Today, Mike speaks to Michael Nicastro who is the VP group, director of technology and head of accessibility at Digitas. They discuss a very overlooked aspect of scaling tech ventures - digital accessibility which is not just a compliance checkbox. It is actually a growth strategy that unlocks new markets, drives revenue and helps your product reach its full potential.

Michael is passionate about ensuring that digital products are accessible to everyone and uses quality assurance and automation to drive growth without sacrificing inclusivity.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1.3 billion people worldwide face barriers when using digital products. Some have permanent disabilities, and others have temporary disabilities.
Companies that are ignoring accessibility are losing out on an estimated $1.2 trillion annually.
Lawyers are literally hunting for companies that are not complying with accessibility laws. The fines are high.
In 2025, the EU is introducing new accessibility legislation.
All areas of the business are involved in delivering true digital accessibility.
There are 40 to 50 keystrokes that a page reader may use to read a URL. Each page needs to be tested to ensure each keystroke works, which is time-consuming.
Outsourcing checking accessibility is far more cost-effective than doing it yourself. AI may change that.
If your cart process is not fully accessible you lose sales.
DAIs force you to focus on the experience you offer for all customers.
Standardisation and automation are essential.

BEST MOMENTS

00.32 "If your company isn't making accessibility a priority, you missing out on revenue and losing customers.”

12:12 “Screen reading one URL can take up to eight hours. You have to do it for desktop, PC and Mac, Android and IOS."

20.03 “If there's an image there needs to be an alt text behind it that tells you what the image is.”

30.46 “When you fix issues for those who have a disability, you're fixing issues for all.”

38.11 “There are trillions of dollars in the hands of those with disability and their families across the planet.”

42.24 “Passion is vital for mastering tech growth.”

57.40 “Ask - How can I build automation one time?”

ABOUT THE GUEST

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-nicastro-2862061

EPISODE RESOURCES

WCAG Guidelines - https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/#guidelines

European Accessibility Act 2025 - https://www.deque.com/blog/european-accessibility-act-eaa-intro

Tools

Screen readers
Mobile (Native)
IOS Voiceover
Android Talkback
Desktop
JAWS https://support.freedomscientific.com/Downloads/JAWS
NVDA https://www.nvaccess.org/download
Colour Contrast Analyzer https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker
Digital Accessibility checker https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/axe-devtools-web-accessib/lhdoppojpmngadmnindnejefpokejbdd?pli=1

ABOUT THE HOST

Meet Mike, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and visionary with over two and a half decades of invaluable experience in founding and scaling successful tech start-ups. Mike brings a wealth of firsthand knowledge, and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and tech professionals.

As a host, Mike is dedicated to sharing actionable insights, strategies, and stories gathered from conversations with industry leaders, innovators, and experts. With a remarkable ability to distil practical wisdom from guests, Mike curates engaging discussions that resonate with both aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals.

Master Digital Accessibility to Make Sure Your Tech Venture Grows with Inclusivity with Michael Nicastro

Mastering Tech Growth