Graffinity wins Government funding to scale-up AI powered EdTech solution
13 January 2025
Graffinity, an innovative EdTech start-up from Cohort 4 of the UCL Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI) Impact Accelerator Programme, has been awarded a share of £1 million as part of the Department for Education’s (DfE) AI Tools for Education competition.

Graffinity, an innovative EdTech startup and chohort 4 alumnus of the UCL CDI Impact Accelerator Programme, has been awarded a share of £1 million as part of the Department for Education’s (DfE) AI Tools for Education competition. This significant milestone, achieved in collaboration with UCL’s Institute of Education (IOE) and UCL Advanced Research Computing Centre (ARC), will enable Graffinity to accelerate the development of its groundbreaking AI-powered formative assessment tool, positioning the company to drive a nationwide transformation in education.
Developing a groundbreaking AI-powered formative assessment tool
Graffinity is developing an AI-driven tool designed to support educators in assessing student progress and providing personalised feedback more efficiently. By harnessing machine learning and collaborating with UCL ARC and the DfE Content Store, Graffinity aims to improve curriculum alignment, enhance the accuracy of large language models (LLMs), and reduce teacher workload. The new tool integrates concept maps for assessment, offering a visual, interactive approach that fosters critical thinking and allows educators to evaluate student learning more deeply.
“We’re thrilled to have won this funding, which will enable us to take a significant leap forward in our mission to help teachers and students by providing cutting-edge AI tools,” said Matthew Pryor, Co-Founder of Graffinity. “By integrating machine learning and concept maps, our tool will offer numerous benefits for educators, including a highly visual and interactive approach to learning, deeper insights into student thinking, and tailored feedback.”
Graffinity’s journey through the CDI Impact Accelerator Programme
When Graffinity first joined the CDI Impact Accelerator Programme, their focus was on developing an innovative platform that used machine learning to create dynamic, searchable mind maps. This tool aimed to help students—particularly those who struggle with large volumes of text—engage with complex material and improve comprehension. Over the course of their journey, Graffinity collaborated closely with UCL ARC’s research software engineers and AWS Solutions Architects to refine their platform, overcome technical challenges, and optimise their Knowledge Graph (KG). Key breakthroughs included the integration of large language models such as Amazon’s Claude 2 from AWS Bedrock, enhancing the platform’s ability to handle misspellings, perform concept-based searches, and deliver more accurate results.
Building on these advancements, Graffinity partnered with the UCL Institute of Education (IOE) to evolve their platform into a robust formative assessment tool. Supported by UCL IOE researchers Manolis Mavrikis, Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Analytics in Education at the UCL Knowledge Lab, and Maria Kambouri, Associate Professor in the Psychology & Human Development department, Graffinity’s tool integrates insights from learning science research and aligns with evidence-based formative assessment practices. This collaboration ensures the tool supports how students learn through concept mapping and provides a “window into students’ minds,” helping teachers deliver more personalised, targeted feedback.
From Innovation to Impact: Scaling the Solution
With the DfE funding win, Graffinity will continue to collaborate with UCL IOE and UCL ARC to scale their solution. IOE will provide ongoing expertise in learning science to ensure the tool remains aligned with effective formative assessment strategies, while ARC will continue to refine and scale the technical infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the education sector.
From their early work in developing searchable mind maps to their current role as pioneers in AI-driven formative assessment, Graffinity’s journey highlights the powerful combination of technical innovation and world-class education research. Their success is a testament to the collaborative support from the CDI Impact Accelerator Programme and their ongoing partnership with UCL IOE.
A key role in the UK’s AI Strategy
This announcement comes in the wake of the Prime Minister’s AI Plan, launched at UCL East, which aims to harness the power of AI to transform public services, including education. Graffinity’s achievement aligns with the Government’s vision to use AI to revolutionise education by providing teachers with tools that can drastically reduce the time spent on marking and assessments. Graffinity’s work is a prime example of how innovative AI solutions can support teachers in delivering more efficient and personalised education.
Professor Geraint Rees, UCL Vice-Provost (Research, Innovation & Global Engagement), congratulated Graffinity on their success: “Many congratulations to Graffinity on being selected to play such a key role in the Prime Minister’s AI plan for the UK. UCL is a global leader in AI, and the collaborative nature of Graffinity’s work with faculties and departments across our institutions shows how deeply embedded the technology is in our work to benefit both people and the planet.”
Looking ahead: A bright future for Graffinity
As Graffinity continues to scale its AI-driven solution, the company’s ongoing collaboration with UCL’s Institute of Education and Advanced Research Computing Centre will be crucial in refining the tool and expanding its impact. The DfE funding win marks a pivotal moment in Graffinity’s journey, positioning the company as a key player in the future of education technology.
"We look forward to seeing how Graffinity’s transformative solution continues to empower educators and drive positive change in education across the UK!" said Graca Carvalho, Director of the UCL CDI.