The Venture Codex

Participated · Series A · Mar 2024

Global Screening Services (GSS) sells a cloud-based sanctions-screening platform used by banks and financial institutions to screen transaction data against standardized sanctions lists from around the world. The platform enriches lists with additional data points such as dates of birth, IMO numbers for ships and data from local financial transfer systems of sanctioned countries like Russia and China. GSS also offers "enhanced" screening lists that include companies partly owned by parties sanctioned by OFAC, the EU or the U.K. The company was incubated at AlixPartner and spun out as a standalone entity in 2021; co-founder and CEO Tom Scampion previously led financial crime for Deloitte’s EMEA arm. With a $47 million financing, GSS is transitioning from a development phase to full operations and preparing to go live with its first customers. The raise comes amid a spike in global economic sanctions that has increased demand for regulatory compliance tools. Global Screening Services (GSS) operates an industry collaboration platform that streamlines sanctions screening and compliance by enhancing and exchanging information across financial institutions and partners. The platform leverages technology, including artificial intelligence, and an ecosystem of financial institutions and industry partners to provide streamlined compliance screening for sanctions. GSS was incubated by AlixPartners since 2021 and is now a standalone company headquartered in London, UK, led by CEO Tom Scampion. The company announced a partnership with SWIFT in October to provide expertise on security, data privacy, and sanctions screening support. GSS has over 140 people supporting the business on a full-time basis. The company plans to use the new funding to accelerate growth and expand its operations and business reach.

Led · Equity · Feb 2024

Platform Accounting Group acquires and supports boutique professional services firms that provide tax compliance, attest, outsourced accounting, ERP consulting and soon wealth advisory services. The company supplies local teams with staffing, enterprise-grade technology, standardized processes and best-in-class operational support while preserving small-office culture and autonomy. Platform was founded in 2015 and is Utah-based. It operates a footprint of 28 offices across the country. The company recently closed a major minority funding round that will enable continued expansion of its office footprint and its service offering. Platform positions itself as a partner to smaller firms facing competitive pressures by offering capital, operational support and staffing resources.

Led · Equity · Dec 2023

Wellington-Altus Financial is the parent company to a group of wealth-advisory and asset-management businesses, including Wellington-Altus Private Counsel, USA, Insurance, Group Solutions, Asset Management and Private Wealth. The firm provides wealth management services to high-net-worth clients and supports entrepreneurial advisors and portfolio managers. It has grown rapidly since its 2017 founding and now administers more than $25 billion in assets. Wellington-Altus emphasizes a culture of ownership, with partners holding over 70% of shares, and Cynosure holding a 15% minority stake following its investments. The company is pursuing continued scale by adding top wealth advisors and portfolio managers across Canada and has a medium-term target of $50 billion in assets. It is ranked as a top-rated wealth advisory business and one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies, with offices across the country.

Led · Series A · Apr 2021

BrightPlan is a San Jose, CA–based total financial wellness company offering a real-time, personalized platform for employees that integrates with employer benefits. Its solution combines a digital platform with human advisors to support employee personal financial goals at every stage of life. The platform is designed to help enterprises attract, retain and engage talent. The company is led by founder and CEO Marthin De Beer. BrightPlan intends to use new funding for expansion and continued product innovation. On 02/04/2021 it closed a $9.5M Series A financing, strengthening its position to grow the platform and services.

Participated · Series A · May 2017

Prumentum Group is building a hybrid robo wealth manager that pairs a technology platform called BrightPlan with human financial advice from an established advisory firm. The company has pursued a dual-track strategy: scaling robo-advisory capabilities while integrating Plancorp’s financial planning methodology. Prumentum acquired an initial 40% stake in Plancorp, with an option to purchase up to 100% through an equity exchange later. Plancorp brings decades of experience and roughly $3.6 billion in assets under management, serving high‑net‑worth individuals, families and institutions. Founders Marthin De Beer (a former Cisco executive) and Robert Wallace self-funded the business initially and then raised external capital. The firm intends to use its tech to enable Plancorp to serve many more clients than traditional advisory methods would allow. Investors were chosen for their long-term horizons to support the company’s multi-year growth plans.