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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.

In 2023, auticon and Unicus entered an agreement under which the two companies would unite. The historic deal established a global model for an autistic-majority social enterprise and ESG company, addressing the inequalities in employment for neurodivergent adults. The two combined companies became the largest autistic-majority company in the world, with 81% of its 600 employees on the autism spectrum across 15 countries.

Press Contact

Thank you for your interest in covering auticon. I look forward to speaking with you.

Mercedes de Graaff
Email: press @ auticon.co.uk
Location: London, England
Language spoken: English

Publications

auticon’s Global Impact Reports

2022 Global Impact Report

2021 Global Impact Report (Published 2022)

2021 Global Impact Report (Languages: Italian,  English, and German)

2021 Global Impact Report (Languages: French, English, German)

2020 Global Impact Report (Languages: French, English, German)

auticon + Deloitte Report, “Embracing Neurodiversity at Work” 2022

A new report by Deloitte Canada and auticon Canada finds employment barriers, lack of workplace support for Canada’s autistic community. The joint report surveyed 454 adults across the country.

2022 auticon + Deloitte Report, “Embracing Neurodiversity at Work” (English)

LinkedIn 'Supporting Diversity at Work' article

News Coverage

auticon named UK social enterprise of the year


Pioneers Post

Most Loved Workplaces
auticon is #9


Newsweek

Neurodiversity can empower the workplace


Financial Times

auticon launches Autism Advisory Service


FinTech Scotland

This group helps high-functioning autistic individuals get tech jobs

Wired

Dyslexic, dyspraxic - why neurodiversity is good for business

The Sunday Times

Announcements

Carrie Grant MBE reveals autism diagnosis to auticon

In the latest episode of our podcast series “AUTISM: IN CONVERSATION WITH AUTICON” Carrie Grant reveals she was diagnosed as autistic earlier this year …
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A Beacon of Progress

Dr. Catriona Stewart OBE writes of her personal experience in the field of researching autism and the discovery that she was autistic herself and how the news of auticon and Unicus joining together is a “beacon of progress” in terms of visibility for autistic people in the workplace. While training for my doctorate, after an MSc looking at controversies around diagnosis and theories of aetiology of autism, I was taking a course run by my university and the National Autistic...
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The logos for auticon and Unicus

Auticon And Unicus Join Forces, Advancing ESG Mission of Neurodiversity

The transaction is an offensive to unite two innovative social enterprises and global players in the IT industry; the deal unifies more than 465 autistic employees to become the largest autistic-majority company in the world  OSLO, NORWAY and MUNICH, GERMANY — auticon and Unicus have entered into an agreement under which the two companies will unite. The deal was brokered by Ferd, an Oslo-based family-owned investment company and shareholder in both companies. The historic deal establishes a global model for an...
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Recruiting Roundtable: auticon’s recruiters share their advice for supporting neurodivergent employees

It is estimated that less than 29% (ons.gov.uk) of autistic adults are in any form of meaningful employment (Office for National Statistics, UK). Autistic people commonly have cognitive strengths that make them particularly well-suited for careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Despite this, they are faced with barriers such as an exclusionary recruitment process, poor autism awareness, and employers feeling unprepared to offer support.  auticon is different. For our autistic-majority team, we provide a unique recruitment and interview...
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Marking the start of Autism Acceptance Month, new data from auticon reveals causes, and solutions for the employment gap among autistic professionals

auticon, a social enterprise that exclusively employs autistic adults as technology consultants, today released a compelling new report on autism in the workplace. The report Neurodiversity at Work, available inside the company’s latest Impact Report, asked 985 autistic professionals about their autism diagnosis, finding quality career opportunities, and disclosing their autism to employers. A crisis of unemployment among autistic adultsIt is estimated that less than 22% of autistic adults are in any form of meaningful employment (Office for National Statistics,...
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auticon UK's team photographed at the Social Enterprise awards in 2022

auticon UK wins Social Enterprise UK of the Year Award 2022

auticon UK team at the SEUK awards (December 2022) auticon UK won two prestigious UK Social Enterprise Awards, which recognise businesses that are transforming communities and tackling climate change.  We proudly took away awards for both categories we were nominated in, UK Social Enterprise of the Year and Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity & Justice Award, at a prestigious awards ceremony held at the iconic Roundhouse in London on Thursday 8th December.  Social Enterprise UK is the largest network of certified...
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