top of page

Search Results

12 results found with an empty search

  • Investor Admittance: What Happens After Subscription Docs Are Signed

    In the world of alternative investments, completing subscription documents is a critical milestone for investors. But what happens next? Investor admittance or closing is the crucial next step that ensures compliance, security, and seamless onboarding. At VENTURE.co , we simplify and speed up this process, providing fund managers with clarity, transparency, and confidence.    Understanding Investor Admittance Investor admittance is the process of formally accepting an investor into a fund after they have submitted their subscription documents. This step is not just procedural, it is essential for compliance, record-keeping, and maintaining the integrity of the investment process. The Key Steps in Investor Admittance A step-by-step overview of the investor admittance process, from document verification to capital transfer and final confirmation. Document Verification : Each subscription document is reviewed to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with regulatory standards.  Investor Verification : Checklists are conducted to confirm that the investor meets the qualifications specified in the fund’s offering documents.  Approval Workflow:  Once verified, the subscription documents are approved by the fund manager or a designated representative.  Investor Record Creation: The investment record in the transfer agent system is changed to an Active status and is now eligible to begin accruing future distribution payments.  Transfer of Investment Funding : The subscription’s contributed capital is wired from a holding or escrow account to fund’s operating account, where it can be used to buy fund assets  Confirmation of Admittance:  The investor is officially notified of their successful admittance, and they gain access to the investor portal.  Commissions/Fees Processed:  Once the investor is admitted to the offering, commissions to broker dealers are calculated and paid to each selling broker dealer of record based on the corresponding signed selling agreement.   Why Investor Admittance Matters  Proper investor admittance is vital for fund integrity. It ensures that all investors meet eligibility requirements, protects against regulatory violations, and establishes a clear record of each investor’s participation. With VENTURE.co ’s advanced technology and service-driven approach, fund managers can streamline this process, minimize errors, and maintain compliance.  How VENTURE.co Simplifies Investor Admittance VENTURE.co ’s platform offers a comprehensive solution for investor admittance, combining advanced technology with expert-backed service:  Streamlined Document Verification : Reduce manual errors with intelligent document scanning and compliance checks.  Approval Workflows:  Configurable workflows ensure that documents are reviewed and approved efficiently.  Secure Investor Records:  All investor data is securely stored and easily accessible for ongoing management.  Real-Time Notifications:  Investors receive timely updates on their admittance status, improving transparency and increasing reinvestments.  The Impact on Fund Managers For fund managers, efficient investor admittance means reduced administrative burden, faster onboarding, and enhanced investor satisfaction. It also mitigates compliance risks by ensuring that all required steps are completed accurately.  Investor admittance is a critical phase in the alternative investment process, and getting it right is essential.

  • The Critical Role of Transfer Agents in Alternative Investments

    In the evolving world of alternative investments, efficient investor management and regulatory compliance are crucial. Transfer agents, often seen as behind-the-scenes operators, play a pivotal role in ensuring that alternative investment funds maintain transparency, integrity, and seamless investor experiences.   Understanding Transfer Agents in Alternative Investments Transfer agents are specialized service providers responsible for maintaining accurate records of investor ownership, processing investor transactions, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In the context of alternative investments, ranging from private equity and real estate funds to oil and gas funds, transfer agents help asset managers maintain investor confidence by providing secure, accurate, and compliant investor services.   Why Transfer Agents Matter Accurate Record-Keeping — Transfer agents ensure that investor records are maintained with the highest accuracy, reducing the risk of errors or disputes. Regulatory Compliance — They can manage compliance obligations, including investor verification, and reporting, helping funds avoid costly penalties. Investor Experience — Transfer agents facilitate seamless investor onboarding, subscription processing, and transaction management, enhancing investor satisfaction and increasing reinvesting. Scalability — By leveraging technology, transfer agents enable alternative investment funds to scale efficiently, supporting large volumes of transactions without sacrificing accuracy.   How Transfer Agents Transform Fund Operations Transfer agents act as the backbone of fund operations, allowing fund managers to focus on strategic decision-making while maintaining investor confidence. Their expertise in compliance and record-keeping ensures that funds remain secure, efficient, and capable of adapting to regulatory changes.   Choosing the Right Transfer Agent for Alternative Investments When selecting a transfer agent, fund managers should consider: Regulatory Expertise — Ensure that the TA has deep knowledge of relevant regulations. Technology Capabilities — Look for secure, scalable platforms that can integrate with fund management systems. Service Excellence — Prioritize providers with a track record of responsive, client-focused service.   The Future of Transfer Agents in Alternative Investments As the alternative investment industry continues to grow, the role of transfer agents will become even more critical. Automation, enhanced reporting capabilities, and increased regulatory scrutiny will drive the need for sophisticated transfer agent services. In this evolving landscape, transfer agents will not only ensure compliance but also enhance investor confidence and enable fund managers to operate more efficiently.

