The Team
The Adaptation Ventures Team has significant experience in the startup world, with accessible tech, and in the disability community.
Brittany Palmer
Managing Partner
Brittany was born as a bilateral, below-elbow amputee. She has adapted to everything throughout her entire life and is excited to support innovations for the disability community at Adaptation Ventures. She is an Advisory Group Member for the Howe Innovation Center at Perkins School for the Blind and on the Innovation Steering Committee for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
Prior to starting Adaptation Ventures, Brittany was the Founder and CEO of Beeyonder, a live and interactive virtual travel startup with guides around the world that aimed to bring true equal access to travel. Beeyonder served people with disabilities, seniors, corporations, schools, and more. It won an AccessABILITY Award at CES and a Big Innovation Award by Business Intelligence Group in 2023.
During her time at Beeyonder, Brittany received accolades such as CEO Monthly’s Most Influential CEOs, USA9 Business Outlook’s 10 Most Inspiring Women Leaders, and Priority Pass’s Travel Hero.
She also has a significant amount of international, environmental, health and safety law experience, having worked with over 100 jurisdictions worldwide as Principal and In-House Counsel at The Isosceles Group.
Brittany has a BS in Management and a BS in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, as well as a JD from Pace Law School. She has a passion for disability advocacy, traveling, and wildlife. She also enjoys hiking, ballet, and surfing.
Rich Palmer
Managing Partner
Rich Palmer is an accomplished AI entrepreneur and leader in the early-stage investing community. He is the former Managing Director of Launchpad Venture Group and Board Director of the Angel Capital Association, where he focused on public policy. He is the co-founder of Adaptation Ventures, the first pre-seed fund dedicated to disability and accessible technology.
A passionate supporter of entrepreneurship, Rich has served as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Babson College, adjunct professor of New Venture Creation, and frequent speaker and mentor – including a TEDx talk on harnessing the power of vulnerability in entrepreneurship.
After surviving a life-threatening brain aneurysm rupture, Rich co-founded Gravyty, a leading AI company for social good. His work has earned him awards, patents, and recognition such as Boston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and Babson College’s Entrepreneurship Award. He holds an MBA from Babson (Summa Cum Laude) and a BS in Information Technology and Economics from RPI.
Rich began his career on Wall Street, leading product development at Relationship Science and heading portfolio analytics for S&P Capital IQ’s quantitative intelligence team. Outside of work, he enjoys soccer, meditation, yoga, and exploring the outdoors.
Member-Led Advisory Board
Adaptation is working on assembling its Member-Led Advisory Board. They will provide invaluable guidance to Adaptation’s Managing Partners and portfolio companies.
Partners
Having access to target-specific resources is critically important to early-stage startups, especially in the disability and accessibility spaces. Adaptation is vetting and partnering with various organizations, and experts in user design, web design, recruitment, marketing, procurement and user testing so that our startups have the resources they need to build and grow their business.
Investors
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Founders
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