Connecting founders with accountants: Event highlights from Digital Accountancy Matchmaking

On Tuesday 24th June 2025, selected tech startups and leading accountancy firms were welcomed by the AI for Services network, part of the Innovate UK Next Generation Professional Financial Services programme, and TiPS (Technology in Professional Services) at the Digital Accountancy Matchmaking event at Oxford Brookes University.

The afternoon’s proceedings involved speed networking and solution discovery for global names such as PwC, KPMG, and Forvis Mazars, as well as innovative regional practices such as Gravita, Ridgefield Consulting, Richardsons Group, and James Cowper Kreston. The chosen startups for this event included:

Adoreboard | bigspark | ClearPeople | Cloudwize | Governance360 | ISx4 | Jiva.ai | Lexverify | neoeco | Platformed | Qurk | Recap | Synapx | Xenet

The startups showcased cutting-edge tools spanning artificial intelligence, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, compliance automation, client onboarding, and data-driven advisory services. Firms outlined shared challenges such as siloed systems, onboarding and compliance inefficiencies, and the need for more personalised client engagement and smarter use of data. As well as learning about the benefits of adopting new tech, firms are keen to find practical tools that improve day-to-day operations, as well as strategic innovations that would help them stay ahead of the curve, whilst solving problems and unlocking new meaningful value.

Commenting on the successful outcomes of this event, Astrid Ayel, AI for Services Lead at Innovate UK Business Connect said: “This initiative reinforced the need for targeted, high-value connections to accelerate digital transformation across the accountancy sector – and established a real appetite for collaboration between startups and established firms.”

Hear more success stories in your sector

In addition to our programme brochure which features 68 awarded projects, we are excited to invite you to tune into our latest podcast with insightful discussions and stories of change for the UK’s professional and financial services ecosystems.

How to stay connected

We welcome you to connect with your peers in our LinkedIn group and join the AI for Services network of leading businesses, researchers, firms and investors who are proactively supporting the transformation and bolstering the UK’s global leadership position across these sectors.