Incuentro LLC, Wendy Dawson
The inspiration behind Incuentro stems from deeply personal experience. CO-Founder Wendy Dawson became a stepmother to a young boy diagnosed with autism at the age of two. Like many families, she quickly realized that the support systems and practical resources available were limited, fragmented, and difficult to navigate. Facing the overwhelming responsibility of ensuring her stepson could thrive, Wendy committed herself to becoming an advocate—not only for him, but for all families navigating the complexities of autism.
This journey led her to establish Social Motion Skills, a nonprofit dedicated to providing social skills and vocational readiness training for individuals with autism and similar special needs. Over the next decade, she grew the organization into a recognized leader in the space, serving thousands of individuals and families across the Houston area and beyond.
In 2018, building on the momentum of that work and recognizing the growing role of technology in education and career development, Wendy co-founded Incuentro LLC. The company was created to expand her impact and offer scalable, tech-forward solutions that address longstanding gaps in the special education ecosystem. A vital force behind Incuentro’s success is Co-Founder Brandi Timmons, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA—a seasoned Board Certified Behavioral Analyst and special education professional with over 23 years of experience. Brandi brings deep clinical insight, educational design expertise, and a calm strategic lens that perfectly complements Wendy’s entrepreneurial energy and vision.
Together, they are the yin and yang of Incuentro—grounded in purpose, aligned in mission, and driven to create tools that change lives. Their combined strengths, along with the support of expert mentors and partners, have enabled Incuentro to not only win prestigious support like the NSF STTR grant, but to steadily build a platform for sustainable, meaningful change in how neurodiverse individuals are supported, assessed, and empowered.
Incuentro LLC is a women-owned training and solutions company dedicated to tackling challenges in the special education domain through both technology and human-centered design.
Our business operates on two primary fronts: (1) the Spectrum Linx Division, which offers an app—available on Google Play and the Apple App Store—that makes autism expertise easily accessible to families. The app features a two-sided marketplace connecting families with specialized service providers, a moderated private chat forum for peer support, and access to over 85 expert-developed micro-courses a nd Journey Maps designed to support individuals along the autism life path. (2) We also lead research and ed-tech development efforts, including our flagship product AVRAS™ (Adaptive Virtual Reality Assessment System), an NSF STTR Phase I grant-funded, patent-pending career readiness tool powered by AI and VR to help neurodiverse individuals explore employment pathways that fit their strengths, needs, and preferences.
In addition to our for-profit work, we also operate a nonprofit organization—Spectrum Linx Foundation—which runs the Social Motion program in Houston. Through this foundation, we provide direct support and resources to families, educators, and individuals across the autism life span, with a focus on social skills development, vocational training, and long-term independence. This dual structure allows us to make a greater impact by combining scalable technology with compassionate, community-based services.
We needed a way to use technology to make access to autism expertise more easily accessible for families, educators, and individuals. Through our Spectrum Linx resource app and our ongoing ed-tech development, we are accomplishing this goal—bridging gaps in access, equity, and effectiveness. Along the way, we also identified a critical and persistent gap in how autistic individuals are assessed for job readiness. Traditional vocational assessments are often outdated, rigid, and built on assumptions that don’t reflect the unique strengths, preferences, and learning styles of neurodiverse individuals. These tools tend to rely on paper-based or observer-dependent evaluations, which can be both costly and inconsistent. Most importantly, they often fail to capture the true potential of the individuals they aim to serve—leading to underemployment, misaligned career paths, and lost opportunities.
We knew there had to be a better way—one that was dynamic, personalized, and grounded in real data. We envisioned a solution that could empower individuals by highlighting their abilities rather than their limitations. That’s why we created AVRAS™, our Adaptive Virtual Reality Assessment System. AVRAS™ uses cutting-edge AI and immersive VR to engage users in realistic workplace simulations while gathering performance metrics that translate into meaningful, personalized insights. Our goal wasn’t just to modernize assessments—we wanted to revolutionize them and put the individual’s potential at the center of the process.
We blend cutting-edge technology with deep educational expertise in autism to deliver a product that is not only innovative but deeply human-centered. What sets us apart is that we are not simply developers—we are parents and educators who have lived this journey ourselves. We’ve sat on both sides of the table: as caregivers advocating for our children, and as educators designing instruction for diverse learners. Because of that, we don’t just understand our clients—we identify with them. We’ve experienced the sleepless nights, the system gaps, the overwhelming paperwork, and the moments of profound joy when the right support unlocks real progress.
This dual lens allows us to build solutions that are both compassionate and effective. As educators, we understand the need to diversify instruction, individualize support, and meet learners where they are. That insight is embedded into every layer of our design—ensuring our tools are accessible, flexible, and grounded in best practices. Our interdisciplinary team spans education, behavioral science, engineering, and lived experience, creating a synergy that balances technical excellence with emotional intelligence. The AVRAS™ system doesn’t just assess—it advocates. By simulating real-world tasks through immersive virtual reality and collecting actionable data with reinforcement learning, AVRAS™ helps uncover an individual’s true strengths, preferences, and capabilities. It is a tool built to empower, giving both individuals and their support teams clear direction toward meaningful employment pathways. At its core, everything we build at Incuentro reflects our belief that innovation should serve people—and that technology, when developed with empathy and intention, can help neurodiverse individuals thrive on their own terms.
