John Samuel

Co-Founder & CEO of Ablr, Ablr

San Diego

John Samuel impacts businesses and people with innovative strategies on digital accessibility. His experience includes stints in domestic and international industries over the last 15 years. While launching and serving as the CEO for Aster Cameroon, a global telecom infrastructure Joint Venture, he built a $45 million business bringing internet access across Africa. Afterward, he became an early member of Homestrings, a USAID backed crowdfunding platform, where he helped raise capital for startups in emerging markets. John holds his MBA from George Washington University, BS in Accounting from North Carolina State University and Certified Professional in Accessible Core Competencies (CPACC).

At Ablr, John focuses on helping organizations be more inclusive by making digital content accessible for people of all abilities. His team provides human-powered digital accessibility testing, training, monitoring services for corporate, non-profit, and government organizations enabling digital inclusion for people with disabilities. John’s passion for his work is very personal as he is blind and wants to make sure the obstacles he has faced are removed for others. He serves on the Board of Directors of Aravind Eye Foundation, the Raleigh Mayor’s Persons with Disabilities Committee, and is a public speaker who loves connecting with people and telling impactful stories.

John was selected in the Triangle Business Journal’s 2019 40 Under 40 Leadership Award and The Business Journals’ Influencers: Rising Stars which spotlights 100 executives across the country who are having an impact early in their careers on business being done in cities across the nation.

John knows no barriers. You can find him exploring the ends of the world, from summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro to drinking Pisco Sours in Lima!