  • VENTURE.co Fund Services Hires Tony Olivo as Chief Revenue Officer

    BURLINGTON, VT – VENTURE.co Fund Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Tony Olivo as Chief Revenue Officer. Tony joins VENTURE.co from Vistra (formerly Phoenix American), where he served as Vice President of Sales and led the transfer agent and fund administration teams responsible for administering complex fund structures, optimizing workflows, and ensuring top-tier client experiences. With twenty years of experience in financial services and alternative investments, Tony brings a wealth of expertise in fund administration, transfer agent systems, regulatory compliance, and operational leadership. In his new position, he will spearhead sales initiatives and foster client-centric innovations to elevate VENTURE.co’s comprehensive offering to the alternative investment industry.   “We are thrilled to welcome Tony to the VENTURE.co team,” said Aaron Pollak, CEO of VENTURE.co Fund Services. “ His proven track record in delivering exceptional results, coupled with his deep industry knowledge, will be instrumental in driving our next phase of growth and enhancing our service capabilities for alternative investment clients.” “I’m excited to join VENTURE.co Fund Services and look forward to contributing to the company’s strong culture of innovation and client-focused solutions,” said Tony Olivo. “I believe that together, we can build on VENTURE.co’s success and deliver unparalleled value to our clients in the rapidly evolving landscape.”  About Tony Olivo With extensive experience in fund administration and deep expertise in transfer agent systems, Tony Olivo has been instrumental in optimizing operational efficiencies and streamlining complex financial processes throughout his career. His industry knowledge spans alternative investment funds, regulatory compliance, and investor services, making him a leader in driving innovation and operational excellence. In his new role at VENTURE.co Fund Services, Tony will focus on expanding the firm’s technological capabilities, refining service delivery, and ensuring seamless investor experiences. His comprehensive understanding of fund structures and commitment to enhancing administrative solutions position him as a crucial force in VENTURE.co’s continued growth in the fund services sector.   About VENTURE.co Fund Services VENTURE.co Services has been a pioneer in the FinTech space for over a decade, offering compliant, innovative solutions for the alternative investments industry. With a focus on efficiency, security, and superior user experience, VENTURE.co Fund Services continues to lead the way in transforming the alternative investment industry.

  • VENTURE.co Launches VENTURE.co Fund Services to Transform Fund Administration

    The new fund administration offering cements VENTURE.co as a leading service provider in the alternative investment industry BURLINGTON, VT - VENTURE.co Services is proud to announce the launch of VENTURE.co Fund Services, a comprehensive fund administration and transfer agent solution for real estate, oil & gas funds, private equity, venture capital, private debt, and other alternative investment structures operating within the private placement and publicly registered non-traded spaces. Transforming Fund Administration and Transfer Agent Services Traditionally, Transfer Agent (TA) services have been costly and inefficient, plagued by complex workflows, layered systems, and inadequate data security measures. These inefficiencies create frustration for investors, representatives, and sponsors. VENTURE.co, a pioneer in the Fin-Tech space for over a decade, integrates the highly effective VENTURE.co application with transfer agent services. VENTURE.co Fund Services is set to redefine the industry by offering a seamless, secure, and cost-effective alternative, uniquely positioning themselves to solve the traditional shortcomings of TAs while offering users an excellent experience with simple access. By leveraging its proven platform, VENTURE.co Fund Services can deliver superior Fund Administration and Transfer Agency services & support at a better value than their more traditional competitors. More About the VENTURE.co Application "At VENTURE.co, we are excited to announce the launch of our transfer agent services tailored specifically for alternative investment funds. This new offering underscores our commitment to providing innovative solutions that streamline operations and enhance transparency for our clients,” said Aaron Pollak, CEO of VENTURE.co. “We believe this service will significantly benefit fund managers as it provides a natural addition to our industry leading subscription processing platform." What to Expect from VENTURE.co Fund Services  With a full integration into the VENTURE.co application, Sponsors and Managing Broker-Dealers (MBDs) utilizing the full suite of VENTURE.co services will benefit from: A fully comprehensive solution that simplifies fund administration and investor relations. Enhanced data security and integrity through a single technology platform. A dynamic, cost-effective approach to managing alternative investments. VENTURE.co Fund Services is committed to setting a new standard for Transfer Agency and Fund Administration. By leveraging the power of the VENTURE.co application, clients can raise and manage securities more efficiently, securely, and with fewer moving parts. About VENTURE.co Fund Services VENTURE.co has been a pioneer in the FinTech space for over a decade, offering compliant, innovative solutions for the alternative investments industry. With a focus on efficiency, security, and superior user experience, VENTURE.co Fund Services continues to lead the way in transforming fund administration.

