Uk-based Amazon tech supplier doubles staff

A SECRETIVE Cambridge technology start-up acquired by Amazon that helped pioneer the Amazon Echo smart speaker has doubled its headcount and revenues.

Evi Technologies, owned by Amazon and responsible for a significant part of the development of its Alexa artificial intelligence technology, doubled its revenues in 2017 to £36m, up from around £18m in 2016.

The company increased its staff numbers from 123 to 247 and increased its cash position from around £14m to £20.7m, according to its accounts.

Alexa is Amazon’s voice assistant and a key part of its smart speaker technology. Speakers such as the Amazon Echo use Alexa, which allows users to ask the smart assistant questions or give it voice commands to play music, read the news and more.

Begun in 2007 as a voice recognition and AI start-up, Evi was acquired by Amazon in 2012 for a reported £21m.