Practices

Technology expertise from those who have been there, done that across the functional areas that matter most.

What we're known for

(Click the plus signs for more about each area of expertise.)

AI & Data

Common AI scenarios our clients face

PRE-ACQUISITION:

What is the target’s current state of AI adoption?

How real is the target’s progress — and how achievable are their plans?

Will the target’s solutions retain differentiation and value given the most recent AI developments?

PREPARING FOR EXIT:

Is the company’s AI storyline and narrative compelling enough to address potential concerns of future investors?

What should be the company’s AI strategy and roadmap for product differentiation and operating efficiency?

Our AI capabilities

AI diligence. Assess and analyze AI capabilities through two lenses:
- The target’s internal capabilities, progress and plans — including use cases, data assets, AI models and tools, and the skills of the AI team.
- The potential impact of AI on the industry segment, competition and target’s solutions, including both risks and opportunities.
AI strategy and roadmap. Develop AI blueprint and roadmap (including prioritized use cases and features) with value propositions, high-level technical design and feasibility assessment, pre-requisites, sequencing and resource requirements.
AI impact on software engineering. Assess and advise on AI-enabling software engineering to function as product management.
AI impact on enterprise functions. Assess and advise on AI-enabling enterprise functions such as go-to-market, support and HR.
AI design and build. Provide detailed technical design of AI-enabled solutions and features (including agentic capabilities), followed by build planning and execution.

AI and data practice directors

Architecture

Common architecture scenarios our clients face

In the first 100 days post-close, we need to understand how the target’s platform architecture can optimally accelerate growth

We need a plan to capitalize on synergies during integration

We urgently need to reduce technical debt

We need to move to a multi-tenant, cloud-based, microservices architecture

Achieving our value creation goals depends upon innovating and evolving our products and services

We lack the right talent to lead the architecture and engineering teams

We need a compelling roadmap to share with potential investors

Our architecture capabilities

Product and platform baseline. Benchmark the starting point for value creation — during diligence or post-close.
System design. Design detailed, “fit-for-purpose,” interim and future-state architecture.
Strategy and execution roadmapping. Develop product strategy and coherent, multi-discipline capability roadmaps.
Product and engineering operations design. Optimize and refine the organizations responsible for delivering technology products and services.
Capability development and training. Develop product leaders and team capabilities through coaching, collaboration and project support.

Architecture practice directors

Build

Common Build scenarios our clients face

Tech Enablement:

Rapid software prototyping

AI feature development

Data visualization and integration

Process automation

Platform Rationalization:

Post-M&A integration

Data and ML service layers

Customer service improvements

Time-to-market improvements

Quality of Technology:

High levels of technical debt

Poor test coverage and automation

Lack of metrics and observability

Slow team progress

Our Build capabilities

Scaling technologies and addressing performance gaps to meet the forecast demands of the investment cycle.
Integrating systems and teams after M&A deals to deliver cost targets in line with ambitious product roadmaps.
Automating processes such as data pipelines and software testing to reduce operating costs and protect product quality.
Fixing legacy systems and remediating technical debt to resolve security risks and improve the customer experience.
Developing AI-driven features and leveraging data assets to maximize the value delivered to customers.
Replatforming on the cloud to secure cost, scale and maintainability benefits.

Build practice director

Carve-out

Common carve-out scenarios our clients face

We need to understand how the IT operations of the companies fit together

We need to determine the best disposition of applications, infrastructure and people for the combined entity

We need to know which critical personnel will and will not convey with the transaction

We need to quickly establish standalone IT operations for a carved-out business

We must address licensing concerns (such as “right to use”) associated with key systems

Our carve-out capabilities

Carve-out diligence. Assess current-state technology for the carve-out business and determine potential risks to address in the interim TSA and post-separation.
TSA evaluation and formulation. Assess or create the TSA for all IT terms and implications, including duration, costs, Day 1 requirements, divisibility and transparency, and robustness of services offered.
Separation planning. Identify the future-state IT applications, infrastructure, security requirements and organizational architecture to support the carved-out business, including estimates of one-time and recurring costs and timelines required for integrated IT operations.
Separation execution. Manage the activities necessary to establish standalone IT operations for the carved-out business.

