One Master of Science in Information Management student and one alum have earned a spot in the , a recognition for young innovators making tangible difference in the world.
Nishit Bhasin (pictured above, at left), ‘24, and Lakshya Garg (at right), a current MSIM student, co-founded during the winter break of 2023 when they were unable to return to their home country of India. While many students take a break from academics during the holidays, Bhasin and Garg spent their time participating in hackathons and product-building sessions.
What started as a way to stay engaged soon turned into something much bigger.
“The beginning of the idea was really nothing, just a simple browser extension,” Bhasin said. “Then we started participating in more hackathons, and we luckily were winning most of them. But despite the success in competitions, we struggled to find a way to monetize it.”
After multiple pivots and iterations — both in the product and business model — IncSkill has now evolved into a comprehensive AI-powered accessibility platform that helps enterprises enhance digital accessibility, automate compliance and build inclusive experiences for employees and customers with disabilities.
“Think of it as Grammarly, but for accessibility,” Bhasin said.
IncSkill also distributes a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT), an accessibility certificate required by the U.S. government for products or services used or sold to federally funded entities.
The platform has partnered with major corporations such as Google, Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, Bosch and GSMA, as well as national and international government agencies, including UNICEF, the Washington State Government, and the Government of India, to advance accessibility in technology.
"It's always great to partner with new organizations," Garg said. "These collaborations often start through Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, as companies seek to make a meaningful impact and empower their employees and customers with disabilities."
IncSkill recently attended the in Anaheim, California. Hosted by the Center on Disabilities, the event brings together users and experts to share knowledge and best practices in the field of assistive technology. The team witnessed firsthand the real-world implications of their work and the social impact that they are being recognized for.
“We demoed our product there, and when a blind person was using it, the kind of reactions and the kind of feedback that we received was really helpful,” Bhasin said. “It made us really happy that something that we created is impacting someone's life … so it really feels good to see that.”
Among the many visitors to their booth at the conference, one stood out in particular.
"Stevie Wonder stopped by our booth," Bhasin said. "We were demoing our browser extension at the time, and he gave us some really thoughtful feedback. Hearing his perspective meant a lot to us—it was incredible to get insights from someone who truly understands the importance of accessibility."
Reflecting on their success, Bhasin and Garg credit the 911 for providing the knowledge and mentorship that helped bring their vision to life.
“We had a good network of professors that had core or fundamental knowledge about accessibility as a domain,” Bhasin said. “It was really new to us, and that also helped us be crystal clear on our problem statement.”
The played a role in IncSkill’s rise, awarding them a micro grant and providing mentorship from assistant teaching professors Mike Teodorescu and Jeremy Zaretzky. Their guidance helped the team refine their problem statement and develop a strategy to position IncSkill in the market.
“That course really helped us understand the fundamentals of entrepreneurship,” Bhasin said. "Engaging with industry experts and VCs gave us key insights and a new outlook."
IncSkill was also selected for the Workforce Development Accelerator in Denver, gaining access to a vast network, intensive feedback, and hands-on product development sessions — an experience they credit as a key factor in their growth.
To other young entrepreneurs, the pair advise saying yes to opportunities, always trying new things. They didn’t know Incskill would be a success, but pushing boundaries is how they have come this far.
"You just have to be ready for everything," Garg said. "You never know what's going to happen. [Incskill] started one night during winter break, and now it has grown into something much bigger. You just need to take small steps — big things are waiting for you on the other side."