Building for Impact: Starting a Neurodiversity Startup - Pratik Bhumkar

In this episode of the Neurodivergent Mates - Podcast, Will sits down with his business partner and mate, Pratik Bhumkar, to dive deep into the story behind Neurodiversity Academy — how it started, why it matters, and what it really takes to build something that makes a difference.

Together, they open up about the highs and lows of creating a social impact organisation, from big wins to unexpected challenges, and why building for purpose often means taking the harder road.

This honest and down-to-earth conversation shines a light on the realities of growing a mission-driven business that’s working to create a more neuro-inclusive future — one partnership, one learner, and one organisation at a time.

Questions:

- Pratik, please share with the audience a bit about yourself.

- What inspired us to create Neurodiversity Academy, and what problem were we trying to solve in the education space?

- What were some of the biggest challenges in building the platform and turning our vision into something real?

- How would you describe the difference between building a social impact business versus a traditional startup focused purely on profit?

- What have been some of the biggest lessons or turning points for us as co-founders working in the neurodiversity and education space?

- Running a social impact organisation isn’t easy — what’s one challenge we faced that really tested our resilience, and how did we push through it?

- Let’s talk about the future — what does success look like for Neurodiversity Academy over the next few years?

- For anyone listening who wants to start their own purpose-driven business, what advice would we give them about building something that truly creates change?

- Where can people connect with you on social media?