  • Modern Investor Onboarding With Intelligent Document Processing (IDP)

    Investor onboarding is a critical step in the private capital raise process and shapes the first impressions of client satisfaction. However traditional fund onboarding methods rely heavily on manual processes notorious for inefficiencies, errors, and frustrations for investors and back offices alike. The following explores how a modern investor onboarding platform, equipped with Intelligent Document Processing (IDP), transforms the investor onboarding process into a seamless experience.  Digital onboarding supports Sponsors Enhance Investor Profiles: Deliver tailored onboarding solutions through automated workflows. Optimize Fund Onboarding: Streamline compliance, identity verification, and data collection. Improve Investor Workflow: Create a consistent and efficient investor onboarding solution that accelerates asset accumulation. Future-Proof Digital Onboarding: Implement scalable, adaptive systems that keep pace with evolving investor needs and regulations. Investor onboarding, particularly for alternative investments, is often a painful bottleneck in a Sponsor’s asset accumulation journey. A streamlined onboarding experience is essential for success in an industry where client expectations are very high, and compliance is paramount. According to McKinsey, digital-first approaches in financial services not only reduce operational costs but also meet the rising demand for accessible, efficient services. McKinsey & Company, 2022  The importance of leveraging robust investor profiles and optimized workflows has never been more apparent, as investors increasingly expect digital access that is both user-friendly and secure. Digital Onboarding with Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) Intelligent Document Processing leverages technology to extract, validate, and organize data from subscription documents that are completed offline. According to a Forrester study, IDP systems significantly reduce processing time and operational costs while improving accuracy. Forrester Consulting, 2021  Key Benefits of IDP in Investor Onboarding: Investor Confidence: IDP allows investors to submit subscription documents in the way that best suits them — handwritten or digitally completed. Enabling investors to choose their document completion method sets a positive tone for the customer’s experience early in the investing process. Efficient Onboarding: Using the data collected during IDP, the system automates the creation of investor profiles and data input across the platform. Enhanced Compliance: Implement real-time validation of data collection to meet regulatory standards with confidence. IDP allows Sponsors to accommodate investors by meeting them wherever they feel comfortable completing subscription documents – online or with pen and paper. While the pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital tools across all generations, some older investors may still prefer traditional, non-digital methods. For Baby Boomers, who control $79.85 trillion in assets, IDP provides the flexibility to process handwritten subscription documents to yield digital results. Minimizing the burden on a Sponsor’s back-office team, allowing them to focus on asset accumulation rather than guiding investors through unfamiliar digital processes.  VENTURE.co : A Transformational Investor Onboarding Platform VENTURE.co offers an investor onboarding solution designed to optimize every aspect of the onboarding process: Customizable Workflows: Customize investor workflows to align with specific fund types (e.g., 506(b) vs. 506(c), ensuring precise, compliant, and efficient onboarding processes. Digital Data Collection: Simplify your investor’s experience with a platform that collects and enables follow-on investments by pre-filling known details into required forms, improving profile accuracy and reducing friction. Scalability: VENTURE.co ’s digital onboarding platform adapts to evolving investor needs and regulatory demands, making it a future-proof investment for firms. Real-World Examples Expand Capital Growth:  An Oil and Gas Sponsor leveraged VENTURE.co ’s platform to simplify its onboarding process, vastly improving their investor’s experience while capturing more robust data through a streamlined subscription workflow. Thanks to the enhanced data capabilities, the Sponsor is now better equipped to meet investors’ current and future needs, including the distribution of Schedule K-1s. Additionally, by logging in to VENTURE.co , investors and their financial representatives easily responded to additional documentation requests and tracked their acceptance into the program. In one year, the firm experienced incredible growth in their subscription processing capabilities from 2023 with 260 approved subscriptions totaling $47 million — to over 2,500 approved subscriptions worth $405 million in 2024. Enhanced Compliance: A broker-dealer leveraged the platform’s automated workflows to meet stringent onboarding requirements, avoiding penalties and gaining investor trust. These two highlights demonstrate how digital onboarding tools and optimized workflows drive measurable benefits in both operational efficiency and client satisfaction. Why Prioritize Digital Onboarding? Enhanced Investor Experience: Digital onboarding solutions with smooth workflows empower investors to engage on their own terms, When the system offers positive feedback users are confident in what they have done which improves satisfaction and trust. Accumulate Assets Faster: Automated fund onboarding expedites the investor journey, allowing firms to allocate resources more effectively. Reduced Cost & Risk: Intelligent document processing mitigates human errors and ensures consistent compliance across all onboarding flows. Strategic Scalability: As firms grow, scalable platforms like VENTURE.co ensure consistent investor onboarding performance, regardless of volume. In an era defined by digital transformation, integrating a robust investor onboarding platform like VENTURE.co is essential for Sponsors to provide superior investor experiences while boosting operational efficiency.  Ready to Accumulate Assets? Ready to transform your investor onboarding process? Contact Ricky Gornek at VENTURE.co to explore how our investor onboarding solution can streamline your workflows, enhance investor profiles, and future-proof your operations. Email:  ricky@venture.co Cited Material: Federal Reserve: Distribution of Household Wealth in the U.S. since 1989 . Forrester Consulting: (2021, October). The Total Economic Impact of Amazon Intelligent Document Processing. McKinsey & Company: (2022, October 18). Reshaping retail banks: Enhancing banking for the next digital age .

