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£50m Robiquity founder draws talent from Matillion, Deloitte and Coutts to new AI startup

50m robiquity founder draws talent from matillion deloitte and coutts to new ai startup business manchester

Tom Gardner, co-founder of the £50m automation software company Robiquity, has announced his next big venture in the AI space.

His new company, Fireflai, aims to revolutionise data management using generative AI. With a talented team from Matillion, Deloitte, and Coutts, the future looks promising for this startup.

Launching Fireflai

Tom Gardner exited Robiquity after its 2022 investment by Growth Capital Partners but remains a minority shareholder. Now, he has spent the last year working on Fireflai, a company centred on generative AI.

Vision and Goals

Gardner hopes to attract 100 customers within 36 months using a subscription model. By focusing on cost-effective solutions, he intends to eliminate hefty up-front fees and make AI technology more accessible to businesses.

The Team Behind Fireflai

Fireflai’s team comprises industry experts, including CTO Craig Sumner from Deloitte and Rubix, Laura Malins from Matillion, and ex-Coutts COO James Clarry. Each brings a wealth of experience to the table.

Gardner emphasises the unique capabilities of his team in providing innovative AI solutions to a diverse range of industries.

Revolutionising Data Management

Fireflai uses generative AI to enhance data utility and decision-making processes for its clients. The platform can validate 40 million lines of data within 48 hours—a feat that traditional methods would take much longer to achieve.

It combines the best of machine learning with generative AI, thus solving complex data issues efficiently. Gardner describes Fireflai as a ‘data cleanser,’ making data more usable for businesses.

Applications Across Industries

Fireflai works across various sectors like construction, distribution, manufacturing, and eCommerce. It helps companies merge multiple databases by identifying and resolving discrepancies.

For example, in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, Fireflai can sift through millions of products, eliminating duplicates and inaccuracies in no time.

Simplifying AI Deployment

Fireflai aims to make AI and machine learning easily deployable. The startup avoids demanding up-front commitments, letting companies see results before paying.

Gardner says their technology processes customer data through machine learning and AI models, offering significant time and cost efficiency.

Funding and Future Plans

Praetura Ventures selected Fireflai as one of 12 companies for its PraeSeed programme, designed to support promising startups in Northern England. Fireflai has been bootstrapped so far but is currently seeking to raise between £500k and £700k.

With this funding, Gardner aims to accelerate Fireflai’s market entry and further develop its revolutionary data solutions.

A Legacy of Innovation

Gardner co-founded Robiquity in 2016 to meet the growing demand for robotic process automation. By 2020, the company had expanded significantly, boasting a turnover of around £10m and over 100 staff across North America and the Middle East.


Tom Gardner’s new AI venture, Fireflai, promises to be a game-changer in data management.

With a strong team and innovative technology, Fireflai is set to transform how businesses handle data, making processes more efficient and cost-effective.

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