Leonie Frischauf
Stefan Kositz
Aline Tran
Nick Hauser
Hanken School of Economics
Martin Fougere
Laura Varja
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Differgy is a social startup from Germany that helps companies create more inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent individuals. Motivated by a personal connection to autism and the wish to foster understanding and equal opportunities, Differgy was founded by students from the University of Mannheim as part of the Enactus initiative. Since then, it has supported organizations in building inclusive workplaces by designing accessible hiring processes, fostering awareness, and improving inclusion for neurodiverse employees. Their work creates measurable impact by promoting healthier workplaces, stronger teams, and equal opportunities for neurodiverse professionals.
Differgy introduces alternative application formats, personalized onboarding, and ongoing team training to ensure neurodiverse employees feel supported throughout their entire journey. The solution goes beyond awareness campaigns by embedding inclusion into core business processes. This holistic approach fosters good health & well-being (SDG 3), strengthens access to decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and promotes fair participation across talent groups, thereby reducing inequalities (SDG 10).
The innovation developed by Differgy combines business consulting with social inclusion. As founders Tobias and Melina explain, “We are helping companies through their whole application processes from screening interviews to the onboarding process, trying to adapt it more to neurodivergent people.” The team also offers workshops for HR departments and leadership to raise awareness of autism in workplaces and reduce prejudice. They note, “We are trying to find people within companies who are very interested in the topic and educate them more about it, so that neurodivergent people have a person within the company with whom they can talk. This helps neurodivergent people really feel they are supported within their day-to-day work lives.”
The idea for this innovation emerged from personal experience. After conducting further research, the founders recognized a significant gap in Germany’s job market regarding equal opportunities for autistic individuals. They decided to start Differgy in 2021 with the aim of “including every neurodivergent person that can work in the primary workplace.”
While studying at the University of Mannheim and engaging with Enactus, a social startup initiative, the team refined their concept. A key moment came when Tobias Tischmeyer had a heartfelt conversation with his brother, who described the difficulties he faced as an autistic person at work and the lack of understanding surrounding the topic. This conversation sparked the idea and inspired the team to investigate further. The founders began reaching out to affected individuals and companies and quickly realized how challenging employment can be for autistic professionals. As Tobias explains, “There is a huge need in Germany to help companies and autistic people work better together, so we decided to tackle the topic.”
Their motivation grew stronger as they realized that more people are autistic or neurodivergent than commonly assumed. The founders also highlighted that “What kept us going was the positive feedback we got from all around and seeing the actual impact we had on the workplace and on neurodivergent people.”
A turning point came when the first companies not only expressed interest but also showed a willingness to pay for consultations, workshops, and talks. Today, their drive continues to come from staying close to the neurodivergent community and witnessing real change. As the founders emphasize, “Even if we can help a single person, I think it's reason enough to still do the project.”
Differgy observed an immediate short-term impact as client companies became willing to adjust their processes. Many restructured their recruiting and onboarding systems by using more inclusive language and redesigning their career pages to remove barriers. This openness initiated further change within teams, as employees began sharing their needs, providing feedback, and speaking more openly about challenges. This demonstrates that Differgy’s work lowered psychological barriers and fostered open communication. At the same time, the confidence and motivation of neurodivergent individuals to enter or re-enter the job market increased, helping them feel more positive and motivated at work.
For businesses, Differgy links inclusion to performance, showing that diverse teams are more efficient and creative, which leads to improved financial outcomes. Long-term effects include stronger organizational culture and structures that sustain inclusion, so that no neurodivergent person has to struggle to find a job in the first place. This heightened awareness and empathy within workplaces improve retention and overall job satisfaction. Together, these impacts reveal both immediate process improvements and lasting benefits for businesses, society, and neurodivergent individuals.
The changes companies make through Differgy’s consulting lead to more inclusive application processes and workplaces that generate both social and business value. As the founders emphasize, “Neurodivergent individuals are more willing to look again for a job, and they feel more welcome as people are honestly willing to listen to their needs.”
Differgy enables companies to access a largely untapped talent pool of neurodivergent professionals who often bring unique strengths such as pattern recognition, attention to detail, deep focus, specialized domain knowledge, and alternative problem-solving perspectives. The founders add, “As a result, teams integrating neurodivergent people become more diverse, and the efficiency of companies can be improved, as diverse teams profit from different worldviews, different skills, and different knowledge of their members.”
Differgy’s approach helps companies transform inclusion from a compliance exercise into a strategic advantage — enabling better access to skilled workers, higher innovation capacity, and stronger internal culture. Financially, companies also benefit, as the innovation helps companies to be more profitable. However, Differgy’s overarching goal remains to create a world where no neurodivergent person has to struggle to find a job and be included.
Differgy’s innovation addresses significant inclusion and equity gaps by integrating neurodivergent individuals into the workforce, regardless of their unique needs and traits. In Germany, where the unemployment rate among autistic people is around 90%, while an estimated 10–20% of the population is neurodivergent, Differgy helps reduce systemic exclusion by enabling these individuals to gain meaningful employment, participate in society, and contribute economically. By doing so, inequalities are reduced, and marginalized groups are empowered, directly supporting SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
Differgy’s approach ensures that everyone’s skills and talents are utilized in the best way, improving team productivity. Its efforts extend beyond employment by helping society better understand and accept neurodiversity. Through awareness-raising workshops and education, Differgy actively reduces prejudice and fosters inclusivity. In doing so, it promotes social cohesion and cultural change in how organizations perceive difference. Moreover, its work contributes to improved mental health and well-being as employees report feeling better and more motivated at work, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
While Differgy’s innovation primarily focuses on the social pillar of sustainability, its long-term societal impact is profound — creating fairer, more inclusive workplaces that strengthen both communities and economies.
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Melina Jützler, Founder
Tobias Tischmeyer, Founder
Differgy prepares companies to fully leverage the potential of neurodivergent individuals, demonstrating that inclusion and diversity not only foster social good but also enhance brand reputation and attract skilled professionals.