Access app helping Oxford’s disabled wins £25,000 prize

The SociAbility App is the brainchild of former Oxford University student Matt Pierri.

It aims to make going out and socialising easier for people with access needs.

The App crowd-sources detailed information from users on the accessibility of shops and social venues, such as restaurants, bars, pubs and clubs.

Initially focused on Oxford, it aims to expand across the UK and, ultimately, internationally.

Mr Pierri came to Oxford from Australia in 2016 and completed a Master of Public Policy at the Blavatnik School and an MsC in Social Science of the Internet at the Oxford Internet Institute.

After suffering a spinal cord injury aged 16 in 2007 he became the founder members of the Oxford Accessibility Project, which has created an access guide to Oxford colleges.

He founded SociAbility in 2018, and has received support from the Oxford Foundry, where he has had access to a network of investors, mentors and entrepreneurial experts.

The SociAbility App is now available to download on Apple and Android.

Mr Pierri said: “For people with access needs, the difficulty of finding an accessible venue can create stress and anxiety.”

SociAbility was among five student-led social enterprises that pitched their venture ideas to a panel of judges at the Skoll Venture Awards on Monday.

Run by the university’s Skoll Centre for Social Entrepreneurship, the annual awards give financial support to fledgling social enterprises that have been started by University of Oxford students and alumni.

The largest social-impact awards at the University, since 2012 they have granted over £100,000 to 11 social enterprises.

This year’s ventures were chosen from among 48 applications from around the university.

They were judged on how well they articulated their proposed social or environment impact, the strength of their business model, their use of funding, and the strength of their team.