  • Is Your Data Protected?

    In today’s digital world, individuals and companies have become increasingly comfortable transacting online, exchanging and storing data to conduct business more efficiently. The alternative investments industry is no exception as it has begun to follow in the footsteps of most exchange traded products to streamline and accelerate electronic subscription processing. Need for Greater Data Security With digital processing comes the need for greater data security. An alarming number of data breaches make news headlines every day. Companies, especially those dealing with personally identifiable information (PII), must protect their own information as well as safeguard investor data by implementing exceptional data security solutions. No doubt true for large companies like Equifax, that experienced a breach in 2017 that affected 147.9 million people,1 broker dealers, RIAs, family offices and investment sponsors that control the PII data of high net worth families are especially targeted by bad actors seeking names, addresses, social security numbers and more to use or sell for nefarious purposes. Hacking — A reputation nightmare Imagine how an insecure process at a financial services firm affects not only the company reputation, but creates immeasurable anxiety and financial liability for the firm and its clients. In recent weeks, an individual outside our firm shared a data security horror story with us. An advisor of a wealthy individual emailed Reg D subscription documents to his client for completion and execution. Along with completing and signing sub-docs that contained PII – including Social Security and account numbers – identity documents (scanned copy of the client's drivers license') and a trust document were emailed back to advisor. These emails and the attachments were hacked, revealing his PII and exposing the client to the potential of identify theft and fraud. As a result of this data breach and subsequent identity theft, the advisor is in a precarious reputational and dangerous legal position. In addition, the compromised client is livid and must now monitor his credit, perhaps for years...while the advisor must deal with the fallout of compromised client data. In an industry in which word-of-mouth marketing is a key source of business, a poor data security reputation can be devastating. In an industry in which word-of-mouth marketing is a key source of business, a poor data security reputation can be devastating. High Cost to Losing the Data Security Game In addition to the reputational damage ineffective data security can cause, the real costs of being the victim of a cybercrime are high. It’s estimated that global cybercrime costs will grow by 15% per year, reaching $10.5 trillion by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015.2 Firms without solid data security software, advanced data architecture and protocols that fall victim to a breach often struggle to absorb the high cost of remediation. The cost to preemptively defend against a data breach is minuscule compared to the cost of defending against legal action and liability from cyber-theft caused by outdated or lax data security. How to Protect Data One of the best ways to protect your firm and your clients is by investing in an advanced, closed-end system with robust security layers and protocols to process alternative investment subscriptions. These systems have multiple safeguards like secure SOC 2 compliant data storage, encryption for data in transit and archived, as well as tokenized vaults where all PII is stored as code. Unlike transmitting sensitive data over email or storing it in external apps like Dropbox, no data is exposed, and systems are routinely penetration-tested to ensure a durable barrier between cybercriminals and your firm and client data. Data Security is Like Homeowner’s Insurance for Your Business Nobody likes to pay for homeowners insurance. But, nobody complains about the cost when disaster strikes. As you consider implementing a data security solution for private investment subscription processing, think of why you buy homeowners insurance. You buy it to protect against that rare catastrophic event that can ruin to your business and client's financial wellbeing. The cost of planning ahead will be far less over time than the expense of falling victim to a cybercrime – not only in dollars or business continuity, but to your reputation. A protective investment in secure subscription processing for private investments is well worth it to continually deflect attacks and minimize you and your clients' risk. Learn More In today’s world, cyber attack frequency is exploding. If you or your firm haven’t personally been hacked, you likely know someone who has. At VENTURE.co, we help you mitigate your risk. We provide broker-dealers, advisors, family offices and investment sponsors solutions to process alternative investments in a secure environment. Contact us today to learn more. References: “What is Cyber Security and Why is it Important,” Southern New Hampshire University, February 10, 2021. “Cybercrime to Cost the World $10.5 Trillion Annually by 2025,” Cybercrime Magazine, November 13, 2020.

