icare-backed Xceptional has received a $1m fund injection after winning the Google.org Impact Challenge with their app prototype, business plan and pitch, the NSW insurer has announced.
The socially focused startup was established two years ago and has been fostered to grow through the icare Foundation-funded Remarkable Incubator.
Xceptional helps people with autism gain employment by operating its own software-testing service, where it employs people with autism to test software for bugs and security issues, and by running a recruitment service that matches companies with recruits who demonstrate unique skills and strengths in areas such as data analytics and cybersecurity.
“People with autism often have enhanced skills in areas like pattern recognition, attention to detail, and focus, which means they can make wonderful employees if given the chance.” said Aron Mercer, Xceptional chief growth officer. “The roles we’re placing recruits in are usually some of the hardest roles to fill— like full-stack engineers, cybersecurity, and data analysts. We’re tapping into a group of people that are often overlooked and underutilised and linking them to businesses.”
At a two-day product-development workshop with Remarkable at icare’s iLab space, Xceptional developed a prototype for an app that assesses people with autism for jobs in a way that works for them, Mercer said.
The strengths-based employment-assessment app is being developed by Xceptional to get an in-depth understanding of the exact skills of a job candidate without the need for a traditional interview process where they are asked to explain their achievements.
The $1m Impact Challenge funding will be used to scale Xceptional’s enterprise solution and support service to increase its impact and help secure more people work.
“We are so proud to have helped this extraordinary company grow and develop through Remarkable,” said Barney Smith, Interim General Manager, icare foundation.
