Ascentra Labs, a London-based startup founded by former McKinsey consultants, has raised $2 million in seed funding led by Berlin-based venture firm NAP to transform the consulting industry’s reliance on manual Excel work. Despite AI’s rapid adoption in legal and accounting fields, consulting remains largely manual. Ascentra focuses narrowly on automating survey data analysis in private equity due diligence, a process historically done through painstaking Excel work. The platform combines GPT-based AI to interpret data with deterministic Python scripts to ensure accuracy and eliminate errors common in AI outputs, producing live, traceable Excel formulas trusted by top consulting firms. With enterprise-grade security certifications such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, Ascentra is addressing the high security standards of large clients. Their per-project pricing model aligns with consulting firms’ budgeting, encouraging adoption. The company is focusing on expanding its U.S. presence and growing its go-to-market team, aiming to convert pilot successes into long-term contracts. While AI won’t replace consultants, it is set to fundamentally change consulting workflows and productivity.