Founding circle · By application

The firms that lead on AI will set the standard for the profession.

FirmForward is a select circle of CA firms building the AI-native practice first. Domain experts and builders are forming it together, to help firms become tech-enabled - through tools, know-how, training, practice playbooks and industry partnerships.

Apply for founding membership

By application. No fee to apply. FirmForward is a paid membership. Every application is reviewed by the founders.

Ledger lines turning into a network of connected points

Why a circle

AI will split the profession. Some firms will be ahead.

New AI capabilities arrive regularly. Firms that learn to use them well will review faster, see more and offer more. Most firms can't track new tools, test them and build what is missing alongside client work.

FirmForward brings together the people who know the work and the people who build the tech, so member firms get that capability without building it alone.

One example of our work

NUMAC: a tool built for CA work.

FirmForward brings together domain experts and builders to make tools for member firms. NUMAC is one example: a desktop app to talk to your data, save and reuse custom analysis. Your data stays on your system. Launching soon for members.

Membership

A working circle for the work your firm can't build alone.

Not another AI newsletter. FirmForward brings domain experts and builders together so member firms can learn where AI helps, test practical workflows and put useful tools to work without building an innovation team of their own. Tools, know-how, training, playbooks and partnerships come together through one membership.

In the founding six weeks, members answer one short question each week about their work and can join optional live discussions. We share a weekly briefing and, at the end, a written account of the common needs and practical opportunities we heard.

Tools built for CA work

NUMAC is launching soon for members: talk to your data, save and reuse custom analysis. Audit Lens: signal to hypothesis to evidence. Other tools in progress.

Private playbooks

Tested use cases, benchmarks and research that stay inside the circle.

Training and live sessions

Learn with the team in members-only live sessions and a weekly briefing.

Experts and builders, one table

The people who know the work and the people who build the tech, bringing member firms tools, know-how, training, playbooks and partnerships - all through one membership.

The founding sessions

Six weeks to learn what firms need.

In the founding phase, members answer one short question each week about their work. Optional members-only live sessions every two weeks let us discuss the answers, and a weekly briefing shares what we are learning. In week six, members receive a written summary of the common needs and practical opportunities we heard. Our team decides what to build.

Week 1Where do your partner and reviewer hours actually go?
Week 2What breaks when client data (Tally, Excel exports) goes into any tool today?
Week 3What would you never upload, and what would make you comfortable?
Week 4What does a tool's output need before a partner signs off without redoing the work?
Week 5If one workflow saved your reviewers real hours, what would that be worth?
Week 6Here is what the circle said. Confirm or correct it.

The questions need your experience, not client files. Live sessions are optional and last about 45 minutes.

AI-native from day one

Run the way AI-native firms will run.

Humans decide what matters. AI handles what can be systematised. That's how we build for members, and it's how FirmForward itself runs.

Every member's answer is read, tagged and summarised within 24 hours, and a founder reviews it.
Members get a written summary of the themes and practical opportunities from the six weeks.
AI does the research, drafting, coding and testing, so a small core team builds for the whole circle.

Who we're looking for

Firms that want to lead, not follow.

Partners and managers at CA firms of roughly 3 to 30 professionals, in audit, tax, advisory or internal audit, who want their firm to be among the first to work AI-native.

Founding membership is by application. We review every application. Founding members join first and get additional benefits.

Trust

No client data. Not now.

The founding sessions run on your experience, not your files. Nobody is asked to upload client data. When tools arrive, they come with a written data-handling policy first.

Questions

FAQ

Can any firm join?

Founding membership is by application. We review each one and start with a small first circle of firms that fit.

What does it cost?

FirmForward membership is ₹25,000 per year, per firm. Founding members join first and get additional benefits.

When can members use the tools?

NUMAC is launching soon for members. Other tools are in progress. Each tool will come with a written data-handling note.

How much time does it take?

One question a week, about five minutes. Live sessions are optional.

Do I share client data?

No. Nothing in the founding phase asks for client data.

Is this an ICAI initiative?

No. FirmForward is an independent technology platform for CA firms.

What does "AI-native" mean here?

AI isn't bolted on. It does the systematic work (research, analysis, drafting, testing) and people keep the judgment. FirmForward runs that way too.

Who's behind it?

Founded by Shailesh and Hemant, combining finance and business-process experience with technology and AI capability.