  • Three Reasons License-Based Pricing Makes Sense for Alts Technology

    Characteristic of the alternative investments space, solutions evolve, and the industry continually innovates to become more efficient and cost effective. Second generation straight-through processing solutions available now offer a better pricing model: license-based pricing. Here are three reasons to consider it for your straight-through processing solution. Lower and predictable cost – In a license-based pricing model, clients pay an implementation fee and then a predictable monthly fee. As a streamlined offering process becomes the norm, it will be key for business growth to invest in technology on a predicable cost basis. This includes investing in technology with client-friendly contract terms. Increased adoption – Commission and transaction-based pricing can discourage the use of technology to keep costs down, encouraging use of old paper-based ways to process business and steering advisors away from technology solutions. With a known monthly cost, technology solutions with a license-based pricing structure help increase use and adoption. Not tied to commissions – Most business software pricing is based on a licensing fee, not the dollar amount of sales you process through it. Tying pricing to commissions can eat into already narrow margins on alternative investments, create sales channel conflicts, and invite scrutiny around investment fee structures. License-Based Pricing Moves Your Business Forward As you determine how to invest in technology to better offer, manage and process alternative investments, think about which pricing structure will help move your business forward in the most cost-efficient way possible, position your firm to increase adoption of processing technology and keep costs separate from your commission flows. Learn More VENTURE.co offers managing broker-dealers and sponsors the opportunity to expand alternative investment offering capabilities – beyond a technology platform. Our solutions are built to integrate data and meet your firm’s configuration needs – from straight-through processing to risk mitigation to sales management. Our license-based fee structure remains constant as transactions – and adoption – increases.

  • What is a Transfer Agency, and Why Does It Matter for Private Securities Sponsors?

    For sponsors of private securities offerings, a transfer agent enables investor administration which is a critical function that ensures smooth transactions, accurate record-keeping, and enhances investor relations. At the heart of this process is a Transfer Agency (TA) — a specialized service that simplifies investor management, facilitates capital calls, and enhances investor relations. What is a Transfer Agency? A Transfer Agency is responsible for maintaining investor records, processing transactions, and ensuring compliance with regulations. Traditionally, TAs handle issuing and canceling ownership records, processing distributions, and facilitating transfers of securities. These agencies also play a crucial role in investor communications, helping to streamline reporting and keep investors informed about the status of their investments. Why Use a Transfer Agency? While some private securities sponsors may attempt to manage investor records in-house, this approach can introduce inefficiencies, errors, and compliance risks. A TA ensures accurate record-keeping by maintaining precise ownership records, ensuring all transactions are documented correctly, and minimizing the risk of disputes. Beyond accuracy, regulatory compliance is another major concern for sponsors. SEC regulations require meticulous tracking of investor data, and a TA helps firms adhere to evolving rules and reporting requirements, reducing the likelihood of fines or penalties. Operational efficiency is also a key benefit. Managing investor details, capital calls, and distributions internally can be resource intensive. A TA streamlines these processes, reducing administrative burden and freeing up internal teams to focus on business growth. A TA ensures that updates, distributions, and statements are delivered promptly, fostering trust and maintaining strong investor relations. The Consequences of Not Using a Transfer Agency Sponsors who choose not to engage a TA often face operational and compliance risks that can impact their business and investor relationships. Without a TA, manual record-keeping increases the likelihood of data inaccuracies, which can lead to disputes, costly audits, and regulatory scrutiny. Missing compliance deadlines is another major risk. Managing securities involves regulatory filings and investor disclosures, and without a TA, sponsors may miss regulatory requirements, exposing them to penalties or reputational damage. Investor frustration can also be a significant issue. Delays in processing transactions, distributions, or reporting can erode investor confidence and trust, making it harder to attract future capital. Furthermore, managing investor records in-house requires dedicated staff and systems, which can be costly and inefficient. Many firms find that the administrative burden of handling these processes without professional assistance diverts valuable resources from strategic initiatives. Simplifying Investor Relations with Digital Workflows Modern Transfer Agencies leverage digital workflows to streamline investor management. By automating processes such as investor onboarding, capital calls, and distributions, sponsors can eliminate paperwork, reduce errors, and enhance efficiency. A digital-first TA solution ensures seamless investor onboarding, allowing sponsors to collect and verify investor information electronically. This reduces friction in the subscription process and enhances the investor experience. Digital tools also make capital calls more efficient. Instead of manually tracking commitments and notifying investors, a TA automates the process with integrated payment processing, ensuring a smooth and timely capital call process. Additionally, sponsors gain access to real-time reporting, providing instant visibility into investor activity, transactions, and distributions via a secure online portal. Another significant advantage of digital workflows is regulatory readiness. Digital record-keeping ensures compliance with securities regulations and minimizes audit risks. By maintaining a well-organized and easily accessible system for investor records, sponsors can respond quickly to regulatory inquiries and maintain the highest standards of transparency and accountability. Conclusion For sponsors of private securities, a Transfer Agency is not just an administrative service — it’s a strategic partner that enhances investor relations and ensures operational efficiency. By leveraging a digital TA solution, firms can simplify complex processes, improve accuracy, and provide superior experiences for investors. A modern, digital-first approach to investor management reduces risks, lowers costs, and strengthens investor confidence. If your firm is still managing investor records manually, now is the time to embrace this transformation and position your business for long-term success.

