Originally published here.
VC's latest blog by Amai Ganjam dives into how neurodiversity is no longer a niche consideration in tech — it’s a rapidly growing movement that’s reshaping how products are built and experienced.
Neurodiversity is a broad term to describe the natural variation in how we think, learn and process the world around us. It encompasses conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia, amongst many others, and whilst neurodiverse people often have unique strengths and talents, they can also face challenges in daily life and the workplace.
The State of Play
Today, around 15 – 20% of the global population are neurodiverse, meaning a potential global market of 1.2bn consumers that builders in the space can tap into. Despite this huge opportunity, the neurodiverse have been historically marginalised, particularly within the tech community. Some key reasons for this are:
Stigmatisation: Neurodiversity has long been perceived as a deficit rather than a difference to be supported and celebrated.
Economic marginalisation: Unemployment amongst the neurodiverse is 8 times higher than the neurotypical, which means muted demand signals for inclusive products (from both employers but also consumers, who have lower purchasing power), and thus reduced incentives for companies to build them.
Fragmentation: Neurodiversity is heterogeneous, with every condition having its own nuances. This poses a challenge to building mass-market solutions that can scale with ease.
Existing solutions often fall short; tools are either specialised but expensive, or cheap but lacking adaptation to individual needs. Solutions are also often built around assumptions rather than lived experience, resulting in poor usability and efficacy.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom. Rising awareness, tech advances and a growing digital movement are opening up opportunities for innovation and greater inclusivity.
Why Now?
So, why does this long-ignored segment now present fertile ground for innovation? We think there are three primary drivers:
1. Cultural acceptance
Awareness has exploded. For instance, mentions of ‘neurodiversity’ in UK job postings have nearly quadrupled since 2018 and posts with #ADHD on TikTok have surpassed 11 billion total views.
Beyond traditional social media, platforms like Reddit have given rise to deeply engaged peer networks. For instance, communities such as r/ADHD (1.2 million subscribers), r/autism (390,000 subscribers), and r/neurodiversity (110,000 subscribers) highlight just how large and active neurodivergent online communities have become.
The result of all of this is a highly engaged, self-advocating community that openly share their frustrations and favourite solutions. For entrepreneurs, this represents a powerful, organic distribution channel with inherent virality potential.
2. AI makes personalisation scalable
As mentioned previously, the heterogeneity of neurodivergence has made the market historically difficult to serve. Needs differ widely not just between conditions, but between individuals and across contexts, meaning products rarely fit everyone, and ‘one-size-fits-all’ tools struggle to gain traction.
AI has fundamentally changed this. Systems can now adapt and tailor interfaces, workflows, sensory environments and support in real time, learning from each user’s patterns and preferences. Combined with wearables and biometrics, this allows products to deliver highly individualised experiences at low cost.
3. Policy momentum
Governments are paying attention. In the UK, initiatives like the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (2025) and new ACAS guidance for neurodiversity at work signal a shift from awareness to action. Institutional buy-in has legitimised the market and lowered barriers for innovators.
What does innovation look like?
Below are some of the subsectors within which startups are emerging:
Clinical platforms like Healios and Rethink First are digitising therapy and care pathways.
The Bigger Picture
Neurodiversity represents more than a market opportunity - products designed for neurodiverse users can create better experiences for everyone, with clearer interfaces, adaptive communication and flexible functionalities.
The next generation of founders who treat neurodiversity not as a subset but as a starting point will define the future of human-centred tech. What began as assistive is becoming increasingly essential.
Why We’re Interested
At True, we back mission-driven entrepreneurs building a better, more sustainable future within the consumer space. If you’re a Pre-Seed to Series A founder building tech for neurodiversity, or an investor and would like to exchange ideas, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch at [email protected].
