We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Idan Meir a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Idan, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
That’s a great question, and it really is an important quality for anyone who is running a start-up.
First, I am passionate about our company’s mission to make the world more accessible, and I really do believe in the impact that we are making. That sense of purpose drives me on to make an even greater positive impact on society.
Second, I am Israeli and plenty has been written about the Startup Nation and our ‘super power’ of being adaptable and resilient. I really do believe in that and it is just part of my DNA to be resilient and optimistic when faced with setbacks or unexpected obstacles. I am a positive person and so I tend to focus on solutions rather than problems.
Lastly, having a strong support system, whether it’s from family, friends, or colleagues, really helps me. Knowing that there are people who believe in me and RightHear really drives me on.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the Co-founder and CEO of RightHear, an innovative startup on a mission to turn public spaces into accessible environments for people with spatial orientation challenges, including people who are blind or visually impaired. I am originally from Israel but relocated with my family to Rockville, Maryland in 2021. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Business from The Open University of Israel, and I love building companies, running, and eating hummus. Not necessarily in that order!
RightHear provides real-time audio descriptions to help the blind interpret and understand their surroundings. We have a free app on iOS and Android, over 2,500 accessible locations worldwide, and an ever-growing user base and community. RightHear has partnered with leading international brands like McDonalds, Microsoft, and Costa Coffee to improve accessibility compliance as well as promote inclusion. Here is a video of the app in action – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJg2z1LF6ck
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Passion – I truly believe in our mission to make the world more accessible for all. It drives everything I do and everything we do as a company. On a daily basis, I see the impact of the work we are doing, and that is all I need to keep pushing forward.
Determination and Resilience – being a startup founder is a rollercoaster, and we certainly went through some challenges during the Pandemic. However, we made some thoughtful decisions, came together as a team, and emerged stronger. These challenges helped the team grow and brought us together on our shared mission. Being resilient is just such an important part of running a startup.
Communication – This applies both inside and outside of the company. I am a real believer that strong communication skills are vital for conveying RightHear’s vision to both internal and external stakeholders. It is my role to articulate my ideas clearly, build relationships with investors and customers, and ensure that the team is aligned with the company’s objectives.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
The last 12 months have been hugely exciting for RightHear and been a period of real growth. I relocated with my family to the US a couple of years ago, and spent the first few months getting settled, making sure my young children were happy at kindergarten, and laying the foundations for RightHear’s US operations.
Throughout 2023, we started engaging with such wonderful organizations and people across the world of accessibility and business. This has led to growth of the company but also personally, as I truly feel part of the vibrant and meaningful accessibility community here in the US.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.right-hear.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RightHearApp
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/idanmeir/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RightHear
