UCL startup raises £1.2 million to bring AI private tutor to more students

The startup was co-founded by Kavi Samra (UCL Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery 2021) and Paul Jung (UCL PhD in psychiatric neuroscience, 2023; UCL Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery 2024).

Medly AI is currently in the Hatchery startup incubator programme at BaseKX, UCL’s dedicated entrepreneurship hub, run by UCL Innovation & Enterprise.

Their aim is to make high-quality, personalised learning accessible to all students, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Since its initial launch last year, the platform has already helped over 10,000 students improve their GCSE scores. After securing £1.2 million in seed funding, led by venture capital partner Eka Ventures, they now aim to reach even more students.

Kavi comments: "This investment is a game-changer for Medly AI. It accelerates our mission to democratise education and expands our reach to students who need us most. The mentorship from UCL's Hatchery programme was crucial in getting us here. Now, we're ready to make a real difference in educational equality."

Paul adds: "With this funding, we can push the boundaries of AI-powered education. It's a testament to our vision and the foundation we built at UCL's Hatchery. We're excited to scale our neuroscience-based platform, making personalised learning accessible to all students, regardless of background."

From humble beginnings

Recent research by educational charity the Sutton Trust suggests that around 30% of 11 to 16-year-olds in the UK have received private tutoring at some point. For families who can’t afford this, private tutoring can reinforce existing inequalities in the education system.

Paul and Kavi both witnessed these inequalities first-hand at school, coming from low-income backgrounds themselves. Despite their subsequent academic achievements, both becoming medical doctors, their earlier experiences at school stayed with them.

Meeting at UCL, they saw an opportunity to change the status quo, leveraging emerging technologies such as advanced artificial intelligence (AI), neuroscience and proven teaching theories. The co-founders were able to develop their ideas further at the Hatchery, where they have access to tailored advice, mentors and equity-free office space.

Dr Kathryn Walsh, Executive Director, UCL Innovation & Enterprise, comments: “Kavi and Paul are exceptional founders with a real sense of mission and purpose and a clear passion for reducing educational inequalities. Their company is also a great example of using AI for social good, at a time when there is uncertainty around its potential impact. We’re proud to support them at the Hatchery and wish them the very best for the future.”

A personal 24/7 tutor

Medly AI’s app, available on Apple’s App Store, provides personalised, curriculum-based education - representing ‘a next generation of AI tutoring’. For example, students can practice with AI-predicted exam papers tailored to their specific exam board, with autonomous, real-time marking and instant feedback.

Users of the app can also take a photo of any exam question for immediate help and detailed answers, and engage in interactive discussions - essentially like having a personal tutor 24/7. Over time, students can visualise their entire exam curriculum as interactive islands that evolve with their comprehension, highlighting strengths and areas for improvement.

Kavi comments: “Our goal is to provide personalised education to every student, regardless of their background, and empower them to reach their full potential.

Paul adds: “By applying insights from my PhD in neuroscience, we’ve developed a custom AI architecture that revolutionises teaching. Medly AI adapts to each student’s unique learning style, making education more accessible and effective than ever before.”

Links

Find out more about:

• Medly AI
• Entrepreneurship support for UCL students and recent graduates
• Join our Hatchery incubator startup programme
• UCL Faculty of Medical Sciences

Photo © Medly AI