Specialisterne USA
Specialisterne USA is a 501(c) nonprofit that bridges neurodivergent job seekers with employers through inclusive hiring programs, competency-based assessments, employer advisory services, and a free 8-week online IT Academy launched in 2025 in partnership with Aspiritech and IBM SkillsBuild.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2013
- HeadquartersWilmington, Delaware, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Specialisterne USA does
Specialisterne USA Inc. is a Delaware-registered 501(c) charitable nonprofit, founded in 2013, that serves as the US affiliate of the Specialisterne Foundation (founded in Denmark in 2004). The organization operates as a bridge between neurodivergent job seekers — primarily autistic adults and individuals with ADHD, dyslexia, and related conditions — and employers seeking to build inclusive workforces. Its core offering is the Neurodiversity Hiring Initiative, which features a competency-based assessment process that uses hands-on, task-based evaluations in controlled environments to evaluate candidates outside traditional interview formats. The organization pairs this with Workplace Support Specialist services providing post-placement coaching for the first three months of employment and an eLearning Series for new employees.
In addition to employer placement services, Specialisterne USA launched its first US Academy in May 2025, an 8-week fully online IT training program for autistic adults, executed in partnership with Aspiritech and funded by a $1.1 million grant from The Hg Foundation. The Academy combines IBM SkillsBuild curriculum (covering data science, cybersecurity, and cloud computing) with real-time instruction and practical hands-on exercises, offered free to participants. The organization also offers an eLearning Suite for employers developed with Distinct*ability, and an Inclusive Talent Management Maturity Model framework co-developed with Dr. Rob Austin of the Ivey School of Business for evaluating organizational diversity maturity.
Specialisterne USA generates revenue through fee-based employer services (including hiring program development, training, education, and advisory work delivered through direct B2B engagement) and through grants and charitable funding from foundations such as The Hg Foundation. The organization serves enterprise clients across financial services (TD Bank Group, Goldman Sachs), technology (IBM), transportation, and other sectors, and has been named to the Forbes Accessibility 200 list for two consecutive years (2025, 2026). It is led by CEO Francesc Sistach and operates with a lean 13-person US team from Dover, Delaware, with employer engagements spanning major US metros including New York, Dallas, and San Francisco.
Specialisterne USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Specialisterne USA
- Legal name
- Specialisterne USA Inc.
- Website
- https://us.specialisterne.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2013
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Specialisterne USA is a 501(c) nonprofit that bridges neurodivergent job seekers with employers through inclusive hiring programs, competency-based assessments, employer advisory services, and a free 8-week online IT Academy launched in 2025 in partnership with Aspiritech and IBM SkillsBuild.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Specialisterne USA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Neurodiversity Employment Services
- NAICS
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Educational Support Services (61171)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time) (BPAEANAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention (EDAKAKAI)
Keywords
Where Specialisterne USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wilmington, Delaware
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Specialisterne USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Employer Services and Advisory: Specialisterne USA generates revenue by providing services to employers including neurodiversity hiring program development, training, education, and advisory services. These are fee-based engagements with businesses seeking to build inclusive workplaces and access neurodivergent talent pools.
- Grants and Charitable Funding: As a 503(c) charitable organization, Specialisterne USA receives grant funding from foundations such as The Hg Foundation ($1.1M grant) to support operations, program development, and expansion of services including the Academy program.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Multi-year contract | Free Academy program for neurodivergent job seekers |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Employer partnership and advisory services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Specialisterne USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Specialisterne USA bridges neurodivergent job seekers with employers through inclusive hiring programs, a proprietary competency-based assessment process, employer training and advisory services, and the Specialisterne Academy — a free 8-week online IT skills training program for autistic adults. Core service offerings include employer-side neurodiversity hiring program development, candidate assessment and placement, post-hire support, and workforce education via a proprietary eLearning suite.
Product overview
Specialisterne USA offers a comprehensive suite of neurodiversity employment services built around two core offerings: the Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives (including their unique Assessment Process, Workplace Support Specialist services, and eLearning Series for New Employees) and the Specialisterne Academy (an 8-week online IT training program). Additional offerings include the eLearning Suite for Neurodiversity in the Workplace (developed with Distinct*ability) for employer education, and the Inclusive Talent Management Maturity Model framework. The organization operates as a bridge connecting neurodivergent job seekers with employers committed to inclusive hiring, providing both candidate assessment/placement and employer training services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Academy: A fully online, 8-week program that prepares autistic adult learners for careers in IT, combining IBM SkillsBuild training with real-time instruction and practical hands-on exercises.
- Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives
- Talent Community
Products and services
- Specialisterne Academy A fully online, 8-week intensive training program that prepares autistic adults for careers in IT by combining IBM SkillsBuild e-learning curriculum with real-time instruction and practical hands-on exercises. Free for neurodivergent participants; offers small class sizes, supportive coaches, and an employment pathway with business partners.
- Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives A comprehensive hiring program for employers that connects neurodivergent job seekers with inclusive employers through a unique assessment process designed to remove barriers embedded in traditional hiring, including task-based evaluations in comfortable settings and ongoing workplace support.
- Inclusive Talent Management Maturity Model A framework developed in partnership with Dr. Rob Austin of the Ivey School of Business for evaluating an organization's current diversity state, future goals, and establishing a path toward achieving fully inclusive policies, processes, and practices. Defines criteria for each phase of maturity in recruitment and onboarding.
- eLearning Suite for Neurodiversity in the Workplace A comprehensive eLearning suite designed for employers on the journey toward increasing workforce neurodiversity, created in partnership with Distinct*ability. Includes core modules for all employees and specialized modules for managers and HR professionals.
