The artificial intelligence sector continues to reshape not just how businesses operate, but how workers prepare for the jobs of tomorrow. As AI adoption accelerates across industries, a growing number of platforms are emerging to help professionals build the skills required to remain competitive in an increasingly automated labour market. London-based Ivee has now secured $1M in seed funding to scale its AI upskilling platform, backed by an impressive roster of investors including entrepreneur and podcaster Steven Bartlett.
The seed round brings together a strategically diverse group of backers. Alongside Bartlett, the round includes fellow Dragons’ Den investor Deborah Meaden, global accelerator Techstars, Social Impact Enterprises, and senior leaders from Microsoft’s AI SuperIntelligence Lab, Dawn Capital, and Balderton Capital. The funding will support Ivee’s expansion across the United Kingdom, deepen its employer partnerships, and further develop its AI curriculum to keep pace with rapidly evolving workplace technologies.
From Dragons’ Den to AI Education Pioneer
Founded by sisters Amelia and Lydia Miller, Ivee first gained national attention through its appearance on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, where the pair secured £37,500 from both Meaden and Bartlett for a 7.5% equity stake in their original return-to-work platform. The company was born from a deeply personal motivation — the founders witnessed firsthand how difficult their own mother found it to re-enter the workforce after taking time away to raise children.
Since that initial television appearance, the company has undergone a significant strategic evolution. What began as a platform connecting women returning from career breaks with flexible employment opportunities has broadened into a comprehensive AI upskilling service addressing one of the most pressing challenges in today’s labour market: the growing demand for practical AI fluency.
The platform now offers three core services: an AI tool discovery engine that identifies the most effective applications for specific professional tasks, practical bite-sized lessons built around real-world use cases, and a validated skills framework enabling users to track and showcase their AI competencies to potential employers. On the enterprise side, companies can use Ivee to upskill existing teams or recruit directly from the platform’s network of over 80,000 AI-fluent candidates.
Enterprise Traction Signals Market Fit
The pivot towards AI upskilling appears well-timed and well-validated by market demand. Ivee counts Red Bull, Deliveroo, TransPennine Express, and OVO Energy among its enterprise clients, suggesting meaningful traction with established brands seeking AI-ready talent. The platform’s growth from a community of 8,000 users at its early stages to over 80,000 registered candidates represents a tenfold increase that underscores the urgency employers and workers alike feel around AI preparedness.
The composition of the investor syndicate further reinforces the platform’s credibility. Techstars provides access to a global network of mentors and corporate partners, whilst the involvement of senior figures from Microsoft’s AI SuperIntelligence Lab and prominent venture firms like Balderton and Dawn Capital signals confidence in Ivee’s approach to democratising AI education.
UK AI Skills Gap Presents Growing Opportunity
The funding arrives amid a broader push across Europe and the United Kingdom to close the AI skills gap. As generative AI tools become embedded in workflows spanning marketing, finance, operations, and customer service, employers are increasingly seeking candidates who can demonstrate practical fluency with these technologies rather than merely theoretical understanding. Industry surveys consistently rank AI literacy among the most in-demand skills for 2026 and beyond.
For Ivee, the opportunity extends beyond individual upskilling. The platform sits at the intersection of two powerful trends: the enterprise need for AI-competent workforces and the individual imperative to future-proof one’s career. By serving both sides of this equation — offering B2C skill development alongside B2B talent sourcing — the company has positioned itself to capture value across the entire AI skills ecosystem.
Summary
Company: Ivee (ivee.jobs)
HQ: London, United Kingdom
Founded by: Amelia and Lydia Miller
Round: Seed
Amount: $1M
Key Investors: Steven Bartlett, Deborah Meaden, Techstars, Social Impact Enterprises, Microsoft AI SuperIntelligence Lab leaders, Dawn Capital, Balderton Capital
Use of Funds: Platform expansion, employer partnerships, AI curriculum development