Teachscribe is a voice-first AI observation system for early years education, combining wearable classroom hardware with intelligent software to help teachers capture observations in the moment, contextualise child development data and plan more targeted support.
At the centre of Teachscribe is Ewan Dobres. We sat down with him to learn about his founder story, why early years education matters so much and what keeps him pushing Teachscribe forward.
"For early years teachers, every hour taken out of admin is an hour that can be returned to the children in front of them. But Teachscribe’s deeper value sits in what better observation makes possible. The early years are foundation years. They shape confidence, communication, social development, independence and readiness for the next stage of learning.
When observation data is thin, delayed or based on isolated moments, planning can become less precise. A child may be understood through a narrow lens - a playground incident, a passing comment, or the few moments someone had time to record. Teachscribe changes the quality of that foundation.
One of the key things that motivates me creatinng the environment to give the next generation the confidence and skills needed to move successfully into the next phase of their lives."
"What stood out was that Gryff Mason really seemed to care about founder-led businesses. As an early-stage company, cash flow matters. They did not apply a minimum fee, and the terms were aligned with when we were actually able to receive the benefit. That made a real difference.
They also helped us understand the Enhanced R&D Intensive Support available for SMEs like ours. Max kept us informed on the R&D expenditure ratio, what it meant and where we stood. It was brilliant to qualify, but also to understand why we qualified.
I have worked with professional services firms before where the follow-through is not always there. Gryff Mason were different. They dovetailed with our accountant and HMRC, kept the process moving and made sure we received the benefit. That meant a lot to us."
"You hear so many stories from people who lived for many years without understanding why they were struggling. Whether it was ADHD, another developmental need, or simply being a child who learned or communicated differently, the theme is often the same: “If only we had known earlier.” That is a powerful thing to sit with.
Teachscribe is not about replacing professional judgement. It is about giving teachers better tools to capture what they are already seeing - more consistently, more naturally and with better context.
If early years settings can build a clearer picture of each child sooner, support can be more targeted. Resources can be directed where they are needed. Parents can be brought into the conversation with better information. And children can be helped earlier, at the stage where the right support can make a lasting difference. That is a big motivator for us."
Before Teachscribe, Ewan was already building. His background spans software engineering, product development and social enterprise. At American Express, he developed experience in back-end engineering, working with technologies including Java and Kotlin. Alongside his professional software work, he explored his own product ideas, including Padlock App, and continued testing where technology could solve practical problems.
Ewan’s time with Enactus Birmingham adds an important layer to his story.Enactus is known for student-led social enterprise - building practical projects to solve real community and environmental challenges.It is this experience sits naturally behind Teachscribe.
Teachscribe is not an AI product looking for a market. It is a practical solution to a real problem in early years education, built by a founder with the technical capability, product instinct and impact-led thinking to understand why the problem matters.
Food waste is a significant global challenge. Around one third of all food produced is lost or wasted, contributing to nearly 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The economic cost exceeds $1 trillion each year, while more than 700 million people worldwide face hunger.
In the UK, around 12 million tonnes of food are wasted annually, with households responsible for the majority. Much of this food is still edible. For the average household, this equates to roughly £1,000 worth of food thrown away each year.
Reducing food waste starts with better awareness, planning, and everyday habits. Meaningful change depends on consistent action at both an individual and community level.
At Gryff Mason, we are committed to reducing food waste and supporting the communities around us.
We have chosen FoodCycle as our charity of focus, recognising their work to address food poverty and loneliness by bringing people together over shared meals.
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