  • The Foundation of Trust: How Accurate Investor Records Make or Break an Offering

    In the world of regulated private offerings, precision isn’t just a best practice—it’s the foundation of trust and success. For sponsors and companies leveraging this exemption to raise capital, maintaining accurate investor records is crucial for sustaining relationships, ensuring compliance, and guiding strategic decisions. But what happens when that foundation is shaky? Imagine this: You’ve just completed a successful SEC Regulation D offering, raising significant capital to fuel your next big project. Everything seems to be on track—until a small error in your investor records emerges. Suddenly, what appeared to be a minor oversight spirals into a major issue, undermining investor confidence and drawing unwanted regulatory attention. In the world of regulated private offerings, precision isn’t just a best practice—it’s the foundation of trust and success. For sponsors and companies leveraging this exemption to raise capital, maintaining accurate investor records is crucial for sustaining relationships, ensuring compliance, and guiding strategic decisions. But what happens when that foundation is shaky? Act I: Building Investor Confidence When investors participate in a private placement, they expect their investments to be managed with the highest level of care and transparency. The journey of trust begins the moment they decide to commit their capital. Accurate records are a clear indicator of your commitment to maintaining this trust. When investors see that their information is meticulously maintained, their confidence in your offering grows, reinforcing their belief in their decision. However, trust is fragile. One small mistake—a misplaced decimal, an outdated accreditation verification—can cast doubt on your entire operation. But when your records are precise, trust isn’t just maintained; it’s strengthened, setting the stage for long-term relationships and future investments. Act II: Navigating Regulatory Compliance Under Regulation D As your business scales, so does the complexity of regulatory requirements. The SEC imposes strict guidelines, especially around investor accreditation and recordkeeping, and the consequences of non-compliance can be severe. In 2023 alone, the SEC imposed $368 million in penalties for recordkeeping violations across various securities offerings. Accurate investor records are your first line of defense against such risks. They ensure that your investor accreditation processes, and financial reports are accurate and timely, shielding your business from costly fines and legal challenges. Beyond compliance, they demonstrate to regulators and investors alike that your operation is fully compliant—a critical factor in maintaining credibility in the market. Act III: Ensuring Effective Communication with Investors As your relationship with investors deepens, communication becomes paramount. Accredited investors want regular updates on their investments and clear information about what’s happening behind the scenes. Accurate records enable you to provide timely, precise updates, reinforcing the trust you’ve built. Whether it’s distributing returns, sending out required documentation, or conducting investor meetings, precise records ensure communication is smooth and efficient. This level of communication doesn’t just keep investors informed—it deepens their loyalty. When investors feel valued and well-informed, they’re more likely to participate in future offerings, reducing the cost and effort of capital raising. Act IV: Leveraging Strategic Insights from Your Data In a competitive private securities market, data-driven decision-making is crucial. Accurate investor records offer valuable insights that can guide your strategy, helping you stay ahead of trends and make informed decisions about future offerings. By analyzing these records, you can identify investor behaviors, measure performance, and refine your approach to maximize returns. Moreover, allowing investors to easily update their information ensures ongoing accuracy, further boosting their confidence in your offering’s integrity. This ongoing cycle of accurate data and strategic insight fuels your business growth and sustains investor trust. Resolution: Building a Legacy of Trust As your story unfolds in the Regulation D world, one truth remains: accurate investor records are not just a regulatory requirement—they are the foundation of trust, the key to smooth operations, and a catalyst for growth. By prioritizing precision in your record-keeping, you’re not only safeguarding your current offerings but also laying the groundwork for future success and investor loyalty. The next chapter in your firm’s journey is yours to write. Will it be one of sustained success and investor trust, or a cautionary tale? The choice is in your hands, and it begins with a long-term commitment to your investors.

  • Selecting the Right Technology Partner for ‘Back-Office’ Management.

