Accenture Acquires Founders Intelligence to Help Corporate Executives Drive Growth from Innovation

Rhea-AI Summary

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Founders Intelligence, an innovation strategy consulting firm that aids corporations in achieving growth through entrepreneurial insights. This acquisition enhances Accenture’s capacity to assist senior executives in developing and scaling new business models. Founded in 2013, Founders Intelligence has a proven record with FTSE 100 companies, combining entrepreneurial experience with strategy expertise. The acquisition adds 35 professionals to Accenture’s Innovation practice, facilitating further value creation for clients.

Positive

• Acquisition of Founders Intelligence enhances Accenture's innovation strategy capabilities.
• Strengthens ability to assist senior executives in scaling new business models.
• Adds a proven team of 35 professionals experienced in working with large corporations.

Negative

• None.

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has acquired Founders Intelligence, an innovation strategy consulting firm that helps large corporations to create growth by using tools, techniques and insights from technology entrepreneurs and investors. The acquisition strengthens Accenture’s capabilities to help senior executives create and scale new business models and achieve sustainable value from innovation. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Founders Intelligence is now part of Accenture (Photo: Business Wire)

Founded in 2013, and headquartered in London, U.K., Founders Intelligence’s team of former start-up founders and strategy experts combine their entrepreneurial experience and commercial expertise with deep relationships with the technology start-up ecosystem. Leveraging this combination, Founders Intelligence has a track record of setting strategies and delivering growth for FTSE 100 companies and other global organisations. Their team of 35 professionals will join Accenture’s Innovation practice.

“Businesses have embraced new technologies to emerge stronger from the pandemic and are now laser focused on using innovation to drive growth,” said Lucy Cooper, Innovation Lead for Europe at Accenture. “With Founders Intelligence part of Accenture, together we can help our clients create the growth initiatives that have a lasting impact on their future. Founders Intelligence’s venture-inspired approach and deep insights have garnered respect among C-suite leaders and will enhance our network of innovators that deliver significant value for our clients.”

CEO and co-founder of Founders Intelligence, Rob Chapman, said, “Being part of Accenture will provide enormous opportunities for our people and clients as we combine our entrepreneur-led growth approach with Accenture’s global innovation ecosystem and delivery capabilities. Rob Haines and I built Founders Intelligence to empower our entrepreneurial talent to have impact at large corporates and we’re thrilled to be able to do this at even greater scale.”

Founders Intelligence is the latest acquisition Accenture has made to help clients harness innovation in Europe. Accenture also acquired experimentation-led innovation firm, ?WhatIf!, and digital ventures consultancy, Bow & Arrow, in 2019. Accenture was named a leader in The Forrester Wave™: Innovation Consulting Services, Q2 2021 report in June.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology and Operations services — all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 624,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “projects,” “believes,” “estimates,” “positioned,” “outlook” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These risks include, without limitation, risks that: the transaction might not achieve the anticipated benefits for Accenture; The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our business and operations, and the extent to which it will continue to do so and its impact on our future financial results are uncertain; Accenture’s results of operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company’s clients’ businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture’s business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company’s services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the evolving technological environment could materially affect the company’s results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company’s business, the utilization rate of the company’s professionals and the company’s results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture faces legal, reputational and financial risks from any failure to protect client and/or company data from security incidents or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture’s ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture does not successfully manage and develop its relationships with key alliance partners or fails to anticipate and establish new alliances in new technologies, the company’s results of operations could be adversely affected; Accenture’s profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies or fail to satisfy certain agreed-upon targets or specific service levels; changes in Accenture’s level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company’s effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture’s results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes to accounting standards or in the estimates and assumptions Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders’ ownership interest in the company; as a result of Accenture’s geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue to expand in its key markets around the world, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; Accenture might not be successful at acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture’s business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture’s global operations expose the company to numerous and sometimes conflicting legal and regulatory requirements; Accenture’s work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; if Accenture is unable to protect or enforce its intellectual property rights or if Accenture’s services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture’s results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the “Risk Factors” heading in Accenture plc’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture’s expectations.

Copyright © 2021 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are trademarks of Accenture.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211116005860/en/

Natalie de Freitas

Accenture

+44 380 799 196

natalie.de.freitas@accenture.com

Source: Accenture

FAQ

What is the purpose of Accenture's acquisition of Founders Intelligence?

The acquisition aims to enhance Accenture's innovation strategy capabilities and support clients in developing new business models.

When was the acquisition of Founders Intelligence finalized?

The acquisition was announced on November 16, 2021.

How will the acquisition impact Accenture's business?

The acquisition is expected to strengthen Accenture's ability to drive growth initiatives for clients by leveraging entrepreneurial insights.

What is Founders Intelligence known for?

Founders Intelligence is known for its innovation strategy consulting services that help large corporations achieve growth using tech-driven insights.

Does the press release mention the financial terms of the acquisition?

No, the terms of the acquisition were not disclosed in the press release.