Birmingham-based startup Teachify wins education & training startup of the year

Teachify, a Birmingham-based startup, has been crowned the Education & Training Startup of the Year at the Midlands Startup Awards 2024. Launched in early 2023, Teachify was founded by Ikum Kandola, a former teacher who envisioned using AI to streamline lesson planning. The platform allows teachers to quickly generate tailored lesson materials, reducing preparation time by up to 70%. Supported by the University of Birmingham’s Elevate Business Incubator, Teachify has made significant inroads in transforming educational technology.

The company’s achievement was celebrated at the Midlands Startup Awards, part of a broader initiative recognising entrepreneurial excellence across ten UK regions. The awards, supported by national entities like Starling Bank and the Welsh Government, underscore the vibrancy of the UK’s startup ecosystem.

Ikum expressed his gratitude upon receiving the award: “This is a significant milestone for us as a startup. Being recognised with this award reflects the hard work and commitment of the Teachify team in improving the lives of teachers through reducing workload induced stress. We look forward to expanding our reach to keep reducing teacher workload and revolutionising the EdTech space!”

The startup’s success story is a beacon for the potential of AI in education, showing how technology can alleviate the pressures faced by educators. With the recognition at the Midlands awards, Teachify now advances to the UK Startup Awards final, poised to compete on a national stage at Ideas Fest, often referred to as ‘the Glastonbury for Entrepreneurs’.