AUTICON
An international IT consulting and social enterprise that employs autistic adults as technology and data consultants.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
AUTICON is an international information technology consulting company and social enterprise built around the employment of autistic adults in professional technology and data roles. Founded in Berlin in 2011 by Dirk Müller-Remus, the company developed a business model that combines commercial IT consulting with structured employment support for a group that has historically faced substantial barriers to entering and remaining in the labor market. The company’s consultants work on client assignments in areas including information technology and data-related services. AUTICON’s model is not limited to recruiting autistic professionals: it also provides workplace adjustments, coaching, and other forms of support intended to help consultants work effectively in conventional corporate environments. This operating approach positions the business at the intersection of professional services, social enterprise, disability inclusion, and neurodiversity employment. AUTICON began expanding beyond Germany during the 2010s. In October 2016, it received investment from Virgin Group and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to support expansion in the United Kingdom. In June 2018, the company entered the United States through the acquisition of MindSpark, an IT consultancy based in Santa Monica, California. In 2019, it expanded into Canada by acquiring the technology consulting division of Meticulon. These transactions supplemented the company’s organic growth and gave it established operating platforms in additional national markets. In 2023, AUTICON and Oslo-based Nordic consultancy Unicus announced an agreement under which the two companies would unite. The agreement marked a further step in the development of an international neurodiversity-focused consulting group. By 2024, AUTICON operated in 15 countries. Its 2024 impact reporting stated that the organization worked with 307 clients and employed 552 people globally. It also reported that 79% of its workforce identified as neurodivergent and that 405 autistic people were employed in technology and data roles. AUTICON’s public identity is closely connected to the broader neurodiversity and autism-employment movements. Its approach has been discussed in workplace inclusion literature as an example of how organizations can treat neurodivergent talent as a source of professional capability rather than viewing autism only through a support or medical lens. The company has also received recognition from social-enterprise and inclusion organizations, including the IQ Award and several UK Social Enterprise Awards. On 1 January 2025, Luke Williams became Group Chief Executive Officer, succeeding Kurt Schöffer, who retired on 31 December 2024. AUTICON remains an active private professional-services organization with an international footprint, combining client-facing IT consulting with an explicit social-employment mission.
History
AUTICON was established in Berlin in 2011 by Dirk Müller-Remus. From its beginning, the company was designed as both an IT consultancy and a social enterprise. Its distinctive employment model centered on recruiting autistic adults as professional consultants and matching their technical capabilities with client assignments. The model also incorporated workplace adjustments and coaching, recognizing that successful employment may require changes to communication, management, and working environments rather than relying solely on individual adaptation. The company’s development took place against a broader rise in interest in neurodiversity, inclusive employment, and the economic contribution of autistic professionals. AUTICON’s model sought to move beyond symbolic inclusion by placing autistic employees in revenue-generating technology roles. Its consultants serve commercial clients, while the organization provides the practical support needed to make those roles sustainable. A significant early international development occurred in October 2016, when AUTICON received investment from Virgin Group and the UK charity Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The investment was intended to support expansion in the United Kingdom and helped the company extend its social-enterprise model into another major professional-services market. In June 2018, AUTICON entered the United States through the acquisition of MindSpark, an IT consultancy headquartered in Santa Monica, California. The transaction provided an established American operating base and broadened AUTICON’s international consulting platform. In 2019, the company continued its geographic expansion in Canada by acquiring Meticulon’s technology consulting division. Together, these acquisitions complemented organic expansion and extended the organization’s presence in North America. AUTICON later pursued closer integration with Unicus, an Oslo-based Nordic consultancy with a related focus on autistic and neurodivergent professionals. In 2023, the two organizations announced an agreement under which they would unite. The proposed combination reflected a strategic effort to build scale across countries while preserving a specialized position in technology consulting and inclusive employment. By 2024, AUTICON operated in 15 countries. Its 2024 impact report described an organization with 307 clients and 552 employees worldwide. According to the report, 79% of the workforce identified as neurodivergent, while 405 autistic people held technology and data roles. These figures illustrate the scale of the company’s employment mission as well as its commercial reach. AUTICON has received recognition for its social-enterprise and inclusion work. Its awards include the 2013 IQ Award, the 2017 UK Social Enterprise Awards One to Watch Award, the 2021 UK Social Enterprise Awards International Impact award, and two 2022 UK Social Enterprise Awards: Social Enterprise of the Year and Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Justice. The company’s operating model has also been cited in discussions of neurodiversity in the workplace and the potential competitive value of employing neurodivergent talent. Leadership changed at the start of 2025. Luke Williams was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2025, following Kurt Schöffer’s retirement on 31 December 2024. AUTICON’s history therefore combines international expansion, acquisitions, organizational integration, and the continued development of a commercial model based on supported employment for autistic technology professionals.
