Understanding the European Accessibility Act and Its Impact
In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into effect, imposing new accessibility requirements on businesses providing goods and services to the EU’s 450 million consumers. Much like the GDPR before it, the EAA requires companies to ensure their digital platforms—websites, e-commerce portals, and banking apps—meet stringent accessibility standards or face substantial penalties. Despite similar regulations existing in the United States, many companies on both continents still struggle to meet basic accessibility criteria. According to Cormac Chisholm, CEO of DevAlly, an Irish startup focused on accessibility compliance, even large corporations were caught unprepared shortly before the EAA deadline.“One thing that surprised us was companies, even massive companies, coming to us two weeks before [the deadline] saying, ‘Oh we didn’t know anything about this,’” said Chisholm.
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DevAlly’s AI-Driven Approach to Accessibility Compliance
Founded in 2024, DevAlly leverages artificial intelligence and accessibility-focused large language models (LLMs) to automate the detection of accessibility issues. The platform audits digital products for common barriers such as missing video captions and tracks customer-reported problems. It also provides companies with actionable roadmaps and generates compliance reports aligned with the EAA. While traditional human-led audits remain valuable, Chisholm argues they lack the scalability needed to keep pace with rapid digital product development. DevAlly’s technology-first model integrates accessibility testing directly into product lifecycles, enabling continuous compliance and faster remediation.“Our approach mirrors the trajectory of cybersecurity compliance firms like Vanta, combining expert knowledge with automation to meet growing regulatory demand.”
Securing €2 Million to Scale and Expand
DevAlly recently closed a €2 million pre-seed funding round led by Belgian venture capital firm Miles Ahead Capital, with participation from Enterprise Ireland, the NDRC accelerator program, and European angel investors. The company plans to triple its Dublin-based team from five to fifteen employees by the end of 2025. The startup’s participation in prominent tech events such as Slush and TechCrunch Disrupt’s Startup Battlefield 2024 proved crucial in building investor relationships and customer connections, particularly on the U.S. West Coast. DevAlly aims to use its new capital to establish a U.S. presence, focusing initially on sales operations in San Francisco. This expansion targets large B2B software companies seeking to comply with both European and American accessibility standards.“A lot of our customers right now are on the West Coast,” said co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer Patrick Guiney. “We’re positioning ourselves as a bridge to Europe for these U.S. companies.”
Market Opportunity and the Business Case for Accessibility
Accessibility is not just a regulatory requirement but a significant market opportunity. Studies estimate that disabled consumers and their households control approximately $8 trillion in disposable income globally. Moreover, accessibility benefits extend beyond permanent disabilities to situational impairments such as glare or limited mobility. Chisholm emphasizes that effective accessibility equates to good design, advocating for universal design principles that improve usability for all users. Features like screen reader compatibility, high-contrast visuals, and color-blind friendly gradients are essential components. However, recent analyses reveal widespread non-compliance: 94% of the top 1,000 U.S. websites fail basic accessibility standards, with the travel sector identified as a particularly poor performer. Notably, Spanish airline Vueling faced fines for inaccessible digital services even before the EAA’s enforcement. With the EAA’s multi-jurisdictional enforcement regime, multinational corporations face complex compliance challenges, creating demand for scalable, tech-driven solutions like DevAlly’s.FinOracleAI — Market View
DevAlly is well-positioned at the intersection of regulatory compliance and digital accessibility, leveraging AI to address a rapidly expanding market driven by the European Accessibility Act and increasing global awareness.- Opportunities: Growing regulatory mandates across multiple jurisdictions; large untapped market of companies needing compliance solutions; strong investor backing enabling rapid scaling; expanding U.S. presence to capture global demand.
- Risks: Competition from traditional consulting firms and emerging tech startups; evolving regulatory landscape may require continuous adaptation; reliance on AI accuracy and integration within diverse product ecosystems.
