Oyinkansola Adebayo
Niyo is a technology company using Agentic AI to personalise how people upskill, work, and earn for the future of work – from tech careers to beauty entrepreneurs.
Project
Niyo
URL
Year founded
2018
Business stage
Seed
High-growth sectors
Digital and Technologies
Sector
Digital
Location
West Midlands
Funding
Highly Commended Applicant
The problem and opportunity
The UK faces a productivity crisis: 12 million adults need reskilling by 2030 (WEF), 68% of large employers report digital skills shortages (DCMS), costing £6.3bn a year in lost productivity (CBI) – despite £42bn spent on training. Existing systems can’t verify outcomes, change behaviour, or personalise at scale. Underrepresented groups risk becoming a digital underclass. No current solution uses AI to personalise how people upskill, work, and earn.
The solution and innovation
Niyo Group builds Agentic AI platforms that personalise how people skill, work, and earn. Our innovation: proprietary data graphs that map individual capability and behaviour in real time, verifying job-ready skills and powering personalised pathways – from tech careers to beauty enterprise. Traction: £3M+ revenue, 430% growth, 7,000+ learners at 80%+ progression, with employer partners including Northrop, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, and GCHQ.
Market and ambition
We apply one AI personalisation engine to two underserved markets: the UK’s £45B workforce and skills economy, and service-sector micro-entrepreneurs (beauty first). Proven: £3M+ revenue, 430% growth, 7,000+ learners, partners including Microsoft and GCHQ. Three year ambition: £25M ARR, then Africa/US expansion.
Founder perspective
I was once that woman: full of ambition, but without access. I built what I wished existed for me when I started off in my career. Niyo has now supported thousands of women to learn, build, earn and lead. If we don’t build inclusive pathways into AI, women will be written out of the future.
Women in Innovation Award
Highly commended applicant of the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award 2025/26, receiving tailored business support, and access to specialist training and networks. View all winners and highly commended applicants from the Women in Innovation cohort 2025/2026.