This Week’s Vendor News

NEW & UPDATED PRODUCTS

J.P. Morgan launches its Private Markets Data Solutions for institutional investors, available through Fusion by J.P. Morgan. This is a new data management solution for private assets that enables investors, both GPs and LPs, to analyze and gain transparency into their portfolio across public and private holdings and eliminate the manual processes of managing this operational workflow at scale. Fusion minimizes the need for resource-intensive processes by offloading this workload to algorithms that work automatically, accelerating time to insights. Data is ingested from J.P. Morgan Securities Services and portfolio administrators, which is then complemented with reference data from vendors. Developed by J.P. Morgan’s data experts, Fusion’s proprietary AI-ML technology helps correct discrepancies and incompleteness and applies standard identifiers for consistency and easy interoperability. Fusion has incorporated data from Aumni, J.P. Morgan's private capital platform, and external leading data providers like Canoe Intelligence, MSCI Private Capital Solutions, and PitchBook. ↗

Visible VC has rebranded. Visible started as a way for founders to update their investors but has since changed into a purpose-built platform for both founders and investors. Visible's new brand refresh represents its commitment to equip founders and the investors who back them. Founders can now manage their investor relationships and capital raises from start to finish. Investors can centralize data, uncover insights, and report to their LPs and stakeholders—all from one place. The brand refresh: 1 - equips founders and investors for growth, 2 - now includes shapes all over its website that symbolize the connections between VCs, founders, and stakeholders, 3 - updated logo and wordmark and 4 - a new color palette. ↗

DealEdge launches the DealEdge Free Trial - a complimentary look into the PE analytics platform, which was created by Bain & Company and CEPRES. What's included: 1 - ten searches across its Market Insights module, 2 - access to data from 50k deals covering 570+ subsectors and 200+ countries and 3 - insights from 20+ performance, operational, and risk metrics. What can users do with it?: 1 - sharpen fund strategy, 2 - highlight firm's strengths and 3 - examine the downside risks. How it works: 1 - sign up for free DealEdge account, 2 - get access to DealEdge's Market Insights module, and 3 - conduct up to 10 searches to inform your sector strategy. ↗

Cobalt has introduced Cobalt Comment Threading. With Cobalt Comment Threading, users can prioritize and stay focused on tasks, act quickly on information that needs their attention, and track communication throughout the portfolio company data collection process. Cobalt's Comment Threading helps users never miss notifications. ↗

Canoe Intelligence expands its Canoe Pro offering with four new Pro Partners: Deviate Consulting, Ellevate Consulting, Alpha Alternatives (formerly Lionpoint Group), and Prime Buchholz. Canoe Pro pairs Canoe’s document and data management technology with outsourced managed services for alternative investors looking for an all-in-one solution to manage their investments. By expanding the program, Canoe gives clients access to vetted managed services in the alts space, enabling tailored solutions that address each firm’s specific technology needs. Each Canoe Pro Partner brings their own aptitude to Canoe’s clients. Deviate Consulting and Ellevate Consulting, cater to family offices and wealth managers and Alpha Alternatives and Prime Buchholz both specialize in serving enterprise and institutional customers. ↗

FundGuard announces inaugural delivery of its Implementation Partner Training Program. The new certification program was completed by Meradia The FundGuard Implementation Partner Program introduces a structured certification pathway that ensures partners can gain proficiency in using the platform. The program offers three certification levels: Foundations, Intermediate, and Expert. Each level is tailored to help partners build progressively deeper expertise, beginning with a foundational understanding of the platform and progressing toward more advanced skills for complex implementation scenarios. ↗

Affinity launches Deal Assist, Affinity’s new conversational AI. Deal Assist uses artificial intelligence to help users pitch investments, prepare for meetings, and get answers to questions during diligence without having to sift through the notes, pitch decks, and data accumulated. ↗

