Multinationals back PwC’s Cambridge launch of new Digital Accelerator and tech focus

The programmes are part of a globally backed new tech division which will initially be operated from PwC’s Cambridge base.

The initiative has been launched by Cambridge office senior partner Simon De Young and will be spearheaded by tech entrepreneur Abhi Naha, who has been recruited from Cambridge Wireless to steer the venture for PwC UK.

PwC’s long-term vision is to expand the venture across its UK offices and ultimately roll it out globally to other cities with innovation hubs.

The firm’s international muscle has long been envied and last year alone PwC's global network invested $1 billion in technology solutions and supporting programmes.

This new strategic investment in the Digital Accelerator aims to drive innovation, enhance quality and improve efficiency for clients. As part of the company's ongoing global technology transformation, PwC says it is leveraging the innovative capabilities of its people to deliver new solutions and enhance service efficiency.

The new Cambridge-based Digital Accelerator is designed to tackle significant innovation challenges through mentoring, coaching and collaboration with multinational companies and startups. 

Selecting client innovation challenges from across the PwC Global network, the Accelerator will boast all the necessary skills, knowledge, and digital technology required to drive progress. The initiative underscores PwC's commitment to fostering innovation and facilitating effective solutions to complex business issues.

Programme director Abhi Naha has established and will guide an entire new tech division within PwC. This division is designed to solve innovation challenges using the power of scale-ups and high-trust ecosystems for greater insights, impact, and value creation.

Naha says: “I am thrilled to officially announce PwC’s new Digital Accelerator. With significant advancements in Gen AI, digital sustainability, healthcare, and cloud computing, this innovative digital accelerator will combine world-class techno-economic thinking with strategic scale-up partnerships. Our goal is to deliver value and impact at scale and speed, particularly in high-growth markets.

“This marks the first time we are launching a global, three-month accelerator initiative within PwC to assist scale-ups and startups in overcoming their challenges. Our people are empowered to identify areas where innovation can enhance efficiency.”

The rationale for the tech-focused move is clearcut: In the dynamic landscape of technology, where innovation is often driven by the latest advancements, PwC identified a noticeable gap between cutting-edge technology and sound business strategy.

While many technology companies focus on proving the potential of technologies like 5G, Gen AI, and IoT smart cities, a comprehensive understanding of business thinking and scaling these innovations effectively is often lacking.

PwC’s innovative programme, unlike traditional accelerators, combines agile methodologies with critical business thinking, bringing together the worlds of technology and business in a unique and impactful way.

The Accelerator is also not limited to a specific industry; rather, it targets digital scale-ups across various sectors, from healthcare to manufacturing. What also distinguishes PwC's digital accelerator is its global scalability.

While the core team operates in Cambridge, a hub of technological innovation, the programme has the potential to extend its reach not just nationally but also to global innovation hubs.

Beyond the business impact, PwC's digital accelerator also addresses a broader challenge in Cambridge and other regions – attracting young talent. By fostering a creative, entrepreneurial, and innovative environment, the initiative aims to draw in young minds passionate about sustainable solutions and the application of AI on a global scale.

Simon De Young says: “We are so pleased Abhi has joined us to lead this new venture. We are innovating and learning as we build the business. However, one of the key objectives for me is for PwC to support the growth of Cambridge as a centre for innovation by facilitating a trusted platform that allows our international network of clients to engage and collaborate effectively with startups and scale-ups through the Digital Accelerator programmes.

“This will enable Cambridge businesses to commercialise their innovation at an early stage and thereby bring real value back into the wider business and local economic environment.”

• Keen to engage? Then email: abhi.naha@pwc.com