Stark Raises $1.5M to Build Inclusive Design Toolkit

The focus on diversity and inclusion within the technology sector is gradually shifting from being an optional consideration to a core priority. Reflecting this growing emphasis, a startup dedicated to developing tools that enhance the accessibility of digital products for individuals with visual impairments has recently announced a new round of funding.

Stark, a New York-based company, provides designers and developers with an integrated tool that analyzes their work and offers color adjustments and other recommendations to ensure compliance with accessibility guidelines for those with diminished visual capabilities. The company has secured $1.5 million in funding to further its mission.

Stark intends to utilize this investment to expand integrations with popular design applications and to develop integrations specifically for developers, beginning with a Github integration. They will also continue to refine their business model through expanded pricing structures and usage options.

Currently, Stark offers plugins for Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD, providing users with access to features such as a Contrast Checker, Smart Color Suggestions, 8 Colorblind Simulations, a Colorblind Generator, and Rapid Contrast Checking within Adobe XD.

Looking ahead, the company aims to establish a comprehensive, end-to-end platform that addresses inclusivity for a wider range of needs beyond visual impairments. Furthermore, recognizing that accessibility extends to physical forms, they plan to explore solutions beyond software and develop more automated correction methods.

According to Cat Noone, the European-based CEO and co-founder of the company alongside Michael Fouquet, the ultimate goal is to “become the Grammarly for accessibility in software.”

This pre-seed funding round was led by Daniel Darling and Pascal Unger from Darling Ventures and Indicator Ventures, with additional participation from Jason Warner, the CTO of Github; Kleiner Perkins’ Scout Fund; and Basecamp Ventures. Several individual investors also contributed, including the product lead for accessibility at Atlassian, the director of equitable design & impact at Culture Amp, a design director at DuckDuckGo, and a former VP of software development at Oracle.

Stark’s ability to attract such a diverse group of investors is a testament to the company’s early success.

Having launched initial versions of its software eight months ago as plugins for Sketch, Adobe XD, and Figma, Stark has already amassed 300,000 users, primarily designers, engineers, and product managers. Current customers include organizations such as Microsoft, Oscar Health, US Bank, Instagram, Pfizer, Volkswagen, and Dropbox.

The company also boasts a “community” of 10,000 individuals who actively engage with Stark through platforms like Slack and newsletter subscriptions.

While recent headlines regarding diversity and inclusion have often been prompted by concerns surrounding law enforcement and racial equity, Stark is concentrating on a different facet of inclusivity.

The company addresses a significant, often-overlooked demographic: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that, as of 2018, approximately one in four adults in the U.S. lives with some form of disability, with cognitive disabilities being the most prevalent. This represents a substantial market that is frequently underserved by current design and technology practices.

In an era where technology is often criticized for its negative impacts on mental and physical health, as well as its broader societal consequences, the development of more inclusive software and hardware has the potential to mitigate these issues and foster a more equitable relationship between technology and society.

“We’re talking about the largest minority group in the U.S.,” Noone stated. “Just as we wouldn’t construct a building without a wheelchair ramp, we should be designing software that accommodates individuals with disabilities.”

Noone explained that the idea for Stark originated during a project for another firm, where they were developing an emergency services application intended for use by elderly individuals. They created an early prototype of the tool for their own use, and subsequent feedback led to widespread requests for access. “And then it just kind of snowballed,” she said.

She further elaborated that her research led her to discover a lack of existing tools specifically designed to address accessibility concerns, and that the challenges extended far beyond simply color choices – the initial focus of Stark.

The market for inclusive design presents both challenges and opportunities. Some organizations may be motivated by compliance requirements, while others genuinely believe it is the right thing to do. Still others may view inclusivity as a positive branding strategy. Regardless of the motivation, Stark simplifies the process of creating inclusive products, ultimately lowering the barrier to entry.

“No software product should exclude a disadvantaged minority of their users. It’s bad for business and bad for society,” Darling commented. “We’re seeing dramatic increasing awareness amongst software designers, developers and executives to ship products that are universally accessible. Stark has quickly earned the trust of the industry and is on a path to become an important part of software infrastructure. We’re thrilled to partner with such a mission driven company that is already improving how software is produced around the world.”​