Discover the compelling narratives of five innovative startups reshaping their industries in 2024. Unitary pioneers online safety with advanced context-aware AI. Lottie simplifies the search for care and nursing homes through a transparent marketplace. KatKin revolutionizes cat care with premium meals and innovative products. Zero Gravity breaks barriers for student success with tech-driven solutions. TopMarks AI, founded by Richard Davis, offers a swift and equitable approach to automated essay marking for schools. Join us on a journey through their impactful missions and transformative journeys.
1) Unitary: Pioneering AI For Safer Online Spaces
Founders: Sasha Haco and James Thewlis
Founded: 2019
Website: unitary.ai
Meet Unitary, a standout startup, revolutionizing online safety through advanced context-aware AI. Founded in 2019 by Sasha Haco and James Thewlis, whose diverse backgrounds include black hole physics and content moderation at major platforms, Unitary addresses the pressing challenge of content moderation. Using patented technology, the startup analyzes three billion images daily and 25,000 frames of video per second, ensuring the safety of individual users and entire communities.
Unitary's impact extends beyond moderation, aiming to tackle unsafe advertising with tools like GARM and Detoxify. Reflecting on their mission, co-founder Sasha Haco expresses excitement about the startup's ambitious goal: 'In future, the business says it will be a horizontal content moderation tool that’s layered across the entire internet, solving safety problems before they can be published.' Unitary's commitment to creating a safer online world has garnered substantial support, securing £12.3 million in Series A funding in October 2023, building on a £6.7 million raise just seven months earlier. As social networks continue to expand, Unitary stands poised to disrupt and moderate the media landscape, offering a brighter, safer future for the internet age.
2) Lottie: Simplifying The Search For Care And Nursing Home
Founders: Chris and Will Donnelly
Founded: 2021
Website: https://lottie.org
Meet Lottie a groundbreaking transparent marketplace simplifying the search for care and nursing homes. Founded in 2021 by siblings Chris and Will Donnelly, Lottie aims to alleviate the complexities of finding suitable care, a prevalent challenge for the 2.6 million people aged 50+ in England, according to Age UK.
Lottie's tech-powered execution is transforming the sector. The platform offers an intelligent search engine for care seekers, coupled with a commitment from care providers to disclose all fees upfront. This transparency has saved care seekers an impressive £5,000 annually. Chris Donnelly reflects on their journey, stating, 'Every time we help a care seeker find the best care home, it brings us joy and reminds us of why we set out on our business mission.' With smart adaptations and a £17 million Series A funding boost, Lottie is not only changing lives but also challenging the status quo of the care industry, with a vision to help millions live a happier, healthier later life.
3) KatKin: Elevating Cat Care
Founders: Brett and Nikki O'Farrell
Founded: 2019
Website: https://www.katkin.com
Meet KatKin, the premium cat care brand that's taking feline well-being to new heights. Founded in 2019, KatKin was born out of the deep care and concern of siblings Brett and Nikki O'Farrell for their cherished feline companions—Molly, Kiki, and Columbus. This heartfelt dedication drove them to embark on a journey when they were astonished by the subpar quality found in conventional cat foods. The revelation of inferior ingredients propelled the O'Farrells to take action, leading to the inception of KatKin.
KatKin's subscription service delivers boxes of 100% fresh, high-quality meat meals (with no preservatives or additives) directly to cat parents' doors. All meals are cooked at under 100°C to preserve vital nutrients and are frozen to maintain freshness. The brand's commitment to feline health extends beyond nutrition with innovative products like Scoop Health, a color-changing silica litter that monitors urinary health, and Scoop Planet, a 100% biodegradable litter made from restaurant industry waste.
After securing a significant €21.6 million in Series A funding in 2022, KatKin has further enhanced its operations, building its own kitchen for fulfillment in Haverhill. This strategic move ensures an improved customer experience, making unboxing a delight for KatKin's ever-growing customer base.
4) Zero Gravity: Breaking Barriers for Student Success
Founders: Joe Seddon
Founded: 2020
Website: https://www.zerogravity.co.uk
Meet Zero Gravity, founded in 2020 by Joe Seddon, this startup is on a mission to redefine social mobility through tech-driven solutions. Fuelled by his personal experiences growing up in West Yorkshire, Joe understands the challenges faced by those from low-opportunity backgrounds. Rejecting the notion that opportunities depend on who you know and where you're from, Joe launched Zero Gravity with a clear mission to level the playing field.
Partnering with over 500 state schools, Zero Gravity identifies high-performing students in the bottom 40% for socio-economic disadvantage, yet achieving grade scores in the top 15% of the country. These students are then matched with industry mentors and provided curated job opportunities in medium and large enterprises. The platform not only builds an effective talent pipeline for employers but also equips students with the tools and support needed to reach their full potential.
Zero Gravity's impact speaks volumes, championing over 8,000 students from low-opportunity backgrounds into top-tier universities in the last financial year. Looking forward, the company aims to scale its impact, targeting support for over 20,000 students annually by 2025. With £3.5 million in seed funding secured and Harvard University contributing to an international pilot, Zero Gravity is not only reshaping futures but also challenging the deep-rooted issues of social mobility.
5) TopMarks AI: Revolutionizing Essay Marking
Founders: Richard Davis
Founded: 2023
Website: https://www.topmarks.ai
Meet TopMarks AI, the game-changer in automated essay marking for schools. This innovative tool offers a swift and equitable approach to grading essays, providing a faster, fairer method for both students and educators.
With TopMarks AI, the process is seamless. Users select the marking tool tailored to their qualification/exam board/module, input the essay or response, and include relevant contextual data. The advanced artificial intelligence models then generate comprehensive written feedback and deliver accurate, consistent numerical grades. Each marking rubric, crafted by expert examiners, ensures precise feedback in a format that empowers students to make tangible improvements.
Richard Davis, the founder and director of TopMarks AI, brings over a decade of experience as a private tutor and a distinguished academic background, holding a First Class degree in English Literature & Language from UCL and an M.Phil in American Literature from the University of Cambridge. Overseeing the rise of Accolade Press, a boutique academic publishing house, Richard's commitment to excellence is evident. As the author of four bestselling thriller novels and a TikTok sensation with educational videos garnering over a million views, Richard combines expertise with innovation in shaping the future of automated essay marking with TopMarks AI.
Why opt for TopMarks? The tool boasts expertly crafted rubrics, surpassing the consistency of chat bots and human markers, according to OFQUAL research. Recognized as award-winning, the TopMarks AI team ensures fair, consistent results and integrates powerful plagiarism detection, providing teachers with confidence in assessing students' authentic work. Additionally, TopMarks AI goes beyond conventional tools by offering a unique feature to convert handwritten scripts into editable text, enhancing efficiency in essay evaluation. Experience the future of essay marking with TopMarks AI.
