12th March 2024
Tutello (www.tutello.com) the ‘Human + AI’ real-time tutoring and support platform launches March 12th 2024. Tutello provides students with access to an expert AI-powered tutor, and an escalation option for students to access Human Tutors in addition when required. Trained on the courses that students are studying, Tutello supports and guides students throughout their studies.
Tutello allows institutions to supercharge their human tutors by harnessing AI. Using a custom chat AI, pre-imported course content ensures that only relevant material is presented to students when they engage with the AI-function. Tutors can manage cohort enrolments, track patterns in topics that need greater focus and provide second line human support when necessary. Tutello can be easily integrated into other platforms to allow for a seamless learning experience. Tutello’s reach is across the education spectrum to incorporate HE, FE and K12 settings and Tutello is currently working with Universities in the UK, Europe, China and North America including Imperial College, NYU Stern and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Tutello’s founders are Professor of Practice at Imperial College London, Dr David Lefevre and education software expert John Bicknell.
“We are working towards a future in which educators work together with AI systems to enable personalised tutoring so students get the support they need when they need it. Research shows the remarkable positive effects of tutoring on learning outcomes”. Professor David Lefevre
Tutello recently successfully completed a seed funding round, with Terry Sweeney (former CEO of RM plc, Epigeum and Insendi) joining the board as Chair, together with Rory Fowler (Group CEO of Stephen Austin Ltd) and Senior Advisor Simon Lebus (former CEO of Cambridge Assessment).
For further information please contact Tutello COO Adrian Mellor at Adrian.mellor@tutello.com.
David LeFevre, Founder. In 2005, David was co-founder of the Imperial College spin-out Epigeum (now a successful part of Sage Publishing) and in 2018 he co-founded Insendi (now part of Study Group), a leading educational technology firm which offers a pedagogy focused online learning platform. He is ‘Expert in Residence’ at the Imperial Enterprise Lab and is a trustee of the British Council where he focuses on digital innovation.
John Bicknell, Founder and CPO. John is an experienced CPO/CTO and was previously CTO at both Epigeum and Insendi. John is an education software expert and has a particular specialism in agile development and customer understanding in Higher Education markets.
Adrian Mellor, COO is an experienced educationalist and general manager having spent his career growing businesses in international education markets while at Pearson and Oxford University Press. He has successfully led significant platform launches to multi-million pound scale. He has a particular specialism in “go to market” strategies and minimising operational complexity.
Simon Lebus CBE currently works as a non-executive director at Stephen Austin and as senior adviser to Tutello. Simon was previously (2021) Interim Chief Regulator at Ofqual and before that (2002-18) Chief Executive at Cambridge Assessment (now Cambridge University Press and Assessment), where he was responsible for the management of the OCR, Cambridge International and Cambridge ESOL exam boards. Simon’s career before Cambridge Assessment was spent in finance and industry.
Rory Fowler, Non-Executive Director, is the CEO of the Stephen Austin group, a global provider of secure examination processes and printing in the education sector. Rory has reframed a traditional printing business to focus on security and operational efficiency for large scale delivery in educational markets. Rory has a particular specialism in large complex contract negotiations and international market development.
Terry Sweeney, Chair was previously CEO at RM plc and worked closely with David and John when he was CEO of Epigeum and Insendi and directly responsible for growing those businesses prior to them being acquired. Terry is also Chair of WaterBear Education a venture capital backed contemporary music higher education provider with colleges in Brighton and Sheffield.