This Week’s Vendor News

NEW & UPDATED PRODUCTS

Morningstar and PitchBook have introduced new indexes to provide investors with insight into emerging venture capital companies. The Morningstar PitchBook Global Unicorn Industry Vertical Indexes is a suite of eleven indexes, that are derived from the Morningstar PitchBook Global Unicorn Indexes, originally launched in November 2022. Each indexes are designed to enhance investors' ability to identify, track and better understand thematic venture capital investment segments. ↗

FactSet announces Artificial Intelligence Blueprint and FactSet Explorer, its product review program. FactSet’s AI Blueprint, is its product roadmap designed to leverage the power of AI to further enhance their solutions and deliver personalization, discoverability, and productivity to their clients. ↗

Katipult has introduced DealFlow Marketing. DealFlow Marketing is a fully automated investor marketing solution that streamlines the distribution of marketing materials, monitors investor interest, and secures investor commitments within a compliant and auditable workflow. ↗

Carta has launched a new waterfall modeling feature that centralizes and simplifies the whole process. With this new feature, private equity firms will be able to automate quarterly valuations for LP reporting, use exit modeling to evaluate the impact of a potential M&A transaction on returns for each stakeholder and calculate estimated equity values for employees and investors at any time. ↗

Novata has expanded its SFDR capabilities available to Novata clients to simplify reporting against European regulatory requirements. Available capabilities include full-service digital data collection, PAI automation tool, SFDR experts and education resources. ↗

MSCI just launched MSCI GeoSpatial, a global dataset containing geo-referenced information on physical assets (e.g., offices, production facilities) owned or operated by companies. MSCI GeoSpatial data provides critical spatial context, enables vulnerability mapping, aids in trend analysis, supports risk modeling and guides resilient infrastructure planning. ↗

StepStone has Introduced SPI by StepStone, a suite of applications providing proprietary data, research, and tools to StepStone’s clients and investment teams. SPI by StepStone includes: SPI Research, SPI Reporting, SPI Pacing and SPI Benchmarking. ↗

Passthrough has introduced investor tagging to its platform. With investor tagging, users can create customizable tags to capture information such as which RIA an investor is associated with, whether they're HNWI or institutional, or anything else. You can use tags as filters on the platform, and include them in data exports. ↗

Daloopa has launched Daloopa Plus. With Daloopa Plus, analysts are able to update their models with key fundamentals and live KPIs as soon as the earnings drop. ↗

Apliqo has unveiled key features from its October 2023 platform update. These new features include: SQL data source, export to excel as active form, new drill popup, improved Save and Discard functionality and Cube settings improvements. ↗

PARTNERSHIPS & INTEGRATIONS

Exponent has partnered with Dealstack to manage their investment program for a recently acquired portfolio company. Key highlights of this partnership include: efficiency and transparency; Dealstack offers a secure and transparent process for deal teams and legal professionals. And streamlined workflows; Dealstack's workflows can now be used to reduce admin and save time. The entire plan will be managed within Dealstack. ↗

Inrate is collaborating with TMX Group for their ESG Data Hub. The TMX ESG Data Hub delivers data to global clients in support of ESG integration in investment decision-making processes. ↗

Dow Jones has selected three new agency partners, Mother, Mediahub and TBWA Worldwide subsidiary EG+ after almost ten years partnering with The&Partnership and mSix&Partners. The review spanned all Dow Jones’ consumer brands, plus its business intelligence assets, including Factiva, Risk & Compliance and OPIS. ↗

Ontra has announced the integration of OpenAI’s GPT-4 into its AI engine, Ontra Synapse. This addition will advance Ontra’s Legal Operating System, which automates legal workflows for private markets firms. ↗

ERM has entered into a strategic partnership with Sweep, a software platform for carbon and sustainability data management. The partnership blends ERM’s advisory capabilities and Sweep’s digital platform to help businesses develop and implement data-driven climate and ESG strategies. ↗

Black@ Labs has announced a new partnership with Visible VC. With Visible, Black@ Labs members can now effectively manage investor updates, track key metrics, and navigate the fundraising process with ease. ↗

