at Financial Technnology Year
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Features in Valuation Modeling Platforms
for Investment Committee
Specialized tools for determining appropriate valuations using multiple methodologies relevant to venture-stage companies with limited operating history.
We ask vendors to mark their product against our feature list. It is not available for all products and in some cases we have derived data from publicly available sources. The list of features follows. Vendors can add a further 10 key features of their own.
Analytics & Reporting
Awareness of historical, current, and forecasted valuation metrics, and accessibility of insightful reports.
- Auto-generated Meeting Packs
- Automatically assembles investment committee materials from model outputs.
- Cross-Portfolio Analytics
- Analyze trends and benchmarks across all deals under review.
- Custom KPI Tracking
- Enables selection and monitoring of custom KPIs related to valuation.
- Custom Report Builder
- Users can build and save personalized reports.
- Export to PDF/Excel/PowerPoint
- One-step export of reports into common formats.
- Heatmaps & Visualizations
- Visual representations of data for fast comprehension.
- Peer Comparison Analytics
- Analyze valuations versus peers or benchmarks.
- Scheduled Report Distribution
- Automates report sending to specific stakeholders on a defined schedule.
- Time Series Tracking
- Track how key valuation inputs and outputs change over time.
- Valuation Summary Dashboards
- At-a-glance dashboards of relevant valuation metrics and outcomes.
Cost & Commercial Terms
Commercial considerations regarding budget fit, contract flexibility, and ROI.
- Annual & Monthly Billing Choices
- Support for both short- and long-term commitment terms.
- Contract Termination Flexibility
- Ability to cancel or modify subscription with minimal penalty.
- Custom Enterprise Pricing
- Tailored options for larger VC firms with unique needs.
- Free Trial Availability
- Allows prospective customers to test capabilities before committing.
- Onboarding/Setup Fees
- Clarity about any one-time costs for deployment.
- Per-user Pricing Options
- Flexibility to pay per user as team size changes.
- Service Level Agreements (SLA)
- Provider offers SLA guarantees for uptime and support responsiveness.
- Transparent Pricing
- Clear, up-front pricing with no hidden fees.
- Upfront vs. Usage-based Billing
- Option to pay in advance or according to actual system usage.
- Volume Discounting
- Tiered pricing based on user count or data storage.
Customization & Flexibility
Adaptability of the system to the VC firm's proprietary workflow, processes, and preferences.
- Configurable Deal Stages
- Adapt the investment process to the firm’s unique pipeline.
- Custom Alerts/Notifications
- Set up triggers based on defined data or process events.
- Custom Approval Workflows
- Configure approval hierarchies and routing based on deal stage.
- Custom Branding
- Add firm’s logo, color palette, and terminology.
- Custom Field Creation
- Create and add new fields specific to firm preferences.
- Custom Model Templates
- Develop and deploy in-house model templates.
- Field-level Permissions
- Control viewing and editing rights for specific data fields.
- Plug-in/Extension Marketplace
- Easily add extra features from a curated library.
- Scripting or Macro Support
- Enable user-generated automation or calculation scripts.
- Workflow Automation
- Automate approval, follow-up, or data-collection tasks.
Data Input & Management
Powerful, intuitive capture of financial, operational, and qualitative inputs required for robust modeling.
- Auto-save Functionality
- Prevents loss of input data from crashes or timeouts.
- Bulk Data Upload
- Import large data sets quickly (e.g. from Excel, CSV).
- Data Annotation Tools
- Allows attaching commentary or rationale to specific data entries.
- Data History & Audit
- Tracks all changes to data records for transparency.
- Data Import Speed
- Speed at which external data can be fully processed.
- Dynamic Input Forms
- Easily adapts input fields for the data needed.
- Error Logging & Resolution Tracking
- Logs data issues and tracks resolution status for each.
- Input Data Types Supported
- Handles all common types: numeric, dates, text, lists, documents.
- Real-time Data Validation
- Checks for inconsistencies or missing values as data are entered.
- Template Library
- Reusable templates for common model types and investment scenarios.
Data Security & Compliance
Protecting sensitive investment and company data while ensuring legitimate, auditable access.
- Data Backup Frequency
- How often automated backups are taken to safeguard data.
- Data Residency Options
- Support for storage in specific geographic locations for regulatory compliance.
- Data Retention Periods
- Configurable retention windows for sensitive documents and records.
- End-to-end Encryption
- Data is encrypted at rest and in transit.
- GDPR Compliance
- Platform conforms to GDPR and similar data privacy laws.
- Multi-factor Authentication
- Enhances access control through additional login security.
- Permissioned Data Access
- Controls and audits on who can access specific sensitive data.
- Regular Security Audits
- Routine reviews and penetration tests for data security.
- SOC 2 Compliance
- Adheres to leading standards for controls around security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
- Single Sign-On (SSO)
- Supports SSO across multiple internal systems.
Integration Capabilities
Ability to exchange information with other tools and workflows, maximizing utility and efficiency.
- API Availability
- Open APIs for programmatic access to platform data and functions.
- BI Tool Integration
- Can integrate with business intelligence platforms (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).
- CRM System Integration
- Direct connections with leading CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot).
- Calendar Integration
- Links to calendar apps for scheduling committee meetings, reviews, and deadlines.
- Document Management System Integration
- Links to systems like Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, or SharePoint.