Carve-out practice director

Engineering Optimization

Common engineering operations scenarios our clients face

We need to understand how the engineering organization’s leaders, teams and processes can support plans for growth

Considering our investment thesis and goals, we need a plan to create value through engineering / product team synergies

We need to remodel our engineering organization and processes to support a multi-tenant, cloud-based, microservice architecture

We’re looking for interim or fractional leaders to coach, develop and supplement our engineering and product teams

As we approach exit, we need to position our talent strategy and SDLC as a value driver

Our engineering capabilities

Organization and process baseline. Benchmark the starting point for value creation post-close.
Product development / software development lifecycle optimization. Design detailed, fit-for-purpose, interim, fractional and future-state engineering capability.
Engineering operations roadmapping. Optimize PDLC / SDLC processes and the engineering operating model to deliver value and drive operational maturity.
Product and engineering organizational design. Ensure alignment of roles, responsibilities, organizational structure and processes.
Capability development and training. Develop product leaders and team capabilities through coaching, collaboration and project support.
Change management. Manage the transformation process to improve the employee experience and ensure engagement.

Engineering operations practice directors

Enterprise Systems

Common enterprise systems scenarios our clients face

We need M&A systems planning or execution support for an integration or carve-out

Our PortCo needs a strategic roadmap to build a platform designed for scalable growth

We need expertise to help optimize or replace a current business system

We need an experienced, interim systems leader to help plan and execute business systems initiatives

We need assistance establishing a systems governance model

We need expert program management support within business systems

Our enterprise system capabilities

Business process mapping. Capture and assess end-to-end business processes through structured mapping to enable strategic alignment and effective execution.
Systems roadmap. Validate alignment of growth strategy and business systems operations with a comprehensive assessment and prioritized, executable roadmap.
System selection. Build alignment between function and system — then define critical requirements to support procurement and accelerate implementation.
M&A, integration, carve-out systems planning. Create a plan for system integration or carve-out that prioritizes clean data and streamlined processes.
Systems leadership and program management. Reinforce the execution of your systems initiatives with a veteran program manager or business systems leader aligned with your strategic objectives – on a project, interim or fractional basis.
IT infrastructure support. Strengthen the position of the foundational systems underpinning your organization’s network, data centers and access management.

Enterprise systems practice directors

Integration

Common integration scenarios our clients face

We’ve acquired a new product, and we need to determine how to efficiently integrate it with our existing solutions

We’ve acquired a new company using different technologies and methodologies, and we need to streamline our engineering operations

We need a realistic budget and timeline for integrating products and platforms in order to justify the required investments

Quality, security, speed and productivity vary widely across legacy and acquired engineering and product teams

Our integration capabilities

Product and platform baseline. Benchmark the integration starting points for product, technology, organization and process.
Integration roadmap. Create executable roadmaps for product strategy and multi-discipline team capabilities.
Integrated product and platform architecture. Design a detailed, fit-for-purpose architecture blueprint for both interim and integrated future state.
Integrated product and engineering operations. Remodel engineering and product management roles and processes to deliver technology products and services faster and more efficiently.
Integrated approach to security. Ensure security best practices are incorporated into code and processes.

Integration practice directors

Product Diligence & Growth

Common product diligence and growth scenarios our clients face

PRE-CLOSE: We need to identify pre-investment risk areas and validate how the product capabilities and roadmap support the investment thesis

POST-CLOSE: We’re looking to prioritize product-led growth investments and align cross-functional initiatives foundational to the 100-day plan

HOLD PERIOD: We want to ensure product growth priorities are translated into actionable workstreams, partnering with portfolio operations to embed them into ongoing value creation initiatives

EXIT PREPARATION: We need help to articulate the product value creation story and substatiate valuation multiples with data-driven evidence

Our product diligence and growth capabilities

Competitive product assessment. Quantify defensibility and identify capability gaps that impact valuation and growth.Produc. Develop and align product plans and roadmaps to support investment theses and business growth objectives and manage ongoing performance.
Product fit validation. Evaluate alignment between roadmap priorities and market growth segments to validate the investment thesis.
Product growth blueprint. Define and prioritize high-ROI product initiatives that form the foundation for the post-close, 100-day plan.
AI product assessment. Identify AI-enabled opportunities to enhance differentiation and improve enterprise value.
Execution readiness review. Assess product management discipline, delivery capacity and governance maturity to ensure roadmap execution at scale.

