Small Business Series: Meet the Founder

Join Grow London Local for a friendly, supportive and productive networking event bringing together entrepreneurs with any form of disability or health conditions to network. Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs to share and learn together.

In this session, we hear from Pete Donnelly, founder of The Wheelchair Skills College, and Matt Pierri, founder and CEO of Sociability, a disability tech company. Both share what inspired them to start their businesses, the challenges faced and how they overcame them and top tips they learnt along the way that could help other small businesses.

Guest speaker: Pete Donnelly, founder of The Wheelchair Skills College

Pete Donnelly founded The Wheelchair Skills College, after spending a decade working for charities focused on supporting people with disabilities. The social enterprise focuses on empowering every wheelchair user to live a fuller life by maximising the functionality of their wheelchair.

Pete has also shared his story “Finding freedom in using a wheelchair” on TEDx and is a Churchill Fellow, receiving the award to explore “Building innovation through lived experience of disability” and travelling across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand as part of the fellowship.

Guest speaker: Matt Pierri, founder of Sociability

Matt Pierri founded the disability tech company to help people with disabilities find accessible places through a free mobile and web app.

During the event, Matt is to share lessons learnt from his journey of building Sociability, from a student project to a leading accessibility information platform empowering thousands of people with disabilities across the UK.

Before Sociability, Matt was an Entrepreneur in Residence at Schmidt Futures, the philanthropic venture initiative of Eric and Wendy Schmidt, and completed a Master's in Public Policy at the University of Oxford as a Rhodes scholar.

Grow London Local’s team of Business Support Managers will also be in attendance.

Important information

The event takes place on the ground floor. The venue has a hearing loop, adjustable lighting and is fully wheelchair accessible. A BSL interpreter can be booked.

Please let us know if you require any specific adjustments for the event. You can also indicate these on the registration form. Light refreshments are provided.

If you have any questions, please contact us at eventenquiries@growlondonlocal.london.

Date: Thursday 11 September

Time: 12pm to 2pm

Location: City Lit College, 1-10 Keeley Street, London WC2B 4BA

Agenda:

12pm to 12.10pm: arrival.

12.10pm to 12.20pm: Grow London Local presentation.

12.20pm to 12.35pm: guest speaker Pete Donnelly, The Wheelchair Skills College.

12.35pm to 12.50pm: guest speaker Matt Pierri, founder and CEO Sociability.

12.50pm to 1pm: Q&A.

1pm to 1.45pm: networking and refreshments.

1.45pm to 2pm: feedback and close.

Our events, including those focused on a specific issue or equality characteristic, are open to all.

Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today!

Pete Donnelly, founder of The Wheelchair Skills College 

Matt Pierri, founder of Sociability