We help companies become a destination for neurodivergent talent.

auticon is an award-winning social innovation company

As an autistic-majority company, we’re a resource for talent. We integrate our technology consultants into client organizations, performing as software developers, data analysts, QA engineers, and more. Clients experience our outstanding autistic professionals first-hand, opening minds and achieving diversity goals.

Our model improves the economic and social conditions of the autistic community with quality careers, unlocking opportunity, and empowering client organisations through actionable neurodiversity training and advisory services. Here, our employees build lifelong careers in technology, discovering personal autonomy and improved self-esteem.

Through auticon Labs, we utilize an entrepreneurial mindset to develop commercial technology solutions to social and environmental challenges faced by autistic professionals, helping them to succeed in the workplace.

Changing lives together

Results from our annual Impact Report show that auticon succeeds as a result of its neurodiversity. Most of our autistic team members are hired out of 2 years of unemployment and the value that a career adds to their life is significant. Despite this, estimates suggest less than 22% of autistic people are in any form of meaningful employment which aligns to their educational achievements.

auticon taps into this potential by employing autistic adults as technology consultants. Autistic employees are supported by job coaches and project managers, producing a win-win-win situation for clients, consultants, as well as society.

Work at auticon

Improved quality of life87%

Feel supported at work92%

Feel more confident79%

Feel they can be their authentic self at work82%

Our mission

As a social enterprise, we are on a mission to improve the employment prospects of neurodivergent people by:

providing high-quality technology careers to autistic adults
shifting perceptions of autistic people in the workplace
acting as a catalyst for change by bringing neurodiversity education to client workforces

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Our values

We put people first and cultivate our team spirit
We prize individual difference
We operate a commercially sustainable business
We change perceptions by delivering excellence

an auticon consultant and job coach talk at work

Autism is not a processing error,
it's a different operating system.

Want to know how we can transform your business through neurodiversity?

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Global Leadership Team

Kurt Schöffer

Chief Executive Officer

Kurt is one of auticon’s first investors and was appointed CEO in 2013 to grow and expand the social enterprise. Kurt spent 15 years at DNS – a distributor of mid-range computer products in Europe whose customers included Sun Microsystems. As CEO, he led the company to over a billion EUR in sales and a successful acquisition by Arrow Electronics, Inc. in 2005.

Through his experiences at DNS, Kurt became a strong advocate for utilizing the guiding principles of business to make positive changes in the world. As Managing Director of a small investment firm, he was approached by Ananda Social Venture Fund, who invited him to partner in creating Germany’s first fund designed to invest in companies making a social impact. The fund’s first investment was in auticon, where Kurt served as an advisor on the fund’s behalf.

Markus Weber

Chief Financial Officer

Markus worked as a Manager at PwC Technology Consulting. Markus grew the German organisation and set up our offices in London and Zurich. He was key to auticon’s international growth and signed our first projects with Henkel, Commerzbank, GSK, Experian, Credit Suisse or Swiss Re.

Meeta Thareja

Chief People & Social Innovation Officer

Meeta has over 20 years of international experience working with high-growth organisations. Prior to auticon, Meeta co-founded and led MetaValue – a strategy consulting firm. She has previously worked on market development projects in India for tech firms including Adobe, Intel and Ericsson.

David Reeve

Chief Marketing Officer

David is a 20-year veteran of digital marketing, corporate communications, design and brand development. His career experience draws from many sectors, including IT staffing, SaaS, aerospace, entertainment and advertising; from start-ups to high-profile corporations such as Universal Pictures.

Mike Zieren

Head of Information Technology

Mike is a veteran technologist who joined auticon in 2019. He plays a key role in the application development of our Assessment Tool and Skills Database. He previously led infrastructure for GlaxoSmithKline in Germany.

Kirsty Cook

Global Director Neuroinclusion Services

Kirsty has been with auticon for five years, leading the UK Coaching team and launching the Australia and Ohio teams. Previously, she did PR/content for financial services, tech and fintech industries, and worked as a performance coach. She is a trustee for the mental health charity, Mind.

Mandeep Chana

Global Director auticon Labs

Mandeep arrived at auticon in 2022, having spent 18 years in the technology space. His experience includes deep exposure to product management, engineering, infrastructure and the all-important user experience. He brings with him extensive experience building technology solutions to real life business challenges.

International investors

"Businesses like auticon are true trailblazers!" - Sir Richard Branson

Investors include Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Group Ltd., Felix and Susanne Porsche, Ananda Impact Ventures, Ferd AS, Autism Impact Fund, and Ferst Capital Partners.

Our story

auticon was founded in Berlin in 2011 by a father wanting better employment opportunities for his autistic son. Autistic professionals were employed as quality assurance consultants, debugging Websites and applications. As Managing Director of a small investment firm, Kurt Schöffer was approached by Ananda Social Venture Fund, who invited him to partner in creating Germany’s first social impact fund. The fund’s first investment was in auticon, where Kurt served as an advisor on the fund’s behalf. For Kurt, this was an opportunity to apply his business acumen to solve the social issue of rising unemployment among autistic adults, who often possess STEM skills applicable in a range of technology careers. After three months as an advisor, Kurt accepted a role as auticon’s Group CEO, later developing its 6 German office locations and expanding into Paris and London. The company added major clients such as BMW and Allianz, and new technology consulting services.

In 2016, Sir Richard Branson’s investment brought international attention to the company as it expanded into Italy and Switzerland. In 2018 auticon acquired two North American autism employers: MindSpark in Los Angeles and Meticulon in Calgary, later adding clients such as Salesforce and Deloitte and surpassing 200+ autistic employees globally. In 2019, auticon opened in Australia with one of the island’s largest employers: Woolworths.

Today, the company operates as the world’s largest autistic-majority IT company, with approximately 400 employees in 8 countries, including 300 on the spectrum.