We help companies become a destination for neurodivergent talent.

A female auticon consultant works at a computer

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

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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UK Leadership Team

Andrea Girlanda

Chief Executive Officer

Andrea joined auticon in 2019 to oversee business development and was appointed CEO at the end of 2020. He has extensive experience in IT solution sales, working for global technology and media companies serving in both technical and commercial roles. In 2003 he relocated to London to pursue international business development opportunities with US pre-IPO tech startups, bring their services and offerings to the UK and EMEA, and drive expansion across new markets. His core strength and passion is building long-term, trust-based client relationships and is delighted to be able to put his skills towards helping auticon consultants fulfill their true career potential.

Steve Hill

Commercial Director

Steve joined auticon in 2021, responsible for business development, brand equity, marketing and strategic growth. Steve has started and sold several businesses as well as having had senior roles at IBM, Samsung and McLaren, focussed primarily around cloud, cybersecurity and data analytics.

Franziska Zeidler

Operations Director

Franziska joined auticon in 2017 overseeing the organisation’s growth trajectory by creating, delivering and supporting its operational strategy. With her background in social research, Franziska is involved in auticon’s global impact measurement highlighting the benefits of neuro-inclusive work environment.

Emma Walker

Regional Director, Scotland

Emma has a background working in a variety of sectors in roles such as HR Management, Business Development, Governance and IT Consultancy. Emma’s passion to increase people’s understanding around autism and neurodiversity stems from her first-hand experience helping her autistic son start his career.

Russell Botting

Lead Job Coach

Russell joined in 2018 and manages our UK Job Coaching team. With a background in clinical psychology, Russell brings years of experience working within NHS specialist autism and learning disability services as well as experience diagnosing autism. Russell aims to safeguard the well-being of consultants so they feel understood and valued at work, whilst encouraging employers to embrace the benefits of neurodiverse workforce.

Patrick Cooper

Consulting Director

Patrick joined auticon in 2018 and manages our London consultants, developing relationships with our strategic accounts. Before joining auticon he worked for a national youth charity and brings with him the experiences of a technology career that has spanned the private, public, and social sectors.

Mercedes de Graaff

Marketing & Communications Manager

Mercedes joined auticon in 2022. Beforehand she worked in advertising delivering global B2C campaigns and for fashion and media companies working on B2B growth and internal comms. After years spent leading SEN parent support-groups she was keen to work where she could continue to advocate for neurodivergent people.

Clementina Galli-Zugaro

Neuroinclusion Advisor

Clementina works in our Neuroinclusion Advisory team after joining auticon in 2019 to oversee recruitment before transitioning into job coaching. Clementina has a Master’s in Work and Organisational Psychology and has a wide international experience of facilitating corporate workshops and defining practical pathways for successful organisational change. She draws on this in the design and delivery of tailored programs to support our clients on their journey to sustainable neuroinclusion.

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.