AutonoMe is a startup truly using tech for good. Their app can be classified into either the Social Care, GovTech, Healthcare or Digital Health sector as AutonoMe partners with the experts to help improve the lives of those living with learning disabilities. The company has been going since 2015 with its team for 7 dedicated employees.

Here to tell us more is Founder and CEO at Autonome, William Britton.

1. In your own words – what do you do?

We partner with local authorities to help overcome the current and future challenges they face in providing high-quality support packages to their learning disability population. As part of our service, we provide AutonoMe to selected users which our team personalise to their outcomes and aspirations. As users engage with and progress through the content on their app, we track progress and report this back to the local authority. This supports their evidence case and improves accuracy around future development predictions.

2. What’s the most exciting thing about what you’re doing?

Jumping into the unknown is really exciting. I’m fortunate enough to have a team of passionate experts working alongside me and every day we learn something new. We’re regularly fascinated when we take deep dives into user data trends and patterns.

3. What are you most proud of so far?

Being able to take an idea and grow it into a viable product that people with learning disabilities use on a regular basis. That our service is able to meet the needs of a range of clients and users, our recent partnership with London Ventures and most of all – our collective ambition to bring the way we support people with learning disabilities into the 21st century.

4. What have you found most difficult about being a startup?

I’ve generally felt every part of the journey challenging in some way, shape or form. We’re starting to move out of the startup phase and into scale-up which is bringing new challenges around systems, responsibilities and internal processes. The most challenging part is probably the work-life balance, it’s common for me to be away at networking events, meetings, conferences etc. and work very long hours without much leisure time. I try to spend as much time with my kids and friends as possible when I get any downtime.

5. What would you do differently if you started now?

Probably raise investment quicker. The product, service and team we have would not have been possible to build on sales revenue alone in such a short period of time. However, in hindsight, our proposition for investment was likely more attractive as I’d already spent 3 years building an MVP, obtaining paying clients and product verification through case studies.

6. Where do you think you’ll be in 12 months?

I’d love to think we’d further grown our client and user base for supporting people with learning disabilities in the home. To better capture and report on our social impact and social return on investment. To start helping people with learning disabilities into, and retain, paid employment. Currently, this is just 6% and we really want to do something about it!

7. What tools/people/services/organisations from the cluster have helped you most?

The Bristol cluster has been invaluable to us we’ve able to utilise it to raise investment, network with the industry, obtain legal advice, partnerships, employees, build a board, mentoring, marketing and more. Joining SETsquared Bristol was one of the best decisions I made early and truly realising its benefit later.

8. What’s the best thing about the Bristol & Bath tech cluster?

It’s a hive of activity. There are lots of great events and opportunities to learn from others to improve yourself. This is the best thing about the cluster, the learning – the whole journey for me is about learning.

9. Who will you be nominating for a SPARKie next year?

There is a lot of great and an ever-growing list of fantastic businesses and people who have been doing amazing things this past year. Our list is getting bigger and bigger so hopefully, nearer the time we can make a choice of one of them.

10. Where can we find out more about you?

 

 

A Mettle business account for sole traders and limited companies with up to two owners could help you get your startup on the right track. Read more about Mettle here.

Apps Bristol featured Startup for 10 Tech for Good