Satalia: helping organisations make better decisions with responsible AI

Problem to be solved

Many organisations rely on complex planning, scheduling and routing decisions where the number of possible options is vast. Humans and traditional systems struggle to find truly optimal solutions at speed, leading to higher costs, inefficiency and avoidable environmental impact. There is a need for practical decision intelligence tools that can solve optimisation problems quickly and reliably in real-world settings.

Solution

Founded from UCL Computer Science research by Dr. Daniel Hulme with co-founders including Professor Anthony Finkelstein and Dr. Alastair Moore, Satalia developed the ‘Solve Engine’, a platform that applies optimisation algorithms and data science to deliver best-available solutions to operational problems. The technology can be deployed across use cases, from vehicle routing and workforce allocation to wider resource planning, enabling near real-time optimisation as conditions change.

How UCL Ventures helped

UCL Ventures supported Satalia from early-stage exploration by providing Proof of Concept funding for the first prototype and helping the founding team test market needs and refine the business model. UCL Ventures also supported the spinout journey and early business development connections, helping the company build credibility through initial projects and partnerships. 

As Marina Santilli, Interim Director of Physical Sciences and Engineering, UCL Ventures, recalls: “We were introduced to Daniel by Anthony Finkelstein who was Head of Department at the time and being very entrepreneurial himself, felt Daniel’s idea was worth exploring. UCL Ventures awarded the team proof-of-concept funding to build a prototype. In parallel, market research was carried out to try to identify industry verticals that could benefit from the proposed service offer. It was a very collaborative project; I was effectively working as part of the founding team at that stage, introducing and meeting potential end users, then when we formed the spinout company, offering a wide range of business support.”

Where is Satalia now?

Satalia grew from a research-led venture into a well-known applied AI and optimisation company, delivering solutions for large organisations and supporting real-world efficiency gains. In August 2021 it was acquired by WPP, reflecting the strategic value of decision intelligence across industries. 

Next, the focus is on scaling these capabilities globally-helping organisations optimise operations and resources in ways that support both productivity and sustainability.