Tquila-backed data consultancy Manuka AI expands into Australia
Data-focused consultancy Manuka AI has landed downunder, with the company’s A/NZ operations to be led by former Publicis Sapient leader and entrepreneur Stephen Aitken.
Following its launch in the UK earlier this year, Manuka AI has now kicked off operations in Australia and New Zealand with the backing of venture builder Tquila, in what the firm says is its next step in an ongoing global roll-out.
The Databricks-focused consultancy, which says it aims to bridge the gap between strategy and execution on AI projects, will be led by Aitken, who previously served as Tquila COO and has built several consultancy ventures with the firm.
“Enterprises across Australia and New Zealand are accelerating their AI agendas, but many are still struggling to scale beyond isolated pilots,” Aitken said. “This is the gap Manuka AI is here to close. With Databricks Data Intelligence Platform and our AI-first mindset, we help ANZ enterprises across all industries rapidly deploy use-cases that operate at scalable outcomes.”
Manuka cites industry research which suggests that almost three quarters of Australian companies are yet to develop AI-ready data architectures despite investing on average $28 million per year on data and AI. Meanwhile, over 90 percent say they can’t effectively measure ROI, with almost the same number struggling to integrate AI into legacy systems, indicating a serious skills gap.
“In ANZ, the appetite for AI innovation is enormous, but the shortage of AI practitioners is holding back progress,” said fellow co-founder and chief growth officer Jeff Clark, also previously of Publicis Sapient. “The research is a clear signal that capability, not ambition, is the bottleneck, and that’s why we’ve brought our proven methodology, the ‘Manuka Way’ to ANZ.
Clark and Aitken both bring a history of successful entrepreneurship to the new venture; Clark in building the local arm of Silverpop prior to its sale to IBM, and then selling the rebranded business to later Fujifilm acquisition Microchannel; and Aitken on several Tquila-linked entities, including its Accenture-bought Salesforce business and Publicis Sapient joint venture Sapient.i7.
“We are delighted to back Stephen, Jeff, and the Manuka AI ANZ team,” said Tquila’s chief operating officer and partner Michael McCannon. “Stephen has successfully partnered with Tquila on multiple ventures before, leading companies from startup to exit, and his expertise – combined with Jeff’s growth leadership – sets the stage for something truly exceptional.”
Tquila says the Manuka AI launch in A/NZ is part of its expansion strategy and broader global roll-out across Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Tquila also previously sold its Australian Salesforce consultancy to Publicis Sapient, and last year expanded another of its joint ventures with the firm downunder – Microsoft AI consultancy PS Hummingbird.
