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In the rapidly evolving landscape of educational technology, Priya Lakhani OBE recognised that traditional one-size-fits-all teaching methods were failing to unlock the potential of individual learners. Her vision for Century Tech emerged from a deep understanding that artificial intelligence could revolutionise education by providing personalised learning experiences at scale. What began as an ambitious concept has evolved into an award-winning platform that's transforming how students learn and teachers teach across the UK and beyond.
Lakhani's initial concept for Century Tech was rooted in a fundamental belief that every student learns differently and deserves an educational experience tailored to their unique needs, pace, and learning style. Traditional classroom environments, constrained by resource limitations and standardised curricula, often struggle to provide this level of individualisation.
The founding insight was that artificial intelligence, combined with insights from neuroscience and learning science, could bridge this gap by creating truly personalised educational experiences. Rather than forcing students to adapt to rigid educational structures, Century Tech would adapt to each student's individual learning profile, providing content and challenges that optimise engagement and understanding.
This wasn't simply about digitising existing educational content - it represented a fundamental reimagining of how learning could occur. Lakhani envisioned a platform that could understand each learner's strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and progress in real-time, continuously adapting to provide optimal learning pathways.
The initial focus on core subjects—English, maths, and science—was strategic, targeting areas where personalised instruction could deliver the most significant impact on student outcomes whilst addressing curriculum requirements across primary and secondary education, as well as further education colleges.
The development of Century Tech required pioneering work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, educational psychology, and practical classroom implementation. The platform's sophisticated architecture analyses vast amounts of learning data to understand how individual students process information and where they need additional support.
The AI engine powering Century Tech goes far beyond simple adaptive questioning. It incorporates insights from neuroscience research to understand how memory formation and retention work, ensuring that content is presented in ways that maximise long-term learning outcomes. The platform identifies knowledge gaps in real-time and provides targeted interventions before students become frustrated or disengaged.
One of the most significant innovations was addressing the dual challenge of student learning and teacher workload. While personalising education for students, Century Tech simultaneously automates administrative tasks that typically consume significant teacher time. Automated grading, progress tracking, and performance analytics free educators to focus on what they do best: teaching, mentoring, and providing human connection that technology cannot replace.
The platform's real-time data analytics provide actionable insights into student performance, enabling teachers to make informed decisions about interventions and support. This data-driven approach transforms teaching from intuition-based to evidence-based, improving outcomes for both students and educators.
Century Tech's impact on educational outcomes hasn't gone unnoticed, with the platform receiving numerous prestigious awards that demonstrate both its effectiveness and market acceptance. Most notably, Century Tech was named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum in 2021, joining an elite cohort of 100 companies selected for their potential to significantly impact business and society. Previous Technology Pioneer cohorts have included Google (2002), Twitter (2010), Spotify (2011), Airbnb (2014), and other companies that have gone on to reshape entire industries.
Priya Lakhani has also received significant personal recognition for her work, including the MIT SOLVE award in 2018, which recognises entrepreneurs using technology to solve pressing global challenges in education. In 2019, she was named National Economic Innovator of the Year by The Spectator, and in 2016 received The Mayor's Fund Special Recognition Award. Earlier in her entrepreneurial journey, she was awarded Business Entrepreneur of the Year by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in 2009, and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2014.
This external validation has been crucial for a company operating in the conservative education sector, where new technologies often face significant scrutiny and resistance. The awards demonstrate not only Century Tech's technological sophistication but also its proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in educational outcomes.
The company's growth trajectory reflects increasing recognition that personalised learning isn't just a nice-to-have feature but a fundamental necessity for modern education. As educational institutions grapple with diverse student populations, varying skill levels, and the need to prepare students for an increasingly digital world, platforms like Century Tech provide essential infrastructure for 21st-century learning.
The B2B focus has proved strategically sound, allowing Century Tech to work directly with schools and educational institutions to implement systematic change rather than relying on individual adoption. This approach has enabled deeper integration with existing educational workflows and curricula, increasing both effectiveness and sustainability.
Century Tech's funding evolution reflects the growing recognition of education technology as a critical investment sector. From an initial valuation of £8 million in 2017, the company has achieved a 5.5x multiple on invested capital (MOIC), demonstrating strong performance in a sector that historically attracted limited venture investment. The company has raised £22 million in total investment and, according to Lakhani, no longer requires further funding, positioning itself as financially sustainable whilst pursuing global expansion including partnerships in the US market.
The company's relationship with Angel Academe illustrates how targeted angel investment can provide crucial support for female founders tackling complex, socially important challenges. Angel Academe's investment came at a critical stage when the company needed both capital and strategic support to scale its technology and market reach.