    Back-office functions are necessary in today’s fast-paced alternative investment environment. Often, we encounter sponsors and managing broker dealers who 'follow the market' when it comes to selecting technology. Digital security relies on both human and digital factors. Minimizing the number of digital tools used reduces points of security failure. Back-office functions are necessary in today’s fast-paced alternative investment environment. Often, we encounter sponsors and managing broker dealers who 'follow the market' when it comes to selecting technology. Even though each operates as an independent business, the sponsor may be compelled to utilize a platform or technology in use by a broker dealer or the RIA firm. Thus, the sponsor or MBD are faced with the challenge of operationalizing multiple platforms inside their own core business and potentially paying out additional layers of transaction fees. Venture.co offers core software for a MBD or sponsor to facilitate the digital processing of alternative investments and help them scale their business. The business of the sell side, while intrinsically linked to the buy side, has its own operational needs and requirements. Each need to work together, while also serving independent purposes. A sales and operations team can be positioned to be agnostic to whatever platform the broker dealer or RIA firm is using. Regardless of what platform a BD has selected to use, sponsors will still need to address a number of details, including: Managing document distribution and offering due diligence Negotiate selling agreements Sell to firms not on a particular platform Maintain books and records, and, if regulated, 17a-4 compliant storage Supervise securities representatives for national accounts and wholesaling Review incoming subscription documents for approval or NIGO resolution Provide reports, tax documents, and performance information to advisors and investors Venture.co solves each of these areas with intelligent workflows, support for multiple users and roles, and consolidated advisor/client interface for investment documents. That is accomplished via software that supports both broker dealers who conduct business on Venture.co’s platform directly, as well as those that submit business executed on other platforms. Venture.co is a flexible link for consolidating these processes into a single system that is focused on the needs of the MBD and sponsor. The Venture.co platform is a core back-office, while other platforms may be complimentary as distribution channels. Venture.co removes the bottlenecks found in traditional transactions and manages everything from a virtual data room (VDR), including inviting and managing broker dealers, and RIAs, setting up offerings, affirming accreditation status, securely processing subscriptions, and managing and archiving all the required documentation swiftly and securely. Firms, especially larger ones, have needs to manage and must staff each of these areas appropriately. In today’s fast-moving securities environment, how are you managing the complexities of a MBD or sponsor back-office? The right technology partner with a digital deal room can process alternative investment subscriptions in a more efficient, secure, and compliant manner.

  • A Post-Investment Tool for Effectively Managing an Alt Investment Process

    Venture.co has been listening to the needs of the alternative investment community and over the past year has developed a practical tool within the virtual deal room to support investors and maintain compliance throughout the lifespan of an investment. Maintaining accurate investor data is easier than ever with VENTURE.co 's Investor Relations module. Venture.co has been listening to the needs of the alternative investment community and over the past year has developed a practical tool within the virtual deal room to support investors and maintain compliance throughout the lifespan of an investment. The new Investor Relations (IR) module gives existing clients a competitive advantage by supporting high standards in user management, communication, and reporting, while balancing the need for compliance, transparency, and trust. The industry’s challenge — manual back-office processes and compliance tasks — are completed across many systems, consume substantial amounts of time, and are prone to costly human errors. The Venture.co Solution — a new Investor Relations module — is an indispensable element in the compliant distribution of reports, notices, and tax documentation. Easily track distributions and manage client profiles throughout the hold term of investments. Securely manage investor accounts and relations in one virtual deal room, saving time, effort, and money. Data is entered once and used as needed to mitigate human error and greatly improve back-office throughput. Our flexible platform can be configured to meet a firm’s goals and standards, while allowing users to only pay for the modules needed. This recently introduced enhancement is an IR Module that allows existing users to efficiently and securely transition from capital raising to an all-digital post-investment investor relations workflow. Users can maintain timely and accurate communications and securely store, distribute, and track documents distributed to investors with a robust set of tools all in one system that’s now being used by leading firms for their alternative investments. Venture.co ’s engineers worked with the our clients, who are sponsors and managing broker dealers, to create a streamlined set of functions that is built once and activated automatically again throughout current and future offerings. This practical tool gives users a competitive advantage by maintaining high standards in user management, communication, and reporting, while balancing the need for compliance, transparency, and trust. Venture.co’s IR Module is built for today’s alternative investment environment in a way that is efficient, secure, seamless and compliant. Venture.co ’s IR Module becomes indispensable in the compliant distribution of reports, notices, and tax documentation. It allows firms to easily track distributions and manage client profiles throughout the hold term of investments. While manual back-office processes can be prone to error, Venture.co securely manages investor accounts and relations in a single platform, saving time, effort, and money. More than 5,000 users today benefit from, and appreciate, a platform that is a single-stop experience, especially for those involved in investor relations activities. It allows them to add sustainable, long-term value, and scalability to workflows and engagement with all parties involved in alternative investments. Sponsor Benefits Efficiently submit, track, manage, and report on securities investments. The platform offers a streamlined one-time implementation process in ways that are clear, concise, and repeatable throughout all offerings. Those who frequent investor relations tasks benefit from Venture.co’s seamless integration into the back-office processing of investors so they can focus on what matters most, the relationships and navigating today’s fast-paced environment. Managing Broker Dealer Benefits A competitive advantage is facilitating the transition of an offering from raising capital to managing its investors. They can quickly access offerings with a consolidated experience, as well as an intuitive account and distribution management process. Sponsors may deliver a variety of tax and account maintenance forms. Investor relations professionals can get a quick view of an offering's key details, and contributions/distributions over time. Those who use the Venture.co platform find that it allows them to easily distribute quarterly and annual reports, documents, and notices to investors. This elevated experience drives full accuracy, compliance, and ultimately trust in the process to keep users engaged and informed about their investments. Ultimately, the Venture.co platform helps facilitate better communication throughout the alternative investment process within a uniform and consistent user experience. This tech-powered straight through processing solution truly is helping everyone do more in the fast-paced securities and investment process.

