Auticon

auticon
TypePrivate
IndustryIT Consultancy
Founded2011 (auticon) / 2009 (unicus)
FounderDirk Müller-Remus (auticon) Lars Johansson-Kjellerød (Unicus)
Number of locations
15 countries (2024)
Area served
Europe
United States
Canada
Australia
Key peopleLuke Williams OBE (Group CEO)

Lars Johansson-Kjellerød (Founder Unicus & Group CFO)
Meeta Thareja (Group COO)

Dieter Hahn (CEO Germany, Member of Management Board)
ServicesArtificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
Business Analytics
Business Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Data Analysis
Data Engineering
Data Science
DEI Consultancy Services (Neuroinclusion)
Individual Coaching
Neuroinclusion Advisory Services
Neuroinclusion Maturity Assessments
Quality Assurance
Software Development
Software Testing
Training(Neuroinclusion)
Number of employees
552
Websiteauticon.com

Auticon (stylised as auticon) is an international information technology consulting company and social enterprise that employs autistic adults as consultants. Founded in Berlin in 2011, the company has expanded internationally through organic growth and the acquisitions of American company MindSpark and Canadian company Meticulon. In 2023, Auticon and the Nordic consultancy Unicus announced a merger agreement. The company operated in 15 countries as of 2024.

History

Auticon was founded in Berlin in 2011 by Dirk Müller-Remus. In October 2016, the company received investment from Richard Branson's Virgin Group and the UK charity Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to support expansion in the United Kingdom.

In June 2018, Auticon entered the United States through the acquisition of MindSpark, an IT consultancy based in Santa Monica, California.

In 2019, Auticon expanded into Canada by acquiring Meticulon's technology consulting division

In 2023, Auticon and Oslo-based firm Unicus announced a plan to merge companies.

On 1 January 2025, Luke Williams was appointed Group CEO, succeeding Kurt Schöffer, who retired on 31 December 2024.

Business model

Auticon employs autistic adults as IT consultants and supports them through workplace adjustments and coaching.

In its 2024 impact report, the company reported working with 307 clients globally and employing 552 people. 79% of their workforce identified as neurodivergent. The report said that 405 autistic people were employed in technology and data roles.

The company's employment approach has been discussed in Harvard Business Review articles on neurodiversity and disability as sources of competitive advantage.

Awards

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sallai, Dorottya; Hill, Ian (2025). "auticon: promoting a neurodiverse workforce" (PDF). Navigating the 21st Century Business World: Case Studies in Management. LSE Press. pp. 219–238. doi:10.31389/lsepress.nbw.p. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  2. 1 2 Wakefield, Jane (2 January 2019). "The firm whose staff are all autistic". BBC News. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Auticon… Expands Worldwide Reach with Acquisition of U.S. Company MindSpark, Inc". GlobeNewswire. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Auticon… Expands Worldwide Reach and Joins Forces with Meticulon". PR Newswire. 4 June 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  5. ↑ "Neurodiverse IT consultancies Auticon and Unicus merge". Consulting.ca. 19 June 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Creating a world-leading employer for people with autism". Ferd. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "Sir Richard Branson backs recruitment firm which is getting autistic adults into IT roles". BDaily. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  8. ↑ Branson, Richard (2 September 2021). "Embracing neurodiversity in business". Virgin.com. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "auticon joins forces with Meticulon". auticon. 12 July 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  10. ↑ "auticon and Unicus join forces, advancing ESG mission of neurodiversity". auticon. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "auticon Announces Group CEO Transition: Kurt Schöffer Retires, Luke Williams Appointed as New Group CEO". auticon. 1 January 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  12. 1 2 "auticon releases 2024 impact report, showcasing the power of workplace neurodiversity". auticon. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  13. ↑ Austin, Robert D.; Pisano, Gary P. (1 May 2017). "Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage". Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Disability as a Source of Competitive Advantage". Harvard Business Review. July 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  15. ↑ "Social Enterprise UK Awards (2017)". Social Enterprise UK. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  16. ↑ "Winners of the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2021". Social Enterprise UK. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "Winners of UK Social Enterprise Awards announced at the Camden Roundhouse". Social Enterprise UK. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "Winners of the UK Social Enterprise Awards 2022". Social Enterprise UK. Retrieved 15 January 2026.