- 2025
Luke Williams becomes Group CEO
[1]Luke Williams assumed the Group Chief Executive Officer role on 1 January 2025.
- 2024
International operations and impact reported
[1]AUTICON reported operating in 15 countries, serving 307 clients, employing 552 people, and employing 405 autistic people in technology and data roles.
- 2023
Agreement to unite with Unicus
[1]AUTICON and Unicus announced an agreement under which the two consultancies would unite.
- 2022
UK Social Enterprise Awards recognition
[1]AUTICON won Social Enterprise of the Year and Social Enterprise Building Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Justice awards.
- 2021
International Impact award
[1]AUTICON won the International Impact award at the UK Social Enterprise Awards.
- 2019
Expansion into Canada
[1]AUTICON acquired Meticulon’s technology consulting division and expanded into Canada.
- 2018
Entry into the United States
[1]AUTICON entered the United States through the acquisition of MindSpark.
- 2016
Investment supports United Kingdom expansion
[1]Virgin Group and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation invested in AUTICON to support its expansion in the United Kingdom.
- 2013
IQ Award
[1]AUTICON received the IQ Award.
- 2011
AUTICON founded in Berlin
[1]Dirk Müller-Remus founded AUTICON as an IT consultancy and social enterprise employing autistic adults as consultants.
Products and positioning
A socially driven international IT consultancy that uses supported employment and neurodiverse talent to deliver technology and data services.
Professional services · 2011
IT consulting
AUTICON provides IT consulting through teams that include autistic technology professionals. The company’s commercial offering connects consultants’ technical capabilities with client projects while providing workplace adjustments and coaching intended to support effective, sustainable participation in professional environments.
Technology services
Technology and data consulting
Technology and data roles form a central part of AUTICON’s employment and consulting model. The company reported that 405 autistic people held technology and data positions in 2024, indicating that these services are both a commercial activity and a core component of its social-enterprise mission.
Employment support · 2011
Supported neurodivergent employment
AUTICON combines professional placement with coaching and workplace adjustments for autistic consultants. Rather than treating inclusion as a separate charitable program, this support is integrated into the delivery of paid IT and data consulting work for clients.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016United Kingdom expansion initiative
United Kingdom
Investment from Virgin Group and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation supported AUTICON’s expansion of its neurodiversity-focused consulting model into the United Kingdom.
Outcome. AUTICON continued its international expansion and developed a presence in the United Kingdom.
Brand decisions
2025
Appointment of Luke Williams as Group CEOOtherBackground
Kurt Schöffer retired as Group Chief Executive Officer on 31 December 2024.
Action taken
Luke Williams was appointed Group Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2025.
Aftermath
Williams became the company’s chief executive as AUTICON continued operating as an international private IT consultancy and social enterprise.
2023
Agreement to unite with UnicusM&ABackground
AUTICON and Unicus operated related Nordic and international consulting businesses focused on autistic and neurodivergent professionals.
Action taken
The two companies announced an agreement under which they would unite.
Aftermath
The agreement represented a move toward greater scale and integration in international neurodiversity-focused technology consulting.
2019
Acquisition of Meticulon technology consulting divisionM&ABackground
AUTICON continued its geographic expansion in North America after entering the United States.
Action taken
The company acquired Meticulon’s technology consulting division.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded AUTICON’s operations into Canada.
2018
Acquisition of MindSparkM&ABackground
AUTICON sought to establish a direct operating presence in the United States.
Action taken
The company acquired MindSpark, an IT consultancy based in Santa Monica, California.
Aftermath
The acquisition marked AUTICON’s entry into the United States and expanded its international consulting platform.
Recent events
- 2025
Luke Williams appointed Group CEO[1]
Leadership change
Luke Williams became Group Chief Executive Officer on 1 January 2025, succeeding Kurt Schöffer after Schöffer’s retirement at the end of 2024.
- 2023
AUTICON and Unicus announce plan to unite[1]
M&A
AUTICON and Oslo-based Nordic consultancy Unicus announced an agreement under which the two companies would unite.
- 2019
AUTICON acquires Meticulon technology consulting division[1]
M&A
AUTICON expanded into Canada through the acquisition of Meticulon’s technology consulting division.
- 2018
AUTICON enters the United States through MindSpark acquisition[1]
M&A
AUTICON expanded into the United States by acquiring MindSpark, an IT consultancy based in Santa Monica, California.
- 2016
Virgin Group and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation invest in AUTICON expansion[1]
Other
AUTICON received investment from Virgin Group and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation to support expansion in the United Kingdom.
Sources2 sources
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