Sourcescrub launches new Conference Planning solution. Sourcescrub’s Conference Planning solution is built for dealmakers that use data and technology to optimize event strategy and management. With Conference Planning, Sourcescrub delivers recommendations on events based on identified targets and criteria used to surface new opportunities. Planning and collaboration tools, including a dedicated conference calendar and project management functionality, help dealmakers remove hours from the conference planning process. ↗

Atfinity releases Version 14, which brings a revamp of its user interface. Atfinity looks cleaner and more structured and its Case Manager is easier to navigate. In addition to Case Manager, new updates have been made under: Configuration, Admin and API. ↗

Vitech unveils V3locity Fall 2024 updates. Here are some of the highlights of the Fall 2024 Enhancements: Support for Canadian disability claims, AI-powered analytics, realizing automation, heaped commissions on SABs, multi-employer group amendment changes, standardizing work report import, enrollment file improvements and digital wallets. These updates are designed to boost efficiency, improve member experiences, and future-proof organizations. ↗

Ontra launches automated CTA filing for private fund managers. Automated CTA filing is one way Ontra's platform Atlas, supports fund managers in complying with beneficial ownership filing requirements by: 1 - organizing and managing beneficial ownership information for all entities in an AI-enabled platform, 2 - designating which entities require CTA filings and which are exempt, 3 - referencing identity details required for reporting, 4 - Making updates to beneficial ownership information that automatically apply across entities and structures and 5 - automating CTA filing with one click. ↗

Dialllog releases new bulk milestones functionality. This enhancement provides users with a way to add multiple milestones at once for a streamlined workflow, which is more efficient without repetitive tasks. Benefits of this new functionality include: 1 - improved productivity, 2 - time savings and 3 - enhanced project tracking. ↗

In Q3 2024, VerityRMS introduced several updates aimed at making the platform better for portfolio managers, analysts, and tech teams. What is new?: 1 - Admins can now auto-create SQL queries and dashboards with AI assistance. 2 - Company Insights has been upgraded to also reference attachments, including meeting transcripts. Company Insights can now also use GPT-4o. 3 - Enhancements to dashboards improve flexibility and usability, with options to expand widgets to full-screen mode and search within tree-table formats. 4 - Security Master updates - the Security Master is now updated daily, reflecting changes like IPOs, ticker updates, and corporate actions. Also, enhanced matching logic and auto-tagging features. 5 - Enhanced search - VerityRMS now supports search across new file types, including VTT transcripts from meetings, for access to important information. This expanded search function, combined with the updated Security Master, allows teams to more accurately retrieve company data and investment research. ↗

The Trusted AI Assessment for Venture Capital is now available on Novata’s platform. This framework, developed in collaboration with Tracy Barba, Director of the Lucas Institute for Venture Equity and Ethics, allows investors and startups to navigate the ethical complexities of artificial intelligence. Designed for companies across various funding stages, the framework helps assess factors like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and regulatory compliance. ↗

Hyperscience has introduced the Hyperscience Design System. The Hyperscience Design System is a new user interface, which is designed to elevate the user experience. The recent release of the Hyperscience Hypercell R40 is the first integration of HSDS, which features updates such as the Layout Triage experience and enhancements to the Model Overview page for Identification models. ↗

DEAL ACTIVITY

iDeals is expanding its presence in India with the acquisition of EthosData. With this acquisition, users now benefit from iDeals technology, which was recently upgraded to make it faster, more secure, and easier to use, along with a local team with experience in Indian M&A. This provides users with: 1 - Enhanced functionality, with improved features like advanced permissions controls, reporting and analytics, and fast performance. 2 - Security - iDeals VDR is SOC 2 certified and meets international security standards, giving customers peace of mind throughout the deal process. 3 - Transparent pricing: Users gain an understanding of the VDR costs for their M&A project, enabling them to better manage budgets and avoid any surprises. ↗

