It’s always bittersweet when a promising European AI startup is gobbled up by a giant US company for lots of money. Any disappointment over a missed strategic opportunity tends to be sweetened by a successful financial outcome.
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The big interview
February 4, 2026
Faculty cofounder on Accenture takeover: ‘We could have been a multi-billion dollar company’
Marc Warner on AI safety, global expansion and Europe's lack of 'ambitious capital'
5 min read
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John Thornhill is Sifted’s founder and innovation editor of the Financial Times. He tweets from @johnthornhillft

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