Ledgex partners with Forest Systems to deliver general ledger capabilities to the family office market. This strategic partnership brings together Ledgex's experience in analytics, private markets, and data management with Forest Systems specialized accounting support for Family Offices. Customers of Ledgex will now be able to reduce the quantity of vendors needed to support their operations, and eliminate unnecessary complexity, expense and often manual work required to reconcile multiple systems. ↗

Filament Syfter and Valu8 have formed a strategic partnership. This integration combines Valu8’s data resources with Filament Syfter’s data integration, matching, and AI/predictive modelling capabilities. ↗

4Pines Fund Services and Cascata Solutions have formed a strategic partnership. This partnership will deliver a modern, digital experience for back-office carried interest, management fee and expense accounting and administration for 4Pines' clients. Additionally, 4Pines is offering direct access to Cascata's PE Carry Scenario Analyzing tool to help client's front-office have greater insights and scenario analysis into their deal-level investments. ↗

Shasta Ventures has chosen Ark as their solution platform to support their fund operations and investor management. Shasta Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm headquartered in Portola Valley, CA. ↗

Addepar has welcomed HCR Wealth Advisors to their list of clients. HCR is a holistic, financial advisory firm that was founded in 1988 and is based in Los Angeles, CA. ↗

Broadridge has announced that HSBC is the next client to successfully go live on the newly launched sponsored repo solution built on Broadridge’s DLT enabled Distributed Ledger Repo platform. HSBC is the second client to go live since the launch of the sponsored repo solution in early October. ↗

Arqaam Capital has selected Nasdaq eVestment to optimize their market presence. Nasdaq eVestment Omni allows the firm to amplify their visibility with relevant investors. ↗

Addepar has welcomed Lone Oak Trust Company to its family of clients. Lone Oak provides high net worth individuals and families in Texas with holistic, flexible, and personalized trust and estate services. ↗

SS&C has announced that Dimensional Fund Advisors has renewed its transfer agency agreement with SS&C Global Investor and Distribution Solutions. Under this agreement, SS&C will render transfer agency services for Dimensional’s ’40 Act mutual funds, which currently manage $461 billion in aum. ↗

Vestberry has welcomed the European Innovation Council Fund as a new client. The EIC Fund, a venture arm of the European Innovation Council (EIC), drives transformative change in the European tech landscape. ↗

HIRING & PERSONNEL

Kroll has announced that Julian Marsh has joined the company as a Managing Director in the Financial Services Compliance and Regulation practice in London. Marsh has over twenty years of experience in advising financial firms on complex business transformation, governance, control and risk management matters. ↗

Hyperscience has welcomed Brian Weiss as its first-ever Field Chief Technology Officer. With over 25 years experience, Weiss will serve as a conduit between customers, partners, and technology innovation. ↗

Anaplan promotes Adam Thier to new role as Chief Product and Technology Officer, overseeing the company’s core engineering teams and its global product organization. Thier, a 20-year enterprise software veteran, was appointed Chief Product Officer in April 2023, four months after joining Anaplan’s executive leadership team in an interim product leadership capacity. ↗

PFA Solutions has hired Mack Kennedy, who has joined the PFA team as a Product Manager. Most recently, Kennedy was a Project Manager at Exactuals. ↗

73 Strings has welcomed Swapnil Sarode as its new Vice President in Toronto. Before joining 73 Strings, Sarode spent 5 years at CPP Investments. ↗

Valu8 Company Intelligence has hired a new Senior Account Executive, Matthew Fay, who is based in London. Most recently, Fay was an Account Executive at Affinity. ↗

IQ-EQ has announced that Amy Lejune has been promoted to Managing Director of IQ-EQ UK Corporate Services. Lejune has helped grow the business over the last 3 years. ↗

Dasseti has welcomed 4 new team members to its Sales and Technical teams. The new team members are: Florian Kretschmann, Alex Vujatovic, Reshma S Raj, and Pano Bailey. ↗

VENDOR WHITEPAPERS

BoardEx has published a new article, "Using Relationship Data to Find Your Next Deal". In this piece, BoardEx states that by harnessing relationship intelligence, PE professionals can initiate strategic partnerships, tap into proprietary deal flow, and leverage industry expertise. ↗