Product diligence and growth practice directors

Product & Software

Common product and software scenarios our clients face

We’re considering an acquisition and need to understand the current product / engineering environment

We need to identify and resolve challenges with people, processes and tools that are causing our product / engineering teams to miss critical roadmap milestones

We need help aligning product and engineering priorities to deliver on revenue and EBITDA targets

We’ve grown through acquisition and now support multiple products across multiple platforms and cloud environments

We lack the right product / engineering leadership or have critical skill gaps on our team

Our product and software capabilities

Product and engineering maturity. Review product management, technology approach, processes, tools, metrics and teams to identify short- and long-term corrective actions and create a blueprint for transformation.
Product roadmap creation. Working with the product and engineering organization, co-create an annual roadmap in alignment with corporate strategy and goals — supported by quarterly review processes, metrics and KPIs for ongoing measurement and reporting.
Organizational strategy. Assess leadership gaps and deploy interim professionals as needed to provide both strategic direction and operational support.
Platform consolidation. Retionalize product portfolio to align with investment thesis and product strategy.
Cloud optimization. Holistically review cloud footprint to optimize from architectural, functional, commercial and contractual perspectives.

Product and software practice directors

Security

Common security scenarios our clients face

FOR PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS

We need to prevent security incidents across the portfolio

We need a strategy to reduce cyber insurance premiums

We’d like to better understand security risks and exposure during diligence — and the costs to remediate

This investment has clear and critical gaps that must be addressed immediately post-close

We need a trusted and experienced security leader to help develop, lead and manage PortCo security programs

Our PortCo needs implementation support to manage security risks

FOR PORTFOLIO COMPANIES

Our ability to sell is impacted by the lack of a security program or certification

We need a security strategy, roadmap and investment plan for budgeting purposes

Our clients are requiring annual third-party penetration testing

We’re approaching exit and need to shore up our security story

We lack internal security expertise and need help developing, leading and managing our program

We need assistance to free up time our CXO is spending on security

Our security capabilities

Security insights during diligence. Uncover and assess risks and weaknesses pre-close to ensure critical projects are planned and budgeted.
Security program management. Define a security program baseline, assess PortCos and plan improvements to enhance security maturity across the portfolio.
Audit readiness and support. Assess and quickly enhance your security program to achieve common security certifications, such as ISO27001, PCI, NIST and SOC2.
Security leadership (vCISO / engineer). Benefit from experienced cybersecurity leadership on a project, interim, fractional or “as-a-service” basis.
Implementation sprint. Quickly close critical security gaps to achieve success against key milestones — often within the first 100 days post-acquisition or in preparation for an audit, certification or exit.
Maturity assessment + strategic roadmap. Understand the current state of security and the additional investments required to meet business, client and board expectations — for a single business or across the portfolio.
Penetration testing. Work directly with our testers to understand and remediate critical vulnerabilities in company, app and infrastructure security.

Security practice directors

Tech due diligence and value creation expertise for investors and their PortCos

Private equity deal partners

Private equity and venture capital teams rely on our team’s proven deal fluency and data-backed insights to help them identify growth opportunities, reduce costs and minimize risk. The expertise of our seasoned tech practitioners is underscored by data from more than 6,000 prior technology M&A transactions to provide objective insights into expected maturity for any target.

Private equity operating partners

Operating partners look to Crosslake’s practices to drive value creation and lead exit prep initiatives for their mid-market portfolio companies. Crosslake’s seasoned practitioners offer executive-level leadership for mission-critical technology initiatives, supported by proven frameworks and objective data to drive predictable outcomes.

Portfolio company management teams

Management teams at mid-market, private equity-backed companies turn to Crosslake to fill interim leadership gaps, drive critical technology initiatives and develop teams and processes to drive value creation. Our community of practitioners brings unmatched hands-on, executive-level technology expertise across a range of industries.

RESULTS

Forbes Cloud 100 FinTech provider secures $300M Series C funding

A global provider of a SaaS solution for order-to-cash and treasury management needed an objective assessment of the stability and scalability of their products, AI / ML processes and technology team. Crosslake leveraged our proprietary TechIndicators® platform to provide an in-depth report comparing the solution provider to technology benchmarks for their industry and company size. Based on these insights, the Crosslake team presented a prioritized list of concerns to address within the company’s platform, architecture and organization. A year later, after implementing Crosslake’s recommendations, the organization secured substantial new funding from existing and new investors to fuel continued growth.

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