This is an interview with Dr. Kate Smith, co-founder of ProfessorMe, exploring how the company uses AI to create more engaging and accessible digital learning tools, its journey through the University of Edinburgh’s AI Accelerator, and its plans for future growth
AI Accelerator
Cohort 8 - 2025
The AI Accelerator is where ambitious AI-driven businesses come to grow. Over six months, you’ll get the support, connections, and expertise you need to tackle global challenges and create real-world impact. From AgriTech to FinTech, this is about accelerating high-growth ventures into global success stories.
As the education sector navigates through the digital transformation, ProfessorMe, co-founded by Dr. Kate Smith and Daisy McConville, aligns artificial intelligence with educational needs to craft more engaging and responsive learning environments. From its initial days as a training company, ProfessorMe has adapted to the challenges and opportunities presented by widespread shifts to online learning.
Certainly! ProfessorMe started from a transition of our original business model during the lockdown. We initially focused on creating video content for universities and quickly noticed the potential for a more interactive approach. This led to the development of our first major initiative, Professor Dynamo, which we launched to help educators and students adapt to online learning efficiently.
After the success of Professor Dynamo, we saw a clear need for tools that could make digital learning even more dynamic. This led to the development of Verbaliser, a technology that utilises AI and is designed to sync lip movements for virtual avatars, making online interactions feel more natural. We are also working on Tutor Dynamo, which aims to offer personalised assistance for students who might need different kinds of support.
We are focusing on the changing preferences and needs of students who are digital natives. They expect learning tools that are not just functional but are as interactive and engaging as the other technologies they use daily. Our aim is to make learning materials more accessible, inclusive, and tailored, which supports not only the students but also helps educational institutions improve their engagement and retention.
The AI Accelerator at the University of Edinburgh has been a crucial part of our growth. It has provided us with expert guidance and support that refined our strategic direction and gave us clear milestones for growth and development. Being part of this program also increased our visibility and connected us with important players in the tech ecosystem.
Looking ahead, we plan to further enhance our products and push into new markets. The insights and tools we've gained from the Accelerator have prepared us to broaden our reach and continue innovating in the educational technology space. We are quite excited about the future and the potential to impact education on a larger scale
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