For Investors

Increase the value of my portfolio companies

Technology is a key driver of enterprise value. StackUp enables you to monitor the technology health of your portfolio companies, ensuring they’re improving and being managed appropriately.

StackUp provides a structured, comprehensive, and objective assessment of the target’s technology function, and can be conducted on a recurring basis as frequently as you choose. Our solution combines:
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Comprehensive technology insights in less than 24 hours
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Unbiased recommendations that reduce risks and enhance confidence
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A fraction of the cost of traditional consultants
Dashboard displaying StackUp's customer score and ratings, highlighting technology leadership and innovation metrics.

Challenges monitoring the technology of portfolio companies

As an investor, monitoring a portfolio company goes beyond reviewing financials. Technology often underpins scalability, operational efficiency, competitive edge, and risk profile, but identifying where to and how to improve can be complex.

You need to ensure management is setting up technology to support growth, is aligned with the strategy, and isn’t hiding risks like cybersecurity vulnerabilities or outdated infrastructure.
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It’s hard to get a clear picture

Technology teams are often reluctant to participate in time consuming reviews that will take them away from core projects.

Limited visibility

Many companies lack comprehensive documentation on their technology function, and will be selective in what they supply to investors.

Valuation risks

Your success and earning potential depend on the technology of your portfolio companies. Without proper insights, you risk missing red flags that that could lead to unforeseen costs or operational failures.

Intangible assets

Many key assets in today’s businesses are intangible – ensure their value is being maintained/grown.

Technical complexity

Assessing technology is inherently complex and requires specialised expertise.

Without StackUp: Traditional approaches to monitoring technology in portfolio companies

Slow, biased and lacking transparency
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No technology monitoring

No technology monitoring

Surface-level assessments

Relying on a few cursory questions, high-level technology audits, or the target’s internal reports often lacks objectivity and fails to highlight critical issues.

High calibre consultants

Bringing in a external CIO/CTO consultant to audit technology can lead to inconsistent and incomplete evaluations, that distract the team from their core focus.

Inconsistent reports

Without a structured evaluation framework, reports vary in quality, leaving investors vulnerable to costly surprises post-deal.

Assuming ISO or SOC2 means ‘healthy’

ISO or SOC2 certifications don’t guarantee technology health

How StackUp helps you succeed

The fastest, most cost effective way to monitor portfolio company technology
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A comprehensive report in hours not weeks

Get a clear, unbiased view of the target’s technology foundations in hours, not weeks. StackUp’s comprehensive assessment takes less than 30 minutes for the technology leader to complete, freeing up you and the technology leader’s valuable time.

Unbiased insights for decision makers like you

StackUp provides a comprehensive, objective assessment of your portfoliocompany’s technology function. Our platform benchmarks the organisation againstindustry best practices and highlights strengths, weaknesses, risks, andopportunities. With human-led insights, we deliver actionable recommendationsin plain language, tailored for decision-makers like you.

StackUp comprehensive assessment includes 50 specific questions covering the entirety of the technology function:
  • Data Security & Privacy
  • Innovation & Strategy
  • Staff & Training
  • Technology Performance
  • Cloud & Network
  • Risk Management
  • Policies & Procedures
  • Vendor Management

Identify hidden risks and ensure the plan is clear

StackUp’s report identifies hidden dangers and opportunities for improvement including cyber risks, cost savings and innovation improvements. It provides a prioritised set of actionable improvements that the technology team can address - taking away the stress of nasty surprises, and giving you confidence.

Give future investors confidence in the targets technology fundamentals

With a report displaying 50 metrics that matter.

Verify with an expert

You have the option to engage an experienced, independent CIO/CTO from ourcommunity of specialists to review the objective StackUp report and deep diveon areas to uplift, and even more detailed, personalised recommendations. Or ifyou have an existing consultant – free up their time to do what they do best leveragingthe StackUp framework.

StackUp is more than an assessment; it enables you to ensure yourportfolio’s technology is as ready for future investment/acquisition as theirfinancials.
  • Mitigate risk by uncovering potential technology weaknesses.
  • Gain confidence in the scalability and resilience of the target’s systems.
  • Ensure alignment between the target’s technology and strategic objectives.
Gain the confidence to ask the right questions, and plan effectively for scaling. StackUp ensures you have the full picture, enabling you to make smarter, more informed investment decisions and maximise the value of your portfolio.

Get started free, in under 10 minutes

You don’t need to prepare anything, just answer the questions based on your current understanding. You’ll be emailed your personalised free report and a sample of the comprehensive StackUp report.

It's fast, free and confidential.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the complexities of planning, budgeting and hiring – we’ve got your back.
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Case studies

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Telecommunications Organisation

Identified 5 critical issues, and 15 improvements they added directly into their roadmap within 24 hours.
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Cybersecurity Organisation

Identified 2 critical issues, and saved over $20,000 annually.
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Hospitality Organisation

Identified 3 cyber security risks that could have broken the business.
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SaaS Organisation

Prepared for seamless technology due diligence in advance of acquisition.
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What our clients are saying

The insights and recommendations on where our technology needed improvement were so clear & useful we fed them directly into our backlog for actioning.
Andrew Smith, CTO at Launtel

Andrew Smith

CTO @ Launtel

StackUp helped us identify critical risks in our tech infrastructure, including future obstacles to scaling. They provided clear priorities to mitigate those risks - essential in securing our technology and ensuring we’re prepared for growth and corporate engagements.
Image of Dhruv Jolly, Founder and CEO at TapOnn

