Question 1

Can I see my whole portfolio's tech stack in one place?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Proven gives you visibility into which tools and vendors your portfolio companies are using, so you can spot overlap, surface bulk-buying leverage, and stop guessing what your founders have already adopted.

Question 2

How do I prove the value the platform is adding to the fund?

Accepted Answer

Your dashboard tracks deal redemptions and dollars saved across the portfolio, plus which vendors are delivering the most value. Instead of a story, you get numbers to put in front of partners and LPs — Proven has tracked over $1B in savings to date.

Question 3

Do I get to control which vendors appear in my marketplace?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your marketplace is custom-branded and curated. You can bring your own preferred vendors and deals, and we combine them with the pre-vetted Proven network. Funds on the Independent model get full control over which vendors are listed and how the fund communicates with them.

Question 4

We're under $1B AUM — is it really free, and what's the catch?

Accepted Answer

For funds under $1B AUM the platform is free because vendors pay to reach your portfolio. Vendors are still vetted before they're listed; the vendor-supported model is just how the platform is funded. Funds over $1B AUM run the Independent model, where the fund pays for full control and there's no vendor-revenue dependency.

Question 5

How does this help me beyond saving money on tools?

Accepted Answer

Beyond discounts, Proven turns your portfolio into a built-in pipeline: portfolio companies can discover and sell to each other across the network. You also get the engagement data to know which vendors to tap for event sponsorships.

Question 6

How does a service provider join the Proven network?

Accepted Answer

Apply to join through our vendor application. We review your offering, verify your business, and — once approved — list your deal so it's discoverable by the VC- and PE-backed portfolio companies across the network.

Question 7

What does verification involve?

Accepted Answer

Every vendor is vetted before being listed. We confirm your business details and review your offering and references so that the firms and founders browsing the marketplace can trust what they see. Verification is what keeps the network high-signal for everyone.

Question 8

Who will see my deals once I'm listed?

Accepted Answer

Approved vendors reach a network of 65,000+ VC- and PE-backed portfolio companies across the funds that run their marketplaces on Proven — warm, high-intent buyers actively looking for tools and services.

Question 9

Does paying to be on Proven improve where I rank?

Accepted Answer

Vendors pay to access the network, but listing isn't a substitute for vetting — every vendor is reviewed before going live. The goal is a trustworthy marketplace, so quality and relevance to portfolio companies are what matter most.

Question 10

How do I keep my deal and contact details accurate?

Accepted Answer

You manage your offer directly in Proven, so coupon codes and deal terms stay current instead of going stale in a fund's spreadsheet. Keeping your contact and deal details up to date is what makes founders able to activate your offer without friction.

Question 11

How do I access the deals my investor set up?

Accepted Answer

Your fund invites you to its branded Proven marketplace. Once you're in, you can browse every pre-vetted vendor and exclusive deal your investor has unlocked — no back-and-forth with your platform team required.

Question 12

How do I activate or redeem a deal?

Accepted Answer

Open the deal in your marketplace and follow the activation steps — claim the offer, grab the code, or connect with the vendor directly. Because vendors manage their offers in Proven, the codes and terms you see are current, not expired.

Question 13

Are these vendors actually vetted?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every vendor in your marketplace has been verified before being listed, and many are curated by your own investor, so a recommendation isn't a gamble — it's a pre-vetted shortlist.

Question 14

Can my company list its own services to the network?

Accepted Answer

If your company provides services, you can apply to join the Proven network as a vendor. Once approved, your offering can be listed alongside verified vendors and discovered by other funds and portfolio companies — turning the network into a built-in pipeline of warm, in-network customers.

Question 15

What does it cost me as a portfolio company?

Accepted Answer

Access to your investor's marketplace and its deals comes through your fund. You get the savings and the vetted vendor shortlist without managing the platform yourself.

Question 16

Who can see our portfolio and tech-stack data?

Accepted Answer

Visibility into your portfolio's tech stack and redemption data is for your fund. Each firm's marketplace and insights are scoped to that firm — your data isn't shared across funds.

Question 17

How accurate is the vendor and deal data I'm seeing?

Accepted Answer

Vendors manage their own offers in Proven, so deal terms and coupon codes stay current instead of decaying in a static spreadsheet. That's the core reason firms move off Notion and Excel — the data stays live.

Question 18

What redemption and savings data do I get?

Accepted Answer

You see which deals are being redeemed, by whom across your portfolio, and how much has been saved — the visibility a spreadsheet can never give you, and the proof points you need to justify the platform internally.

Question 19

Does the Independent plan offer extra security controls?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Funds on the Independent model get SSO, custom domains, advanced analytics and reporting, and API integration — alongside premium support — for firms that need tighter control over access and data.

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