Heather S. Neff, Co Founder & CEO

As Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Heather Neff combines her lived experience as a disabled designer and her expertise in graphics and technology to drive innovation.

Guided by Heather's passion and commitment to accessibility, Equivalent has achieved remarkable milestones, including patent pending IP that dramatically enhances graphics for low vision and blind users. She has a diverse and vibrant team that shares her passion for engineering design software to revolutionize the way we create responsive digital graphics. Heather has earned recognition as a finalist for prestigious awards, including the Techpreneur EDDIE Award by Synergies Work (Entrepreneurs Dedicated to Diverse & Inclusive Excellence), the NC Biotech Venture Challenge (won $10K), and the NC IDEA SEED Grant in Spring 2024. She has completed the highly regarded Techstars and 2-Gether-International accelerator programs for disabled founders and is currently a Fellow in the esteemed Zero Project Program. This Spring, Heather will take the global stage to speak at the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, highlighting her groundbreaking work in accessibility and innovation.

As a sought-after speaker, Ms Neff has graced numerous stages, captivating audiences with their engaging style, deep insights, and innovative approach to inclusive design. Her expertise spans across graphic design, web development and accessibility, making her a versatile and knowledgeable speaker on various fronts.

Outside of her professional achievements, Heather is a tireless advocate for gender equality, LGBTQIA2S+ representation and disability inclusion in the tech industry. Her commitment to accessible design is evident through their involvement in the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) and as a DEI committee member for the American Institute for Graphic Artists (AIGA). She is currently serving as a Board Member to the AXE for Designers Figma plugin.

Equivalent is poised to continue its trajectory of innovation of what is possible in the realm of graphics technologies. Her unwavering determination, visionary leadership, and passion for digital equality, make her an inspiration to all who have the privilege of working alongside her.

Heather holds her BFA in Fine Arts, with Honors from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. GPA 3.9. Please take a look at her speaking example videos and review the list of her speaking engagements below. In her spare time, Heather is also a fine artist and paints art nouveau portraits of women with mixed media and gold leaf. She lives with her Co Founder and husband Paul Neff outside Asheville NC in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains with their three beautiful cats.