Partners
Partners
The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is working with major local, national, and international partners. Here we provide information and links to our Employment Assessment and Referral partners, High School and College Pipeline partners, Major Area Employer partners, and Community partners. We also partner to support start-up ventures, these companies are included on this page but you can also learn about them here.
News From Our Partners
FCAI Launches NeuroTech Frontiers Incubation Program in Partnership with JANUS Innovation Hub
We at FCAI are proud to announce the launch of the Neurotech Frontiers Incubation Program, a groundbreaking initiative developed in partnership with JANUS Innovation Hub. This six-month hybrid program will support early-stage startups building technology solutions that enhance the lives of autistic and neurodivergent individuals, their families, and the professionals who support them. The program…
Read MoreFCAI Hosts Successful Lab-Match Event Connecting Researchers with Innovative Start-Ups
The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is pleased to announce the successful inaugural Lab-Match Event, held today both in-person at Vanderbilt and virtually. This event brought together lab managers and start-up companies in a unique forum designed to connect researchers with entrepreneurial ventures seeking research support. The Lab-Match Event provided a platform for start-ups…
Read MoreSEEKING RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS: PEACES Study Team Recruiting Autistic Undergraduates for Experience Study
What is the study? On behalf of the Postsecondary Education: Autistic Collegians’ Experience of Success (PEACES) study team, we encourage our partners to spread the word about this research study that honors the holistic lived experiences of autistic college students. One goal of this study is to create a publicly accessible national database that provides…
Read MoreFree Virtual Mentorship Program NEXT Connects Accepting Applicants
xNEXT for Autism is now accepting applications for NEXT Connects, a free virtual mentorship program designed to help autistic college students and recent graduates make confident strides toward their next professional step. Participants are matched with a trained professional in their field of interest for a structured series of conversations that build clarity, skills, and…
Read MoreDebugging Broken Systems: The Power of Neurodivergent Thinking by Aras Sheikhi
If you’ve been following along, you know I get excited about the tools and startups built for the neurodiversity community. But lately, my brain has been buzzing about something even bigger. What if the real superpower isn’t just in the apps we build, but in the very wiring of the neurodivergent mind itself? And what…
Read MoreJoin Us: Rockin’ Neurodiverse Employment in Music City USA
The Frist Center for Autism and Innovation is excited to invite you to an upcoming event focused on advancing neurodiverse employment opportunities in Middle Tennessee. On Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 8:30 AM, join us for the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce Talent Solutions Forum’s special presentation: Rockin’ Neurodiverse Employment in Music City, USA. This…
Read MoreNeurotech Rising and the Autistic Founders Rewriting the Autism Story by Aras Sheikhi
There’s a quiet revolution happening, one that hums in code, glows on phone screens, and whispers in startup pitch decks. It’s where artificial intelligence meets autism innovation, where founders with lived experience are shaping the tools that once shaped them. Let’s call it what it is: Neurotech Rising. When AI learns empathy (kind of) For…
Read MoreFrom Amazon to Autism Tech: Vijay Ravindran’s Journey to Founding Floreo
Vijay Ravindran is an engineer, a leader, and a CEO. At the heart of all those titles is his most significant role: a father. When his son was diagnosed with autism, Vijay responded in a way that came most naturally to him: by building a solution. That solution became Floreo, a clinically designed immersive virtual…
Read MoreCountdown to the Neurotech Frontiers Summit: Empowering Neurodiverse Innovation
In just four days, the Neurotech Frontiers Summit, presented by the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation at Vanderbilt University, will make its way to Nashville from October 10th to October 20th. This year’s theme, “Shaping the future of Assistive and Inclusive Technology,” brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, and neurodivergent leaders shaping inclusivity and creating innovation…
Read MoreFCAI Partner TACT in Dedicated Episode of Mike Rowe’s New Show “People You Should Know”
We are so excited to share that TACT, one of our partner organizations, is featured in a dedicated episode of Mike Rowe’s new show, “People You Should Know.” Watching this episode will give you a tour around TACT’s new 19,000 sqft facility, introduce you to some of the many awesome students that TACT train, and…
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