William Tunstall-Pedoe
About William Tunstall-Pedoe
William Tunstall-Pedoe FREng is a British entrepreneur and computer scientist focused on AI and deep technology. He studied computer science at Churchill College, Cambridge, and graduated in 1991. Before Evi he built consumer AI software, including the Cyber Chess program and the Anagram Genius and Crossword Maestro products.
In 2005 he founded Evi (formerly True Knowledge), a question-answering and voice assistant company. After about seven years as a venture-backed startup, Amazon acquired Evi in 2012. Its technology, platform and team were used to create Alexa. He then spent more than three years in a senior role on the team that defined, built and launched Alexa and the Echo, and he left Amazon in February 2016. Evi is now an Amazon development centre in Cambridge.
He is the founder and CEO of Unlikely AI (also written UnlikelyAI), a London and Cambridge company working on what it describes as safe, capable and explainable AI. In September 2022 it announced a $20M seed round co-led by Octopus Ventures and Amadeus Capital Partners, with several angels also taking part. He is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a fellow of the Creative Destruction Lab. Crunchbase counts three companies founded by him.
Since leaving Amazon he has spent much of his time advising and investing in other AI startups. His personal site says he has invested in around 100 such businesses, and Crunchbase's bio says more than 100 startups. He is a full member of Cambridge Angels and has said he has made investments alongside Cambridge Angels and Octopus Investments.
The public databases count far fewer deals, because most angel investments are not announced. Crunchbase lists 18 investments across 16 portfolio companies, with 2 exits, none by IPO, and no lead investments. PitchBook lists 82 investments. NFX Signal shows 19 investments on record. Treat the counts as partial and the personal-site figure as his own estimate.
He also advises Cambridge Innovation Capital, according to PitchBook.
His stated focus is AI startups, and he works with many early-stage machine learning companies through the Creative Destruction Lab in Toronto. Disclosed investments include Checkstep, a content moderation company, and Aibuild, which works on AI for the construction sector. Others are Pngme, a machine learning and financial data platform for African markets, and LumiQ.
He has described an interest in big-impact deep tech. In one interview he discussed an AI physician app where he is both an investor and an adviser. His own company, Unlikely AI, is working on an approach to AI that aims to avoid the unreliable answers of large language models.
Public profiles describe him as an early-stage investor in AI and deep tech. NFX Signal ranks him for pre-seed, seed and Series A in AI and deep tech, and lists a range of $10K to $500K with a sweet spot of $100K. That range comes from the Signal profile, not from a statement by him, so treat it as indicative only.
He is based in London and Cambridge and has invested in UK companies. The listed portfolio also includes startups serving Africa and Australia, so he is not limited to the UK. He has not published a formal thesis or a check size on his own site. His LinkedIn, X and personal site can be used to reach him.
- Unlikely AI: the company he founded. NFX Signal records an angel round in October 2020 and the $20M seed in September 2022.
- Checkstep: content moderation software. NFX Signal lists a pre-seed round in June 2021 that included him.
- Aibuild: AI for construction. NFX Signal lists a seed round in January 2021.
- Pngme: machine learning and financial data infrastructure for African markets. NFX Signal lists a seed round in August 2020.
- LumiQ: listed by NFX Signal in a seed round in May 2021.
- Focal Point Positioning: PitchBook lists an investment in May 2021.
- CognitionX: an AI advisory and events platform. CB Insights shows him as a co-investor in a 2018 angel round.
- TAB: Crunchbase shows a January 2017 round with funding from Mustard Seed and him.
- crunchbase.com/person/william-tunstall-pedoe
- williamtp.com
- williamtp.com/about
- signal.nfx.com/investors/william-tunstall-pedoe
- pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/169095-97
- amadeuscapital.com/unlikely-ai-raises-20m-in-oversubscribed-seed-round
- sifted.eu/articles/alexa-william-tunstall-pedoe-ai
- investedinvestor.com/articles/william-tunstall-pedoe-part2
Investing activity
William Tunstall-Pedoe has made 18 investments according to Crunchbase across 16 portfolio companies, and has seen 2 exits and founded 3 companies.
Deals
Frequently asked questions about William Tunstall-Pedoe
Does William Tunstall-Pedoe invest in AI startups?
Yes. His site says he has personally invested in around 100 AI startups and that he is passionate about helping them. He is also a fellow at the Creative Destruction Lab, which supports early-stage machine learning companies.
What check size does William Tunstall-Pedoe write?
He has not published one. NFX Signal lists a range of $10K to $500K with a sweet spot of $100K, but this is a third-party estimate.
What stage does William Tunstall-Pedoe invest at?
Public profiles point to pre-seed and seed, with some Series A. NFX Signal ranks him in those stages for AI and deep tech. Checkstep (pre-seed) and Pngme and Aibuild (seed) are examples.
How many startups has William Tunstall-Pedoe invested in?
His personal site says around 100. Crunchbase lists 18 investments across 16 portfolio companies and PitchBook lists 82, because many angel deals are never announced.
What is William Tunstall-Pedoe known for?
He founded Evi (formerly True Knowledge), which Amazon acquired in 2012. Its technology and team were used to create Alexa, and he worked on the Alexa and Echo launch before leaving Amazon in 2016. He now runs Unlikely AI.
How can founders contact William Tunstall-Pedoe?
His personal site, williamtp.com, links to his LinkedIn, X account and an email contact. He is also a full member of Cambridge Angels.
Is William Tunstall-Pedoe an angel investor?
Yes. William Tunstall-Pedoe invests personally as an angel and is Founder and CEO at Unlikely AI. Crunchbase counts 18 investments and 2 exits.
Where is William Tunstall-Pedoe based?
William Tunstall-Pedoe is based in London, England, United Kingdom.
How can founders reach William Tunstall-Pedoe?
Founders on Lounge can see William Tunstall-Pedoe's contact details in AI Investor Contacts (paid plans), check for a warm introduction through members who worked with them under Warm Paths, and add William Tunstall-Pedoe to their Investor Pipeline to track the conversation.