PARTNERSHIPS & INTEGRATIONS

Dynamo partners with Passthrough for investor onboarding. Passthrough’s integration with Dynamo’s Investor Portal gives firms a new way to streamline and enhance their onboarding processes. Passthrough’s workflows are embedded into Dynamo’s end-to-end FinTech platform, which enhances the experience for both fund managers and investors. Benefits of this integration include: 1 - keeping investors in the same ecosystem, 2 - the ability to track and manage the close using both platforms, 3 - the ability to ensure that everyone is on the same page. ↗

SESAMm and FINGREEN AI join forces for sustainable finance. This new partnership reinforces a shared commitment to transparency and efficiency in sustainable investing. Under this partnership, FINGREEN AI provides open-source solutions that promote transparency in ESG reporting, reducing greenwashing and enabling more informed investments, while SESAMm brings its ESG controversy data to this collaboration. Now, SESAMm's controversy data will be integrated into the Fingreen platform, allowing for data standardization, easier portfolio mapping, and enhanced reporting. ↗

Dealstack has partnered with Accru Partners to automate the rollout of their investment program. Highlights of the partnership include: 1 - Automated workflows allow for participation without hassle, saving time and boosting collaboration. 2 - Implementation is transparent, with all stakeholders able to work from a single source of truth, ensuring smooth onboarding for all parties. 3 - By automating manual tasks, Accru Partners is now better equipped to engage employees and manage program changes. ↗

Northern Trust and Hamilton Lane form strategic collaboration. Under the agreement, Northern Trust will offer clients access to Hamilton Lane’s private market data, analytics, and tools through its suite of Northern Trust Total Portfolio Analytics solutions. Hamilton Lane’s solutions available to asset servicing clients will include Cobalt LP, which provides private market analytics and pre-commitment research capabilities in a digital, turn-key format. In addition, Northern Trust clients will be able to leverage Hamilton Lane’s underlying portfolio company data service which includes the tracking of core portfolio company metrics, company fundamentals and asset class specific metrics across clients’ private markets portfolios. ↗

ESG_VC partners with PortF to scale up ESG reporting in venture capital. The partnership will enable ESG_VC’s community of venture capital firms to streamline data collection, analysis, and reporting through access to the PortF platform. As a platform partner, PortF will enable venture capital firms to access the ESG_VC Measurement Framework, using its tools and analytics to enhance the process of collection data from portfolio companies, analysing performance, and producing reporting on ESG. ↗

Artemis has selected Northern Trust to provide outsourced trading services for its equities and derivatives activity, effective January 2025. Northern Trust will support all trading activity for Artemis’ equity funds under management and all related over-the-counter and exchange-traded derivatives. The appointment follows a review by Artemis of its operating model intended to help align its operational structure with its strategic growth plans. Four members of Artemis’ dealing team will move to Northern Trust. ↗

Netwealth, an Australian wealth platform for advisors and investors, selects DiligenceVault’s technology for investment manager due diligence and ongoing monitoring processes. The Investment Research and Governance team at Netwealth selected DiligenceVault’s due diligence technology as part of their commitment to enhance the information collection capabilities, communication and operational efficiency. Under this partnership, DiligenceVault will help to digitize Netwealth's due diligence process of investment manager reviews and ongoing monitoring needs. Additionally, DiligenceVault’s digital diligence solution will centralize diligence and data collection projects, enhance governance through audit trails, track and escalate open issues and risk flags, and improve analytics capabilities. Netwealth will also be able to leverage DiligenceVault to streamline its due diligence and investment governance framework on the managed accounts available at Netwealth. ↗

Danske Bank implements Broadridge’s Global Proxy Voting Solution to enhance investor services. The Broadridge solution streamlines the proxy voting process and ensures greater accuracy and speed, enabling Danske Bank's clients to make more informed and timely investment decisions. The implementation extends the strategic relationship between Danske Bank and Broadridge. Earlier in 2024 Broadridge announced that Danske Bank had selected Broadridge’s multi-asset trading and market making solution, Tbricks, to support multi-asset trading, pricing and position management across Danske Bank’s markets. Danske Bank commenced live operations for proxy voting with Broadridge in September of this year and is now benefitting from the unified solution to support investor voting for meetings in all regions including EMEA, the Americas and Asia/Pacific. ↗

