Are you building a startup that can transform the lives of autistic individuals and their families? The Autism Innovation Lab invites parent entrepreneurs, autistic self-advocates, student inventors, and early-stage founders to apply for our cohort focused on Healthcare & Therapies, Safety & Independence, Housing & Inclusive Communities, and Quality of Life solutions.
Selected startups gain early-stage funding opportunities, access to our global network or investors, decision makers & change agents, mentorship from industry and parent leaders, pilot program research & development, and national exposure through AutismSpa.com Podcast Magazine, and investor stages including the Autism Innovation Summit 2026 and Autism Investor Summit West 2026. Apply now to join a launchpad designed to build independence, dignity, and thriving futures for the autism community.
We’re Looking For
- An autistic self-advocate, parent, caregiver, or ally
- A technologist, educator, product designer, or clinical expert
- A student or early-stage inventor developing something powerful
- An early-stage investor or philanthropic backer seeking impact
- A doer who leads with empathy, grit, and purpose
Open Co-Founder & Partner Roles
Ready to Help Build What’s Next?
- Technical Co-Founder – AI, assistive tech, platform development
- Product/Clinical Co-Founder – Autism services, OT, behavioral design, education
- Design Co-Founder – UX/UI, inclusive product development
- Business/Operations Co-Founder – Strategy, scaling, fundraising, sustainability
- Impact Investor / Business Co-Founder – Bring capital, mentorship, and muscle
- Parent or Student Co-Founder – You’ve already created something powerful. We’ll help bring it to market
Selected applicants will gain
- Introduction to autism communities & marketplaces across the country
- Angel Investor introductions
- Pitch opportunities at national autism investment conferences
- Opportunity to compete for $2,500 to $50,000 in equity/share investment from our founding members
- Six to twelve months of peer mentorship
- Select access to our exclusive database of schools, organizations & institutions for pilot programs
- Media training & social media promotions
- Custom website & branding creation
- Your own apps under our community app ecosystem
- Promotion into the multifaceted ecosystem & matrixed network of the Autism Innovation Lab ie. Each member supporting the next member
Startup Application Criteria
Who Should Apply? Our goal is to identify disruptive startups that will empower families impacted by Autism, their providers, and their communities. We look at the following criteria when evaluating companies for our Autism Innovation Lab:
- Team: At least one full time team member and, ideally, someone on the leadership team with a personal connection to autism.
- Product: Product is a past idea stage with a defined timeline and path to initial customer traction.
- Markets: HealthTech / Digital Health; EdTech (Educational Technology); SaaS for Providers & Caregivers; Mental Health & Behavioral Analytics; Care Coordination Platforms; Workforce & Life Skills Tech; Consumer Health & Wellness; Insurance & Benefits Tech (InsurTech); AI & Data Analytics for Outcomes Measurement.
- Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed (~$1m-$20m valuations/caps)
Above all, we prioritize exceptional leadership committed to improving the quality of life for families impacted by autism at every step in their journey.