We knew we had a powerful idea and strong technical talent, but we also understood that building a business—especially as a women-owned small business—is no small task. Being a WOSB means constantly navigating complex demands, balancing innovation with credibility and viability, and proving that your vision is not only valid but vital. We had the passion and the product, but we needed business guidance to turn it into a scalable, sustainable venture.
That’s where SCORE came in. SCORE was highly recommended to us as a go-to resource for early-stage startups looking to gain expert mentorship and build the operational backbone needed for long-term success. Their support went far beyond surface-level advice. Our mentors rolled up their sleeves and listened as we refined our business model, staffing needs, mapped out our financial strategy, researched market positioning, and prepared for critical milestones—like pursuing and ultimately winning the NSF STTR Phase I grant. They helped us find clarity when we were overwhelmed, build momentum when we felt stuck, and make crucial connections that continue to propel our operations forward.
Thanks to SCORE, we weren't just running a business—we were growing a mission-driven enterprise with the structure and support to thrive. Their mentorship gave us the confidence to lead boldly, build strategically, and take our place in a space where WOSBs are still underrepresented but increasingly indispensable.
SCORE helps us understand what it truly takes to contemplate, prepare for, and successfully pursue an NSF grant—while simultaneously running a fast-moving startup and related nonprofit. The grant process is complex and often overwhelming, but our mentors help us break it down into clear, manageable steps. From the earliest stages—registering with SAM.gov and navigating Grants.gov—to building a compelling, fundable pitch for the SBA and National Science Foundation, their support is nothing short of essential. They listen and guide as we contemplate the technical requirements, and how to communicate our vision in a way that resonates with reviewers and aligns with agency priorities.
More than just advisors, SCORE mentors serve as strategic partners—helping us assemble the right team, craft a strong commercialization plan, and stay focused on both near-term deadlines and long-term goals. They bridge the critical gap between vision and execution, offering clarity in every domain—operations, compliance, budgeting, and communications. With their guidance, we are translating a big idea into a competitive grant proposal and building a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
They always show up! Our mentors are responsive, thoughtful, and incredibly generous with their time. They not only help us refine our business plan, financial projections, and marketing materials, but also offer encouragement when the process becomes overwhelming. They make the system navigable and success feel attainable. Their real-world experience grounds our vision in practicality, and their belief in our mission gives us the confidence to keep moving forward. With their support, we never feel alone and feel like we have a team behind us every step of the way. What makes their support even more remarkable is their deep understanding of the complex nature of operating both a for-profit and a nonprofit organization simultaneously. They helped us identify symbiotic opportunities between the two entities, while also acknowledging and preparing us for the unique challenges that come with managing a boots-on-the-ground nonprofit alongside a virtual, tech-driven business.
From navigating different audience segments and stakeholder expectations to adjusting our marketing strategies and identifying appropriate funding sources, their insight has been invaluable. They understood that what works for one model doesn’t always translate to the other—and helped us build systems and strategies that reflect that reality. We also reached far and wide through the SCORE network, leveraging its deep bench of expertise to meet specific needs. For example, we were connected with an intellectual property (IP) mentor who brought us up to speed quickly and saved us thousands of dollars by providing invaluable primers on patents, trademarks, and IP strategy. Our mentors’ guidance helped us make smarter decisions early on and avoid costly missteps. The connections and wisdom we’ve gained through SCORE are truly priceless.
Don’t try to do it all alone. Seek out guidance, be willing to learn, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. SCORE mentors will meet you where you are and help you move forward faster and smarter. Their experience can help you avoid costly mistakes and uncover opportunities you didn’t even know existed. With the right support, your vision becomes more than just possible—it becomes achievable. AND - wait for it - IT'S FREE!
With SCORE’s support, we won a prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) STTR Phase I grant to develop our technology—a milestone that validated both our vision and the quality of our work. Their mentorship helped us craft a clear, fundable proposal and build the operational infrastructure needed to manage a federally funded research and development project. Beyond the grant itself, SCORE also helped us identify and connect with a qualified NSF I-Corps mentor—an essential step that accelerated our market discovery process and strengthened our commercialization strategy. This achievement gave us instant credibility in the industry, expanded our network of research and business partners, and opened doors to future investment and growth. Thanks to SCORE’s guidance, we were also able to achieve national publicity for our invention, elevating our brand and attracting interest from educators, workforce development leaders and possible funders.
Without SCORE’s mentorship, we wouldn’t have known where to start—let alone how to navigate the complexities of federal funding, build the right team, and share our story nationwide. Their strategic guidance, encouragement, and belief in our mission made all the difference!
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