Charles River selected to manage Australian Ethical’s investment portfolio. Australian Ethical Investment has selected the Charles River Investment Management Solution to automate its front and middle office processes for its entire investment portfolio. Australian Ethical will use Charles River IMS for portfolio and risk management, trading, compliance, performance measurement and attribution, investment book of record, and transaction management. It will also use the State Street Alpha Data Platform and Services to manage its investment data. ↗

OFFICE & PERSONNEL

Katipult appoints Beth Shaw as CEO. Shaw has over 30 years experience in syndication and equity capital markets, having held senior executive positions at both bank-owned and independent investment dealers. She has been serving as a strategic advisor to Katipult since February 2024. Katipult also announced that current CEO, Gord Breese is stepping down from his role immediately. Additionally, Brian Craig, Chairman of the Board, has announced his resignation. ↗

Floww is launching in the US. Flow is currently searching for 10 US-based startups to join its 12-week cohort program, designed to enhance their fundraising efforts. Floww Private Markets US Inc. is FINRA registered. The program and its dates are subject to state registration. ↗

Titanbay welcomes Michael Gruener as Co-CEO. Gruener, who joins from BlackRock, has over 20 years of experience in financial services. Most recently he lead the retail business for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at BlackRock, and spent time at Goldman Sachs. Gruener will partner with the current CEO, Ossama Soliman, who will focus on building Titanbay's products and operating the business while Gruener takes the reins on the commercial front. ↗

IQ-EQ has been granted its licence to offer fund administration services in the Dubai International Financial Centre. Following the opening of IQ-EQ’s office in the DIFC in 2023, and the granting of its licence to offer corporate services, this news is the latest in the firm’s targeted expansion in the Middle East region. Its fund service licence, obtained from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, will allow IQ-EQ to offer its full suite of investor services capabilities. ↗

Will Alexander is the newest Machine Learning Engineer at Freyda. In 2020, Alexander applied to be Freyda's very first intern. More recently, Alexander completed his Postdoctoral Research Assistant degree in Industrial Machine Learning at Oxford and got first hand experience building RAG chatbots and GenAI apps. ↗

Robin AI building US Implementation Team. Along with the new team, comes new role openings in the Legal AI space, which are live now on Robin AI's careers page. ↗

Alexandr Gribkov has joined ListAlpha as a front end software engineer. Gribkov is leading software development work in some high priority areas for ListAlpha, including integration of latest AI models, adviser fee module, target company news and signal analysis. ↗

VENDOR RESEARCH & WHITEPAPERS

IDR has a new blog, "From friction to flow: 5 steps to a seamless private markets investor onboarding experience". In this post, IDR states "the onboarding process is all too often a point of friction. Disjointed systems, confusing forms, and repeated requests for personal information are frustrating for investors and add to the time and cost associated with fundraising for managers." This blog goes over five steps that managers can take to overcome these challenges and deliver a seamless investor onboarding experience. ↗

ROYC Group has a new blog, "The Rise of AI-Driven Investor Service". In this blog, ROYC explains why it feels that AI can drive efficiency when implemented correctly, but it cannot fully replace the need for human supervision and intervention. ↗

Dealstack has a new article, "6 reasons to use tech to manage your MIPs in 2025". In this article, Dealstack illustrates six of the ways its helped its clients to optimize their MIPs, both by reducing administrative stress and increasing efficiency. ↗

AWARDS

Hyperscience wins 2024 Deep Analysis Innovation Award for Hypercell for GenAI. This is a second year in a row that Hyperscience has won in the same category. Hypercell for GenAI provides a business-user ready interface for labeling and annotating unstructured enterprise content, allowing organizations to teach GenAI the language of their business and deliver positive experiences for both employees and customers. ↗