How neurodiverse social app Kaboose is expanding its global footprint

A Melbourne-founded community app that is focused on connecting autistic and neurodivergent individuals with friends, mentors and employment is nearing approximately 10,000 users globally, with its founder confirming that the social app will only continue to grow.

Kaboose, a social app for the neurodiverse community, was launched by its founder Michelle Ridsdale in 2021 after seeing her son Nick, who is neurodivergent, face social isolation, bullying and missed educational opportunities, leading to severe mental distress and multiple hospitalisations throughout his life.

Ridsdale said without the chance to find a supportive community or develop job skills, her son struggled with his mental health and couldn’t access employment.

With Kaboose nearing approximately 10,000 users globally, and growing, with a waitlist for its mentoring program, the community app has a team of five supporting autistic and neurodivergent people in their journey towards employment and long-lasting friendships.

Speaking with SmartCompany, Ridsdale said as many as 20% of the population are neurodivergent, totalling almost 1.6 billion people.

“Often, neurodivergent individuals feel alone with no sense of belonging and are frequently underemployed,” she says.

“This costs the US economy over US$400 billion annually in lost productivity and increased social services.

“Our platform provides a safe space for neurodivergent individuals to connect, practice social skills, and access tailored mentoring and employment opportunities.

“By reducing mental health risks and improving employment outcomes, we can unlock the potential of this untapped workforce, driving both social impact and economic growth.”

Ridsdale said the comprehensive platform is a game changer.

“Our social impact goals are to improve mental health and connectedness through friendship and employment,” she says.

“Our purpose is to create a thriving community with authentic connections and access to tailored mentoring to help build capability to find and retain jobs.”

Currently, Kaboose’s audience spans the globe, with about 50% of its members in the US, 25% in Australia, and the remainder across the world.

The platform’s audience ranges from people in their 20s and 30s through to late-diagnosed individuals who are looking for connections and support to navigate their neurodiversity. Kaboose also has a space for under-18s with parental support.

Ridsdale says Kaboose’s growth has been organic.

“However, we have some exciting partnerships launching in the coming months and we’ve recently launched our mentor meetups which are fully booked for our kick-off programs,” she says.

“Mentoring is about building capability for neurodivergent individuals to find and retain employment.

“Our program is run by a dedicated neurodivergent therapy team, who are also part of our strategic advisory board. Our employment module is launching in the coming month.”

Ridsdale added that the Kaboose team was expanding its footprint through partnerships with neurodivergent therapists, employment agencies and neurodivergent-friendly employers.

“Our platform is built by and for the community. We have a deep understanding of neurodiversity through our lived experience,” she says.  

“We are not a dating app, but a community that has been created to provide the support to reduce loneliness, social isolation and reduce the underemployment of this community.”

Kaboose was also the winner of the 2022 RMIT Tech4Good Spark Festival and a finalist in the 2022 Victorian iAwards and Start Up Vic x One Roof: HerStartup Pitch Night.

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