- Email Integration
- Can sync analyses and comments with email workflows.
- Excel Add-In/Plugin
- Ability to push/pull data to Excel sheets for custom workflows.
- Integration Marketplace
- Support for plug-and-play addition of new integrations to third-party systems.
- Portfolio Management Tool Integration
- Supports handoff of approved deals to downstream tracking systems.
- SSO with Internal User Directories
- Supports Active Directory/Okta/Google Workspace SSO.
Performance & Scalability
Ensuring that the platform can efficiently accommodate growing teams, data, and complexity.
- 99.9% Uptime Guarantee
- Commitment to uptime reliability for uninterrupted access.
- API Rate Limits
- Defines how many API requests can be processed within a specific period.
- Auto-scaling Infrastructure
- System auto-scales compute resources with demand.
- Concurrent User Capacity
- Number of users the system can support simultaneously without performance lag.
- Custom Performance Reporting
- Tracks and reports key system performance metrics.
- Geographically Distributed Hosting
- Use of multiple data centers to enhance access speed globally.
- Load Balancing
- Automatically adjusts resources to prevent slowdowns at peak demand.
- Mobile Device Compatibility
- Optimized for use on tablets and smartphones.
- Model Calculation Speed
- Time required to process typical valuation models.
- Scalable Storage Capacity
- Total available storage that can be scaled with needs.
Support & Training
Ensuring users can quickly resolve issues and master the platform.
- 24/7 Support Availability
- Round-the-clock support to accommodate global teams and urgent issues.
- Community Forum
- Peer-to-peer Q&A and sharing of best practices.
- Dedicated Account Manager
- Assigned specialist for onboarding and ongoing relationship.
- Feedback Loop for Feature Requests
- Mechanism for users to propose and vote on new features.
- In-app Guided Assistance
- Step-by-step instructions available directly within the platform.
- Multi-channel Support (chat, email, phone)
- Multiple avenues for support as per user preference.
- On-demand Training Sessions
- Ability to schedule and review training sessions on product features and use cases.
- Product Updates & Release Notes
- Timely communication about product changes and improvements.
- Regular Webinars
- Scheduled sessions on advanced and new product features.
- Self-service Knowledge Base
- Comprehensive resource library including how-tos and troubleshooting.
Usability & Collaboration
Features enhancing platform accessibility and group-based decision making.
- Audit Trail
- Tracks who did what and when inside the platform.
- Dashboard Customization
- Users can modify data displays according to their preferences.
- Document Upload & Storage
- Enables sharing of supporting documents within the platform.
- In-app Comments & Notes
- Facilitates communication regarding key modeling assumptions and outcomes.
- Multi-user Simultaneous Editing
- Allows more than one user to update analyses at the same time.
- Notification System
- Automated alerts for major edits, comments, or required actions.
- Presentation Mode
- Switch to a streamlined view for displaying models in meetings.
- Task Assignment & Tracking
- Assign follow-ups and actions to team members within the workflow.
- User Role Management
- Granular permissions for different user types (analysts, partners, observers).
- Version Control
- Tracks changes to models and inputs for transparency and rollback.
User Experience & Accessibility
Ensuring intuitive use, inclusive access, and minimization of training requirements.
- Accessibility (ADA/WCAG) Compliance
- Supports users with visual, motor, or other impairments.
- Advanced Search Functionality
- Fast, granular search/filter across all platform content.
- Customizable Workspaces
- Users can rearrange dashboard panels and data modules.
- Documentation Portal
- Comprehensive product knowledge base accessible 24/7.
- Guided Walkthroughs & Tutorials
- Built-in help tools to onboard new users quickly.
- Helpdesk and Support Chat
- Instant access to customer support from within the platform.
- Intuitive User Interface
- Layouts and features that can be used efficiently by both analysts and partners.
- Multi-language Support
- User interface available in multiple languages.
- Shortcuts & Keyboard Navigation
- Productivity enhancements for power users.
- User Feedback Mechanism
- Easy ways to submit feature requests or report usability issues.
Valuation Methodologies Support
Coverage of multiple valuation approaches necessary for venture-stage companies, enabling robust and flexible analysis.
- Comparable Company Analysis
- Ability to benchmark against similar venture-backed firms.
- Custom Model Builder
- Allows users to create or adapt bespoke valuation models.
- DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) Model
- Support for discounted cash flow valuation modeling, even with limited historic data.
- First Chicago Method
- Ability to apply scenario-based modeling suitable for early-stage startups.
- Integrated Market Data Feeds
- Direct linking to relevant market databases for real-time input data.
- Output Export Formats
- Supports export of valuation analyses to PDF, XLSX, PPT, and other formats.
- Precedent Transactions Analysis
- Ability to analyze historical transactions involving comparable startups.
- Risk Factor Summation Method
- Enables adjustment for deal-specific risk factors.
- Scenario Analysis for Valuations
- Support for bullish, base, and bearish case modeling within valuation outputs.
- Scorecard Valuation
- Incorporates qualitative and quantitative scoring to back up valuations.
- Simultaneous Multiple Valuations
- Ability to compute and compare several methods side-by-side.
- Valuation Assumptions Tracker
- Tracks and records key assumptions and their rationale for audit and transparency.
- Venture Capital Method
- Supports the VCM commonly used in VC investment committees.