- Specialisterne Assessment Process An inclusive, hands-on, task-based assessment designed to reduce the stress and anxiety of traditional interviews, providing candidates with opportunities to showcase knowledge, skills, and abilities in a relaxed, collaborative setting. Includes coding tests, pattern recognition tests, and practical problem-solving exercises.
- Workplace Support Specialist Services Post-placement support services provided during the first three months of employment, connecting new employees and hiring managers with dedicated specialists for ongoing guidance and troubleshooting.
- eLearning Series for New Employees An enrollment program for new employees titled 'Getting Started in your New Role' designed to support preparation for starting a new job with structured learning content.
Quantifiable outcome
- 90% retention after 12 months of employment for placed candidates
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Specialisterne USA
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Specialisterne USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Specialisterne USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AspiritechcoreAspiritech, a Chicago-based tech services nonprofit founded in 2008 inspired by Specialisterne's model, partnered for the launch of Specialisterne's first US Academy. Aspiritech's neurodivergent Academy guides oversee instruction for the pilot cohort, ensuring lived experience and authentic supportive leadership. Both organizations share mission and ethos for advancing autistic employment.
- IBM SkillsBuildcoreIBM SkillsBuild partnership provides Specialisterne's talent community with free access to 1000+ online courses covering data science, cybersecurity, project management, and other STEM fields. IBM SkillsBuild is an educational platform helping job seekers earn industry-recognized credentials. Specialisterne has selected customized training content including Foundational Skills, Data Analysis Foundations, and Cybersecurity learning plans.
- Distinct*abilityminorPartnership with Distinct*ability to create and deliver a comprehensive elearning suite for employers focused on neurodiversity in the workplace. Includes core modules for all employees and specialized modules for managers and HR professionals.
- Dr. Rob Austin (Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario)minorSpecialisterne developed the Inclusive Talent Management Maturity Model in partnership with Dr. Rob Austin of the Ivey School of Business. The framework evaluates an organization's current state and future diversity goals.
- SuperFriendminorSpecialisterne Australia COO Vicky Little co-authored SuperFriend's whitepaper on neurodivergence and mental health in the workplace. SuperFriend's Indicators of a Thriving Workplace survey collected data on neurodivergent workers, providing research backing for neurodiversity initiatives.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Specialisterne USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Best Buddies International: Nonprofit delivering employment, mentoring, and inclusive job placement programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, directly comparable to Specialisterne USA's employer-facing mission.
- Aspiritech: A Chicago-based nonprofit providing IT services and employment pathways for neurodivergent adults, explicitly partnering with Specialisterne USA on the US Academy launch and running a nearly identical training-to-employment model.
- Hire Autism (Autism Speaks): Autism Speaks' employment program connecting autistic job seekers with employers through job boards and career resources, comparable to Specialisterne USA's Talent Community and placement function.
- Disability:IN: Disability employment-focused nonprofit network that runs employer advisory, talent programs, and the Disability Equality Index, mirroring Specialisterne USA's B2B employer services model.
- Bender Consulting Services: Disability-owned firm recruiting and placing neurodivergent and disabled professionals into corporate roles; a focused direct competitor to Specialisterne USA's Neurodiversity Hiring Initiatives.
- Source America: AbilityOne-designated nonprofit providing vocational rehabilitation and employment services for people with significant disabilities, comparable to Specialisterne USA's vocational rehabilitation and placement model.
Broad incumbents
- SAP Autism at Work: SAP's enterprise neurodiversity hiring program pioneered in 2013 with Specialisterne; competes with Specialisterne USA for both employer mindshare and autistic talent, while also being a model customer.
- JPMorgan Chase Autism at Work: JPMorgan's global Autism at Work program, a large-bank direct comparator that hires autistic candidates through structured processes and competes for employer advisory engagements.
- Microsoft Neurodiversity Hiring Program: Microsoft's in-house neurodiversity hiring initiative inside a large tech employer, offering an alternative pathway for autistic and neurodivergent candidates that competes with Specialisterne USA's managed recruitment service.
Emerging players
- Joon Capital dba Joonko (Workability): Tech-enabled startup providing underrepresented talent sourcing and neurodiversity-focused candidate matching to employers; an emerging alternative to Specialisterne USA's manual assessment-led hiring initiatives.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Specialisterne USA social profiles
Digital presenceSpecialisterne USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Specialisterne USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Specialisterne USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Specialisterne USA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Specialisterne USA
What does Specialisterne USA do?
Specialisterne USA bridges neurodivergent job seekers with employers through inclusive hiring programs, a proprietary competency-based assessment process, employer training and advisory services, and the Specialisterne Academy — a free 8-week online IT skills training program for autistic adults. Core service offerings include employer-side neurodiversity hiring program development, candidate assessment and placement, post-hire support, and workforce education via a proprietary eLearning suite.
Is Specialisterne USA a public or private company?
Specialisterne USA is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Specialisterne USA founded?
Specialisterne USA was founded in 2013. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Specialisterne USA based?
Specialisterne USA is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, United States, in the North America region.
How does Specialisterne USA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Employer Services and Advisory is the primary driver. The others are grants and Charitable Funding.
Who are Specialisterne USA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Best Buddies International, Aspiritech, Hire Autism (Autism Speaks), Disability:IN, Bender Consulting Services and Source America. Broad incumbents are SAP Autism at Work, JPMorgan Chase Autism at Work and Microsoft Neurodiversity Hiring Program. Joon Capital dba Joonko (Workability) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Specialisterne USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Specialisterne USA.
What industry is Specialisterne USA in?
Specialisterne USA's product category is Neurodiversity Employment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEANAE, Technical Bootcamps & Accelerated Reskilling (Full-time/Part-time), with a secondary code of EDAKAKAI, Autism Executive Functioning & Academic Skills Intervention. Its NAICS code is 624310 and its SIC code is 7361.