Lakhani's experience raising investment as a female founder in the technology sector highlights the persistent challenges that female entrepreneurs face, even when building companies that address universal needs like education. Data shows that only 2.3% of the $289 billion invested globally in 2024 went to female-only founding teams, whilst successful female tech founders need twice as much experience as male founders to secure venture capital funding. The education technology sector, despite its obvious importance and market size, has traditionally received less venture capital attention compared to other technology verticals.
The gender funding gap is particularly pronounced in artificial intelligence and deep technology sectors, where technical complexity may be undervalued or misunderstood by investment committees that lack diverse perspectives. Female founders in these sectors often struggle to secure the substantial funding required to develop and scale sophisticated technology platforms. However, research shows that women-run businesses are more capital efficient and can deliver higher return on investment than male-founded startups: sometimes as much as twice per dollar invested.
Century Tech's success extends beyond individual company metrics to broader questions about educational equity and accessibility. By providing personalised learning experiences that adapt to each student's needs, the platform helps address educational inequalities that have persisted for generations.
The platform's ability to identify struggling students early and provide targeted support has particular significance for educational equity. Traditional educational systems often fail to identify students who need additional support until they've already fallen significantly behind their peers. Century Tech's real-time analytics enable early intervention, potentially preventing educational failure before it occurs.
The company's focus on reducing teacher workload addresses another critical challenge facing modern education systems: teacher retention and satisfaction. By automating routine tasks and providing better tools for understanding student progress, Century Tech helps make teaching more rewarding and effective, potentially addressing broader challenges in teacher recruitment and retention.
The education technology sector presents unique challenges for investors and entrepreneurs alike. Educational institutions are typically risk-averse, with procurement processes that can be lengthy and complex. Demonstrating return on investment in educational outcomes requires sophisticated measurement techniques and long-term studies.
These sector characteristics have historically made education technology less attractive to venture capitalists seeking rapid growth and quick exits. However, companies like Century Tech demonstrate that with appropriate technology, market approach, and strategic support, education technology can deliver both social impact and the potential for financial returns.
Lakhani's success in navigating these challenges while building a technically sophisticated platform speaks to both her leadership capabilities and the quality of support she is receiving from investors like Angel Academe who understand the long-term value creation potential in education technology.
Lakhani's reflection on Century Tech's growth emphasises the importance of finding investors who understand both the market opportunity and the mission-driven nature of educational innovation: "Reflecting on Century Tech's journey, it's clear that our growth has been shaped by the support of investors who truly understand our mission. Angel Academe stands out as a partner who not only provided essential capital but also shared our commitment to leveraging technology for educational advancement."
This testimonial highlights several critical factors in Century Tech's success. Angel Academe provided patient capital that recognised the longer development and adoption cycles typical in education technology. They understood that building relationships with educational institutions requires time and trust-building that may not align with typical venture capital timelines.
The alignment between investor and founder missions proved particularly important for a company addressing social challenges alongside commercial objectives. This philosophical alignment enabled more effective strategic support and decision-making throughout the company's growth journey.
Century Tech's trajectory from initial concept to award-winning platform illustrates the significant opportunity available to investors who can identify exceptional female founders addressing large-scale societal challenges. Angel Academe's EIS Fund I, launched in 2025 as the UK's first Enterprise Investment Scheme fund focused on female-founded businesses, provides individual investors with access to a diversified portfolio of companies founded by women, each tackling significant market opportunities with innovative solutions.
The fund's investment approach, operating in partnership with SyndicateRoom, combines rigorous technical and commercial due diligence with deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that female founders face across various sectors. With a minimum investment of £10,000, investors can achieve diversification across 7-10 high growth potential companies whilst accessing experienced investor networks that have already demonstrated success with companies like Century Tech, where early recognition of both technological capability and market potential has delivered strong returns while addressing critical social needs.
For investors seeking both financial returns and meaningful social impact, Angel Academe EIS Fund I offers compelling access to the next generation of transformative companies. The success of investments like Century Tech demonstrates that when female founders receive appropriate backing and strategic support, they can build companies that deliver exceptional value for all stakeholders while addressing some of society's most important challenges. Through the Enterprise Investment Scheme's tax advantages, investors can support innovative companies whilst optimising their investment returns, contributing to both personal portfolio growth and broader social progress. Please note that EIS benefits depend on personal circumstances and are subject to change.
Founders Forum Group - Women in VC & Startup Funding: Statistics & Trends (2025 Report)
Startups.co.uk - Women Founders Face 'Gender Experience Gap' in VC Funding
Schools Week - CEO's mission to make AI a force for good in classrooms
UNESCO - CENTURY, an AI-powered teaching and learning platform
UK Business Angels Association - Angel Academe launches UK's first female founder focused EIS fund