  • Thinking Beyond the Marketplace Model: Evaluating Technologies

    The alternative investments industry has embarked on a path of growth by focusing on ways to streamline processing for sponsors, broker-dealers, registered investment advisors and high net worth investors, like the mutual fund industry did in the 1980s. At the center of the industry’s effort to become more user-friendly and efficient is technology – often referred to as straight-through processing. Capabilities-Based Tech Helps Companies Grow Over Time With several technology providers now serving the alternative investments industry, it’s important to understand how each helps your firm as well as how well they are positioned to grow with your company over time. Some technology providers take a platform approach, offering one solution to one problem or a simple marketplace. Others focus on helping build long-term business capabilities for clients, allowing them to leverage and expand their technology investment for the long-term and own their own data. So how can you tell the difference between a platform-oriented and a capabilities-oriented technology provider? Consider these three questions. Is the Technology Provider Focused on Your Business or Their Own? A key indicator that you’re looking at a platform vs. capabilities-building technology is if your purchase of the software means more to the provider’s business than it does to your own. For example, providers focusing on a marketplace approach rely on aggregating a high number of clients on their platform to build their own business. Many technologies designed for the alternative investments industry fall into this camp. On the other end of the spectrum are technology providers focused first on building your business, providing you with the capabilities needed to expand your distribution of alternative investments. Capabilities-focused providers aren’t client aggregators. Instead, they partner with clients interested in a technology solution that can be configured to meet their needs today and into the future. How Well Is the Technology Designed and How Easy Is It to Implement? When considering a new technology, it’s common to gloss over details on the inner workings of it, focusing on how its marketed and its front-end user interface. However, the way the technology is designed on the backend can make a big difference in how far it can go in helping build capabilities for your business. It’s key to understand how well the technology integrates with other technologies used at your firm and within the alternative investments industry, how effectively it can exchange data with fund administrators and transfer agents, as well as how easily the technology can expand with your firm’s changing needs. Also be sure to get a good understanding of how long it takes to get the software set up to start using it. Is it a days-long process or will it take weeks? When evaluating technology options, involve your IT team to dig into the technical details to be sure the option you choose is going to work well for your firm over the long-term and through changing strategies. What’s the Fee Structure? Technology that helps businesses build capabilities offers predictable expense models that encourage a higher level of use. Clients typically pay an implementation fee and then a predictable monthly charge for the software whether they process one transaction or a thousand. As a streamlined offering process becomes the norm, it will be key for business growth at sponsors, broker-dealers and RIAs to invest in technology on a fixed-cost basis. On the other end of the spectrum are technology platforms that increase in cost as usage increases – and base fees on commissions from transactions processed through the software. This type of model poses two threats to the alternative investments industry. One, it can negatively affect the adoption of the technology as the fee structure can encourage people to work around the system to lower costs. Two, it eats into the often already narrow – and often scrutinized – commission margins on alternative investments. Platform or Capability? As you determine how to invest in technology to better offer, manage and process alternative investments, think beyond today and a simple platform approach to consider where you want to take your overall technology strategy and business in the future. Learn More VENTURE.co offers broker-dealers, advisors and sponsors the opportunity to expand alternative investment offering capabilities – beyond a technology platform. Our solution is built to integrate data and meet your firm’s configuration needs – from straight-through processing to risk mitigation to sales management. Our license-based fee structure remains constant as transactions – and adoption – increases.

bottom of page