support to founders. It targets venture-scale returns by addressing an underserved $18 trillion market serving 2 billion people with disabilities globally.

Product overview

Adaptation Ventures is a pioneering pre-seed venture capital fund that invests in next-generation disability, neurodivergence, caregiving, and diagnostics technology companies serving 2 billion people with disabilities and $18 trillion in global spending power. The firm operates as a fund management company rather than a technology product company. Its investment thesis centers on the 'curb cut effect' — products built for people with disabilities often serve broader markets. The fund deploys capital at the pre-seed stage, leads initial investment rounds, and co-invests in seed rounds, while providing portfolio companies with network access, mentorship, and resource connections across the disability and accessibility innovation ecosystem. The fund does not manufacture or sell technology products; rather it provides equity investment and support services to early-stage startups in the disability tech space.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 9x ROI on assistive technology spending
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Perkins School for the Blind / Howe Innovation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerkins School for the Blind's Howe Innovation Center connects entrepreneurs with ecosystem partners, users, and serves as a potential test bed. Brittany Palmer serves on the Innovation Steering Committee for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is an Advisory Group Member for the Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind. Adaptation Ventures co-hosts events with Perkins including the DisabilityTech Investor Summit.
• Disability:INcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerDisability:IN is the premier organization for disability inclusion in business. Adaptation Ventures attended the 2025 Global Conference & Expo where Brittany spoke on early-stage investing. The annual conference brings together Fortune 100/500 executives committed to advancing disability inclusion.
• New England VC AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of the DisabilityTech Investor Summit with Perkins Innovation Center and MassBio, bringing together investors and startups in the disability tech space.
• MassBiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-host of the DisabilityTech Investor Summit with Perkins Innovation Center and New England VC Association.
• Babson CollegeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRich Palmer serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Babson College and adjunct professor of New Venture Creation. The team participated in Babson Generator Build-a-thon 2026 with 35 schools and 500+ students.
• Museum of Science (Boston)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrittany was a featured speaker at the 'DisabilityTech: Innovation for an Accessible Future' event hosted by the Museum of Science and Perkins School for the Blind.
• DisAbled Life AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports startups, nonprofits and social enterprises with philanthropic capital, stakeholder engagement and innovation readiness. Listed as a helpful organization for founders.
• IMPACT Center at University of PittsburghminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides tools and approaches for entrepreneurs and researchers to turn assistive tech ideas into impactful solutions. Listed as a helpful organization for founders.
• Forge ImpactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps innovators with physical products transition from prototype to commercialization at scale. Critical for hardware portfolio companies. Listed as a helpful organization for founders.
• RemarkablecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerator providing startups focused on disability market with coaches, mentors, feedback from users and other tailored offerings. Listed as a recommended accelerator for founders.
• 2Gether-InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports high-growth, high-impact startups led by people with disabilities through mentorship, peer support, and their network of founders. Listed as a recommended accelerator.
• Multiple / AgeTech CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with startups and investors to discover big ideas that change how people live as they age. Listed as a recommended accelerator.
• AARP Innovation LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAARP's innovation accelerator focused on aging and disability tech. Listed as a recommended accelerator. AARP has significantly expanded its presence at CES.
• Tech Stars: EquitechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccelerator for founders from underestimated communities and startups developing tech that increases access and equity. Listed as a recommended accelerator.
• ATS LabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada's leading accelerator for accessibility startups with sessions on inclusive design and marketing. Listed as a recommended accelerator.
• Ability LanecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCentralized home for disability-focused innovation launched to bring accessible tech startups, community members, users, caregivers, and investors together. Described as 'Product Hunt+ for the disability innovation space'. Fidelity Private Shares is a sponsor.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Arc Capital Development: A VC firm investing in education, special needs, and workforce development companies. A direct peer operating in the disability and special-needs investing space.
• Difference Partners: A VC firm investing in companies that improve the lives of those who learn and think differently. Comparable as a specialist fund in the neurodivergence/disability vertical with overlapping deal sourcing.
• CSD Social Venture Fund: A VC firm investing in startups sparking social change, focused on deaf/hard-of-hearing. A direct peer in the niche disability-tech investing space.
• K Ventures: A VC firm investing in companies serving those with intellectual and learning disabilities. Directly comparable as a specialist in disability-tech with overlapping thesis.
• Autism Impact Fund: A VC firm investing in mental health with emphasis on Autism Spectrum Disorder and related conditions. Directly comparable as a specialist neurodisability-focused fund competing for the same founder pool.
• Samaritan Partners: A VC firm investing in companies providing products and services to or employment opportunities for people with disabilities. A direct peer in the disability-tech venture space.
• Enable Ventures: A venture capital firm investing in companies that help close the disability wealth gap and co-hosts the Disability Innovation Summit with Adaptation Ventures. It is the closest direct comparable — a specialist disability-focused VC fund operating in the same thesis area.

Emerging players

• Primetime Partners: A VC firm investing in companies transforming quality of living for older adults. Adjacent thematic peer — age-tech overlaps heavily with disability-tech at the caregiving/diagnostics intersection.

Others

• AgeTech Investor Network: A network of investors focused on companies shaping the future of aging. Ecosystem comparator — not a direct fund but a co-investor / syndication source in the age-disability overlap.

Broad incumbents

• MassMutual Catalyst Fund: A strategic fund investing in companies advancing economic and social mobility, with investments in longevity and aging. Comparable as a larger, more generalist impact investor with overlapping exposure to disability and aging themes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/adaptation-vc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Adaptation Ventures