SYLVI SECURES £350K TO SHAKE UP LANGUAGE LEARNING WITH CONVERSATION-FIRST AI
London-based edtech start-up Sylvi has raised £350,000 in a super angel funding round to scale its AI-powered language learning platform, which prioritises real conversation over rote memorisation.
The round was led by heavyweight angel investors Claire and Amir Nooriala (formerly of Snap and OakNorth Bank), alongside Simon Murdoch of Episode 1 Ventures and Solo Investments, the family office of LADbible founder Solly Solomou.
The funding will fuel Sylvi’s ambition to redefine how languages are learnt—by shifting the focus from vocabulary drills and streaks to building genuine conversational confidence.
Founded by Tom Standen, a former McKinsey consultant, Sylvi was born out of a relatable frustration. “Watching my girlfriend Amy struggle to order a coffee in Paris after a 600-day Duolingo streak made me realise something was broken,” Standen said. “We don’t learn to speak by memorising—we learn by speaking.”
Since introducing paid subscriptions in the second half of 2024, Sylvi has already surpassed £60,000 in annual recurring revenue, with strong unit economics and a 4.7 App Store rating. Its model focuses on real-time conversation with peers, AI-powered corrections and contextual learning—what it calls the “WhatsApp for language learners.” A newly launched feature, personalised lesson plans, pushes Sylvi even further into the growing personalised edtech space.
Claire Valoti, Founding Partner at Haylo Ventures and former Snap VP, sees clear differentiation in Sylvi’s approach: “Sylvi stands out for its mission to build genuine conversation confidence in language learning—a space long dominated by shallow engagement metrics. Tom is a standout founder who built the business with disciplined unit economics from day one. With strong LTV-to-CAC and growing ARR, Sylvi is combining purpose with performance.”
Backing from Simon Murdoch brings additional credibility. As the former founder of FriendsAbroad—which was sold to Babbel—Murdoch has seen firsthand the pitfalls of traditional apps. “People learn by practising conversation, not memorising words. Sylvi’s approach addresses this fundamental challenge. Tom and his team have built something that truly bridges the gap between study and real-world confidence.”
The team behind Sylvi brings a blend of strategic, commercial and creative experience. Standen leads as CEO, joined by Sam Brown, also ex-consulting, who handles commercial strategy, and Amy Cameron, the original inspiration for the app, who heads up marketing.
Backing from Solo Investments reflects Sylvi’s growing cultural relevance.“Sylvi is helping people become conversationally fluent, and they have the ability to build a tribe with their members, not just a user base,” said Sarah Yates, Head of Family Office.
With its fresh funding and growing community, Sylvi is well-positioned to scale its mission of helping learners break through the “vocabulary barrier” and speak confidently in the real world. “With the support of these incredible angels, we’re now positioned to scale our conversation-first approach and help thousands more learners bridge the gap between language study and confident real-world communication,” Standen added.
As the edtech sector continues to mature, Sylvi’s commitment to authenticity over gamification may signal a new chapter for language learning.