Dhruv Jolly

Founder & CEO @ TapOnn

A really helpful product to give context to CEOs, CTOs and Founders to validate where they are up to and where they can improve.
Mark Lynch

Mark Lynch

CTO & Founder @ Learnosity

StackUp provided us with invaluable insights helping us to identify opportunities for improvement. The recommendations in the report along with the insights and verification service have been a game changer for driving our tech strategy forward.
Image of Cody Harmon, Founder and CEO of Cruz

Cody Harmon

Founder & CEO @ Cruz

You don’t know what you don’t know even when you are the best in your game, StackUp's assessment unveiled crucial blind spots and areas for enhancement. The report's clarity and depth provided us with valuable, actionable insights for continuous improvement
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Ajay Unni

Founder & CEO @ StickmanCyber

We're a scaleup focused on rapid innovation and feature development. StackUp helped us find opportunities to make our offering more robust without sacrificing speed.
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Rafael Niesten

Co-Founder @ Proptech Labs

Preparing for our next fundraise, StackUp's report identified critical areas for improvement and independent validation of our strengths. The insights and verification service provided tailored advice to revise our strategy and enabled us to approach future investment discussions with confidence. Strongly recommend these guys.
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David Hayes

CEO @ Babeltext

The StackUp assessment is comprehensive and fast. It provided insights enabling us to uplift our technology quickly.
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Justus Hammer

Co-Founder & CEO @ Mad Paws

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You're in good company

FAQs

What makes StackUp different?

StackUp provides a comprehensive evaluation of all aspects of technology and technology function processes, including strategy, employee engagement, service delivery, and innovation—not just security and compliance.

Our platform provides human-led, actionable insights, and supports informed decision making at every level, from Technology Leaders, to C-Level Executive to Board Members and Investors.

What if my technology leader makes a mistake on the assessment or doesn't know all the answers?

The assessment is designed to support accurate submissions regardless of knowledge level with "Don't Know" options ensuring no one feels pressured to guess.

This gap in knowledge being identified is valuable - a gap in knowledge which can be addressed through our insights and recommendations.

Who can benefit from using StackUp?

Technology leaders, C-level executives, board members and venture capital and private equity investors from companies of all sizes will find value in StackUp. It’s especially beneficial for those looking to identify areas for improvement, justify budget requests, and enhance overall technology performance.

How secure is our data with StackUp?

We employ robust security measures to ensure that all user data is encrypted, securely stored, and only accessible by authorised personnel. For any comparative purposes, all data is aggregated and anonymised to protect your privacy and confidentiality.

Will StackUp's assessment identify a bunch of problems that are going to cost a fortune and take ages to fix?

StackUp's assessment will identify any gaps in the fundamental technology health of your organisation.

However, most of these problems are relatively fast and cost effective to fix, and have an enormously positive impacts on the organisation: risk reduction, cost reduction, efficiency improvements, security improvements etc.

The StackUp algorithm provides a prioritised list of items to improve so you don't have to boil the ocean - tackle one high priority item at a time and resubmit to track your improvement. You can do this internally, or leverage our independent network of specialist suppliers.

The assessment is balanced - so it also highlights areas that are performing well and that should be celebrated.

How does StackUp relate to SOC 2, ISO, and other certifications and frameworks?

StackUp complements frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO by providing a broader perspective on technology maturity.

While certifications focus on meeting compliance and security standards, StackUp bridges the gap between compliance and excellence.

It helps organisations prepare for certifications by identifying areas that need improvement and offering actionable recommendations, making the certification process smoother and more efficient.

For certified organisations, StackUp delivers additional value through benchmarking, tailored insights, and practical guidance aligned with business goals.

By fostering continuous improvement, innovation, and scalability, StackUp enhances the value of certifications and aligns technology capabilities with broader business objectives.

While it does not replace formal certifications, it strengthens the foundation for achieving and maintaining them.

What does "entire technology function" mean?

The "entire technology function" refers to all the components and responsibilities that a technology leader (CTO, CIO, IT Manager) typically oversees. StackUp evaluates key areas that make up your organisation's digital capabilities, including:

  • Innovation and Strategy
  • Staff and Training
  • Cloud and Network
  • Data Security and Privacy
  • Policies and Procedures
  • Risk Management
  • Vendor Management
  • Technology Performance

This encompasses IT infrastructure, end-user computing, software development, application support, cybersecurity, data management, project management, and technology-driven innovation.

Technology leaders often excel in certain areas while encountering challenges in others.

StackUp identifies hidden risks, highlights opportunities for improvement, and helps align your organisation's digital operations with broader business goals. In essence, the technology function is the backbone that supports your organisation’s ability to innovate, scale, and perform effectively in a competitive environment.

Why should I use StackUp if my technology function is already performing well or if I am already addressing a few known issues?

Even if your technology function is performing well or you are actively working on a few known issues, StackUp helps you verify and showcase your excellence. By benchmarking against industry best practices and peers, you can uncover hidden strengths, validate your strategies, and gain certification that highlights your leadership.

StackUp also identifies 'unknown unknowns'—potential risks or opportunities you may not have considered—ensuring you stay ahead of the competition and continuously improve. Every technology leader is on a journey of improvement. While you may excel in areas like software development or cloud infrastructure, there may be gaps in others, such as data privacy or training. StackUp provides a holistic view of your entire technology function, enabling informed decisions and giving you the credit you deserve for your progress and performance.

Still have questions?