The Perfect VC Tech Stack

? Read time: 5 min

The Ultimate Tech Stack for VCs: Save Time, Streamline Deals, and Scale Your Game ??

Being an investor isn’t just about finding unicorns—it’s managing everything: sourcing, due diligence, portfolio updates, and staying on top of endless conversations.

So, how do you handle it all without losing your mind (or dropping the ball on that next big deal)?

You need a killer tech stack.

The right tools save you time, automate processes, and help you focus on what matters: making the best investments and driving real returns.

Here’s the 5-tool blueprint you need to dominate your workflow. Let’s break it down ??

1. Deal Sourcing ??

Opportunities flood in from everywhere: LinkedIn, Slack, emails, WhatsApp groups—you name it. It’s messy.

Here’s how to clean it up:

• Use Typeform, Google Forms, or Airtable Forms to let founders pitch to you directly. ? Pro tip: Keep it short. Founders are tired of repeating the same data 20 times. Anything over 10 minutes? They’ll bounce.

Outbound Sourcing Tools:

• Pitchbook: VC’s goldmine for comprehensive deal data.
• Crunchbase: Free version? Great for early-stage searches.
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator: Not cheap, but priceless for targeted outreach.

Once opportunities flow into your ecosystem, you need a system to manage relationships.

2. Relationship Management: Affinity ??

Save yourself months of frustration and get Affinity.

Why? It’s basically CRM on steroids—built specifically for VCs.

?? Why it’s great: Affinity’s AI tracks all your communications and reminds you of follow-ups. It makes you look proactive, not forgetful.

?? Real-world example: Affinity nudges you: “Hey, reconnect with the startup founder you met at that Berlin conference 2 months ago.” Oh, and your colleague already exchanged emails? You’ll see the notes and last status update—so you can jump in without skipping a beat.

Trust me, this tool pays for itself.

3. Due Diligence ??

You need a place to compile research without chaos.

My go-to setup?

• Notion: Flexible, clean, and fully customizable for every deal.
• Google Drive: The reliable fallback for legal files, pitch decks, and sensitive docs.

?? Why Notion wins: It’s tailor-made for collaboration. Create systematic templates for tech deep dives, market fit analyses, and team vetting.

?? Real-world example: Your team, spread across 3 countries, syncs effortlessly on a deal. Tech research? ? Market analysis? ? Team credentials? ? It’s all neatly organized in one Notion workspace.

Here’s how the first 3 tools flow together ??

4. Portfolio Tracking: Carta ??

Congrats, you’ve made the investment. Now what?

Managing your portfolio requires real-time insights. That’s where Carta comes in.

?? Why it’s great: One platform for cap tables, valuations, equity splits, and investor updates.

?? Real-world example: A quick glance at Carta shows 3 portfolio companies hit valuation milestones this quarter. Time to highlight them in your LP update—and maybe prepare for follow-on investments.

This tool makes you look like a rockstar to your investors.

5. ESG/Impact Reporting ??

For VCs focused on long-term value (and compliance), impact tracking matters.

But let’s be honest—this is where things get tricky. There’s no clear winner yet.

Here’s what I recommend:

• CO? Emission Tracking: Crane (Free and simple to use)
• General ESG Reporting: Sustainalytics, Clarity.ai, KeyESG, or Worldfavor.
• Impact Metrics: Sopact for more holistic reporting.

?? Still unsure how to start? Listen to our Impact Measurement Podcast ?? or check out this step-by-step guide to streamline your approach.

5. ESG/Impact Reporting ??

This is probably the decision that will require a bit more experimentation as there’s no clear winner as of 2023.

A couple of options: -For CO2 emission tracking: Crane (FREE) -For general ESG and SFDR (European specific) reporting: Sustainalytics, Clarity.ai, Worldfavor, KeyESG -For general impact tracking: Sopact

When to use: When measuring the ESG impacts of your investments and ensuring streamlined compliance with SFDR and CSDR regulations. Listen to our Impact Measuring Podcast episode ?? to get started, and read this high level step-by-step guide.

How Much Does This All Cost? ??

Let’s be real: tools aren’t cheap. Here’s a breakdown of the big ones:

• Affinity: ~$1,800/year per user
• Carta: ~$2,800/year per fund
• Pitchbook: $1,000–1,500/year per user
• LinkedIn Sales Navigator: $150/month per user (optional but helpful)

?? For those bootstrapping, here’s a low-cost tech stack:

Want some juicy discounts? There you go! ?? (6 months Notion Free, $750 FREE on Carta, 30% Off Slack,…)

Parting Thoughts ??

The right tools let you focus on what you do best: finding exceptional deals and building relationships.

Automate the busy work. Optimize your workflow. And spend more time creating value where it matters.

Got tools or tips I should add to this list? Let me know in the comments ??

Last month, I launched the Pro Subscription. Here’s why? ??

My goal for 2025? To help you:

? Optimize your startup or fund

? Remove barriers to success

? Save time and close faster

With a Pro Subscription, you’ll unlock full access to my exclusive resources, including:

?? The Ultimate Investor Toolkit 2025 ??. Everything You Need to Crack the VC Investing Game

?? The Ultimate Notion Data Room Template. A complete system to power your fundraising game, organized in Notion for maximum efficiency.

?? 50 Pitch Decks That Raised Billions in Funding ?? Proven Winners You Can Learn From

?? The Only Startup Fundraising Guide You’ll Ever Need. Save time, close faster, and level up your fundraising game.

?? The VC Fund Manager’s Bible. Everything You Need to Build, Raise, and Scale a Game-Changing Fund