On 1 November, Sunday, PwC UK completed the acquisition of London-based boutique firm for AI, data science and data engineering Datasparq to strengthen its range of services for private equity funds and companies, by integrating new technologies into investment analysis, due diligence and post-acquisition value creation processes (press release).
PwC announced the transaction on 26 August, Wednesday (press release). John Wyllie founded Datasparq in 2019. The target will integrate with the Value Creation unit of Strategy& (a firm that the buyer purchased in 2013) which integrates strategic consultancy services, including business transformation initiatives.
Consultancy.uk says that GSK, GXO and easyJet are some of Datasparq clients. The company develops AI solutions designed for direct use within business processes, combining data analysis with the design, implementation and operational management of applications.
The most significant aspect of the acquisition is PwC’s decision to directly incorporate specialist technological expertise into its financial and strategic consultancy services for building an integrated offering that supports investors throughout the entire transaction cycle: from identifying opportunities and pre-acquisition due diligence to operational transformation and post-deal value creation. The integration of Datasparq will enable Strategy& to combine its traditional expertise in market analysis, strategy and business models with capabilities in developing solutions based on applied AI, data engineering and agent-based technologies.
For private equity funds, potential applications include analysing large volumes of corporate data, identifying operational inefficiencies, improving business forecasts and designing transformation programmes for portfolio companies.
We look forward to seeing you for the Caffé di BeBeez on 9 November, Monday, at 10:30 AM
in Milan at Park Hyatt Hotel.
Top tier professionals will discuss the role of proprietary data, AI and intelligence in reshaping the competitive advantage for private capital and M&A
A journey through the entire economic intelligence value chain, to discover which data, tools and AI applications are already changing the way we invest, carry out M&A and create value in portfolio companies. It will be an opportunity to see, in a single morning, how the new private equity decision-making framework is being built, piece by piece. Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of the game on two fronts: in portfolio companies, where it can accelerate growth, productivity and value creation, and within the funds themselves, where it is transforming the way investment opportunities are identified, due diligence is conducted and the portfolio is monitored. OpenAI and Anthropic are developing new enterprise AI platforms in partnership with some of the world’s leading private equity firms. The London Stock Exchange explained the business rationale behind its acquisition of Octus emphasising the idea that the competitive advantage that proprietary data provide increases in value through artificial intelligence. Where this competitive advantage really comes from? Who has the best data? Who knows how to turn it into strategic insights and operational decisions? Which applications are already delivering tangible results? We will discuss this with the builders of this new infrastructure — from proprietary data to intelligence platforms, from AI models to intelligent agents — and with the funds that are using it to invest more effectively and grow their portfolio companies. A discussion aimed at understanding not only what is changing today, but above all who will be able to create the most value tomorrow.
Click here to book your place.
Programme
10.30AM Welcome Coffee
11.00AM Round-table discussion with Stefania Peveraro, BeBeez Editor–in-Chief as moderator
1. Operational data – Where the information that matters comes from?
Antonio Torino, ceo Workgroup
2. Data intelligence – How can you spot opportunities that others miss?
Fabrizio Vigo, co-founder & ceo Sevendata
3. AI agents – When does intelligence turn into action?
Tiziano Cetarini, founder & ceo Metriks AI.
4. The investor’s role – How much might the analyst’s job change?
Francesco Paolo Calia, co-founder of Quido 5. Private Equity – AI as a driver of value creation
Francesco Casiraghi, managing director Advent International, one of the founding partners of OpenAI Deployment Company, the organisation set up by OpenAI to accelerate the adoption of AI in businesses.
