Private tutoring can give students a major academic advantage, but quality one-to-one support remains too expensive for many families. London-based Medly AI is taking a different approach by using artificial intelligence to make personalised exam preparation more accessible.

The education startup has raised £6 million in seed funding, led by Felix Capital, with existing investors Eka Ventures and Ada Ventures also participating. Several angel investors joined the round, including Andrey Dobrynin, Al Giles, Jean Hammond and Hector Mason.

Building an AI tutor for every student

Founded by UCL medicine graduates Paul Jung and Kavi Samra, Medly combines seven large language models with neuroscience and teaching theory to create a personalised AI tutor.

The platform tracks student progress, adapts its teaching style and provides instant feedback on practice questions. Students can also write directly on the platform using tablets or styluses, which is particularly useful for subjects such as Maths and Chemistry.

The early numbers are significant. Medly says 74% of students who used the platform to prepare for their GCSE exams improved by at least one grade, while 41% improved by two or more grades. Students preparing for exams use the platform for around an hour a day on average, with almost one million messages exchanged daily between students and their AI tutors.

Since launching in February 2025, Medly has grown its UK user base by almost 600%, reaching more than 400,000 users across the country.

Why investors are backing AI education

For founders and investors, Medly's funding highlights a broader opportunity in AI-powered education.

Rather than building another general-purpose AI chatbot, the company is focusing on a specific outcome, helping students prepare for exams through personalised feedback and curriculum-focused support.

That approach could become increasingly valuable as AI moves deeper into education. The challenge is not simply giving students access to information. It is creating systems that understand where a student is struggling and adapt accordingly.

Medly is also expanding internationally. The company has launched SAT preparation in the US and plans to add AP and ACT support. Its new funding will help expand into additional markets while supporting further research into the effectiveness of AI-assisted education, including a completed randomised controlled trial involving more than 1,000 UK students.

The company has also joined the UK Department for Education's AI Tutoring Tools Pioneers Programme alongside ElevenLabs and Pearson, adding further credibility to its ambitions in the education sector.

For Medly, the next challenge is proving that strong early engagement and academic results can translate into lasting educational impact at international scale.

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What do you think? Could AI tutors eventually make private tutoring more accessible, or will human teachers remain essential for personalised education? Share your thoughts in the comments.