Passthrough has released a new blog, "The evolving role of placement agents". In this piece, Passthrough feels that while placement agents are commonly thought of as introduction services only, it’s really only one part of their job. They are actually key partners who assist GPs through each stage of fundraising, from marketing packages and brand refinement, document preparation, relationship management, finding service providers, to aiding LPs to the final close of the fund. They also continuously help GPs refine their investor pitch and presentation to ensure they are delivering a compelling case for investment. ↗

Astrella has published a new blog, "How Does Cliff Vesting Work?" In this article, Astrella examines the different types and benefits of cliff vesting, explore its tax implications, and discuss how employers can set up their cliff vesting program. ↗

Mend.io has released a new blog, "What Developers Need to Succeed for Effective Application Security". In this piece, Mend.io discusses ways that developers can help keep applications secure while still meeting release deadlines. ↗

SS&C has published a new whitepaper, "Is It Time to Think About a New Fund Administrator?". In this piece, SS&C discusses compelling reasons to switch administrators and why now might be the time to make the transition. ↗

Arcesium has published a new blog, "Why Humans Matter Most in an AI-Driven World". In this blog, Arcesium discusses how advanced technologies are not a shortcut to the finish line. They are simply tools to help humans do things better and faster. ↗

FactSet has released a new article, "3 Red Flags to Avoid the Snake Oil of ChatGPT Stock Pickers". There are articles saying that ChatGPT has been used to pick stocks better than professional investment firms to deliver higher returns. FactSet believes these portrayals of Large Language Model capabilities are wildly misleading and have the potential to cause investors real harm. In this piece FactSet outlines 3 red flags of allowing this happening. ↗

Affinity has published a couple new blogs, the first being, "Best practices for driving firmwide adoption of new technologies". Affinity describes a few best practices as follows: create embedded behaviors through standard workflows, expand firmwide adoption beyond your investment and deals teams and D=drive firmwide tech adoption by getting the basics right. ↗

Affinity has released another new blog, "Three ways to improve deal sourcing in 2024". The 3 ways, which Affinity discusses in detail are: become a data-driven dealmaker, elevate relationships to source deals and maximize use of technology. ↗

Novata has published a new blog, "Developing a Responsible Generative AI Policy". Novata states that "according to McKinsey, AI adoption has more than doubled since 2017, with investments in AI following a similar upward trend." Novata says that despite this, many industries have raised concerns about the potential misuse of personal information and data that generative AI tools rely on to learn and make predictions. To address these concerns, companies must establish processes to protect data, ensure data security, and promote fairness and inclusion in their use of generative AI, which are all explained in more detail in this blog. ↗

SEI has published a new blog, "AI and automation: Revolutionizing the future of finance". SEI states that from banking to investment management, AI and automation are driving efficiency and innovation in the financial sector. Some opportunities include: the ability to streamline operations, have improved insights, and enhanced security. ↗

SourceScrub has published a new piece: "Data May Be Hurting Your Firm: Revealing the Hidden Traps Hindering Most Dealmakers". SourceScrub breaks down five of the most common data challenges dealmakers across industries face and the best ways to overcome them. ↗

Totem VC has released a new blog, "Real-World AI for Venture Funds". In this piece, Totem discusses how fund managers and their software providers have been dealing with how to incorporate new AI capabilities while maintaining data integrity and lands on a few key insights. ↗

AWARDS

Decimal Point Analytics has been awarded the Canadian RegTech Association Award for 'Best ESG Solution 2023!'. The Canadian RegTech Association is a non-profit organization focused on solving regulatory challenges through collaborative efforts between key RegTech stakeholders. ↗

Broadridge has announced that Dipti Kachru, its Global Chief Marketing Officer, won 'Marketing Leader of the Year' category at the 2023 Women in Content Marketing Awards. In its fifth year, the Women in Content Marketing Awards celebrates women across all levels and specialties who are defining the content marketing industry and creating a lasting impact through their leadership. ↗

Atominvest has been listed on the ESG FinTech Global list and recognized as one of the world's most innovative ESG tech companies in the financial services sector. The ESGFintech100 is a compilation of 100 forward-thinking ESG companies that financial institutions should know of. ↗