UCL AI Startup Becomes The UK’s First Tech Unicorn Of 2026

Professional services group Accenture has agreed to acquire Faculty, marking the largest acquisition of a privately held British AI company to date.

The deal grants Faculty unicorn status, the term used for private technology companies valued at $1 billion or more. Writing on LinkedIn, Alan Hudson, a partner at investor Mercuri, described Faculty as “the first UK tech unicorn of 2026,” placing the company at the forefront of the UK tech scene at the start of the year.

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Marc Warner, who served as CEO of Faculty, will become chief technology officer of Accenture and join the company’s Global Management Committee.

Marc said: “Our vision has always been a world in which safe AI delivers widespread benefits to humanity.

“We have spent the last ten years supporting our clients to bring this world about, step by step. As AI advances rapidly, the ambition of our clients is now, rightly, no less than the reinvention of their business. I am delighted that by teaming up with Accenture, we have everything in place to support AI transformation from start to finish.”

Faculty was founded in 2014 under its original name, Advanced Skills Initiative, by UCL graduates Marc Warner, Angie Ma, and Andy Brookes. Warner and Ma both hold PhDs in physics.

The company was established to build AI tools that help large organisations work more effectively and make better, data-driven decisions.

Over more than a decade, Faculty evolved from an academic concept into a commercial AI business serving major enterprise clients, laying the foundation for its landmark acquisition by Accenture. Its growth is closely tied to its roots at UCL, which has fostered a strong environment for student-led startups alongside its AI research.

According to the university more than 400 student startups have launched at UCL over the past five years, raising over £355 million in external funding and employing more than 1,900 people. This activity has helped create an innovation district around Euston and King’s Cross, home to AI companies including Faculty, Synthesia, and Google DeepMind.

Faculty’s own path to acquisition included a close working relationship with Accenture from 2023, during which it provided AI consultancy services and products on client projects, allowing both teams to test collaboration ahead of the deal.

Julie Sweet, chair and CEO of Accenture said: “With Faculty, we will further accelerate our strategy to bring trusted, advanced AI to the heart of our clients’ businesses.

“I’m pleased to welcome the Faculty team to Accenture and look forward to Marc's contribution shaping our technology vision and strategy as Chief Technology Officer."

About Faculty

Faculty is a leading European applied AI company helping organisations deploy frontier AI safely and effectively. Its services and products bring advanced AI into frontline operations, improving performance and decision-making. Recognised for leadership in AI safety, Faculty works closely with top AI labs, including OpenAI and Anthropic to deliver human-led, explainable solutions.