Reimagining Venture Capital Through Impact Investing | Chris Maher on Disability Innovation

In Episode 27 of The New Barbarians Podcast, hosts Bill Mann and Mark Connors welcome Chris Maher, founder of Samaritan Partners, a venture capital fund focused on impact investing in disability innovation.Chris shares how his journey as a parent, tech CEO, and former D1 coach led to launching a fund that bridges purpose and profit — backing startups that empower the disability community with scalable, meaningful solutions. From AI-powered accessibility tools to inclusive travel platforms, this conversation explores how venture capital can create real-world change while still aiming for strong returns.You’ll also hear macro insights on global markets, central bank shifts, and how digital assets and AI are reshaping the financial landscape.🔗 Follow Our Work:📜 Substack: Mark R. Connors - https://substack.com/@markrconnors📜 Harmonic Insights (Bill Mann & Chris Rosa) - https://www.harmoniqinsights.com/📜 SSRN for research papers - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/cf_dev/A...📜 SmartKarma - Chris Rosa -- https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/c...📜 SmartKarma - Bill Mann -- https://www.smartkarma.com/profiles/w...Twitter - The New Barbarians - https://x.com/thenewbarbpodTwitter - Mark Connors -- https://x.com/riskdimensions⏱️ Chapters:00:00 - Intro to The New Barbarians Podcast on Disruptive Finance01:10 - Meet Chris Maher: VC Investor, Disability Advocate, and Coach02:45 - Market Trends: AI Stocks, Central Bank Moves & Global Uncertainty06:45 - Bitcoin, Gold & German Equities: Q2 2025 Asset Class Review09:40 - Why Chris Launched Samaritan Partners: VC for Disability Innovation13:30 - Disability Economy Explained: 1.5 Billion People & Untapped Potential17:00 - Can Impact Venture Capital Deliver Market Returns?21:00 - For-Profit vs Nonprofit: Building Scalable Social Impact Businesses25:45 - From D1 Basketball Coach to CEO: Leadership Lessons from the Court30:15 - Career Reinvention: Finding Purpose, Fulfillment & Startup Inspiration36:45 - Mentorship & Mental Resilience for Founders & Entrepreneurs42:30 - Disability Tech Startups: Be My Eyes, Wheel the World & Inclusive AI56:00 - How to Connect with Chris Maher & Learn More About Samaritan Partners🔗 Links & Resources:💼 Samaritan Partners – https://samaritanpartners.com🎧 Investing in Accessibility Podcast – https://www.investinginaccessibility....🔗 Connect with Chris Maher on LinkedIn –   / chrismaher1  #ImpactInvesting #DisabilityInnovation #PurposeDrivenVC #AccessibleTech