Origination & screening
Deal sourcing & pipeline intake
Capture inbound and proactively-sourced opportunities, score them against the fund thesis, and dedupe against prior looks.
- Inputs
- Inbound / banker outreach · Thesis & sector mandate · Prior-look history
- Outputs
- Scored pipeline entry · Thesis-fit rating
- KPIs it moves
- Pipeline coverage · Thesis-fit hit rate · Time-to-first-screen · Duplicate-look catch
- Systems it usually runs on
- DealCloud / Affinity · PitchBook / Sourcescrub · Email
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Add-to-pipeline / pass
Preliminary screen / IC pre-screen
Run a quick LBO and qualitative screen to a go/no-go; produce a short screening memo for the pre-IC.
- Inputs
- Extracted financials · Comparable multiples · Thesis
- Outputs
- Quick LBO · Screening memo · Go / no-go
- KPIs it moves
- Screen-to-pursue rate · Time-to-decision · Memo turnaround
- Systems it usually runs on
- Excel / LBO model · Capital IQ / PitchBook · DealCloud
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Pursue decision
Due diligence
DD kickoff — workstream scoping & advisor selection
Stand up the diligence program: scope workstreams, select and engage advisors (QoE, CDD, legal, tax), set budget and timeline, and open the issues tracker.
- Inputs
- Pursue decision · Process timeline · Advisor panel
- Outputs
- DD plan & RACI · Engaged advisors · Issues tracker · DD budget
- KPIs it moves
- Time-to-kickoff · Budget vs actual · Workstream on-time %
- Systems it usually runs on
- DealCloud · VDR · Project tracker
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Advisor engagement / budget approval
Commercial DD
Validate market size and growth, customer concentration and churn, and competitive position to pressure-test the revenue thesis.
- Inputs
- CIM / data room · Customer data · Market reports
- Outputs
- CDD findings · Revenue-thesis assessment · Risk flags
- KPIs it moves
- Churn / NRR · Customer concentration · Market growth · Win rate
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · Expert network / survey · Analytics
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Thesis-break flag
Financial DD / Quality of Earnings
Normalize earnings, scrutinize add-backs and one-offs, validate working capital and net debt, and confirm the EBITDA bridge.
- Inputs
- Audited + management accounts · Trial balance · Add-back schedule
- Outputs
- QoE report · Normalized EBITDA · Net-debt & NWC pegs
- KPIs it moves
- Adjusted vs reported EBITDA · Add-back acceptance rate · NWC peg variance
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · Excel · QoE provider portal
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Quality-of-earnings sign-off
Operational DD
Assess operations, footprint, supply chain, capacity and run-rate to validate the value-creation and cost thesis.
- Inputs
- Ops data · Footprint / site info · Supply-chain data
- Outputs
- ODD findings · Value-creation hypotheses · Run-rate assessment
- KPIs it moves
- Capacity utilization · OTIF / service level · Cost-to-serve · Identified savings
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · ERP extracts · Analytics
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Operational risk flag
IT & cybersecurity DD
Evaluate the technology stack, technical debt, cyber posture and key-system risk, and size IT investment / integration needs.
- Inputs
- Architecture & app inventory · Security posture · IT spend
- Outputs
- IT/cyber DD findings · Tech-debt & remediation estimate · Cyber risk rating
- KPIs it moves
- Critical-vuln count · Single points of failure · IT spend % revenue · Remediation cost
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · Security scan / questionnaire · CMDB extract
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Material cyber risk flag
Legal & regulatory DD
Review contracts, change-of-control, litigation, IP, licenses and regulatory exposure; build the legal issues list.
- Inputs
- Contracts & corporate docs · Litigation register · Licenses / permits
- Outputs
- Legal DD report · Issues list · CoC & consent map
- KPIs it moves
- Open legal issues · CoC-consent count · Contingent-liability exposure
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · Contract analytics · Legal counsel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Material legal issue sign-off
HR / management & org DD
Assess the leadership team, org design, compensation, retention risk and culture; identify management gaps and upgrades.
- Inputs
- Org chart & comp data · Management assessments · Attrition data
- Outputs
- Management assessment · Org/retention risk · Leadership upgrade plan
- KPIs it moves
- Key-person dependency · Regretted attrition · Bench strength · Comp-to-market
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · Leadership advisory · HRIS extract
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Key-management risk flag
ESG DD
Screen environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities (climate, H&S, supply chain, governance) and the ESG value-creation angle.
- Inputs
- ESG questionnaire · Environmental / H&S records · Governance docs
- Outputs
- ESG DD findings · Material-risk register · ESG value opportunities
- KPIs it moves
- Material ESG risks · Emissions baseline · H&S incident rate
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · ESG data / questionnaire · Advisor
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Material ESG risk flag
Tax & structuring DD
Identify historical tax exposures and design the acquisition / holding structure for tax efficiency and exit flexibility.
- Inputs
- Tax returns & provisions · Structure options · Jurisdiction data
- Outputs
- Tax DD report · Recommended structure · Exposure schedule
- KPIs it moves
- Identified tax exposure · Structuring cash benefit · Step-up value
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · Tax advisor · Excel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Structure / exposure sign-off
DD findings synthesis & red-flag log
Consolidate all workstream findings into a single issues log, rate severity, quantify deal impact, and produce the DD readout for IC.
- Inputs
- All workstream findings · Issues tracker · Quantified impacts
- Outputs
- Consolidated red-flag log · DD readout · Price/structure implications
- KPIs it moves
- Open red flags · Quantified EBITDA / price impact · Issues closed pre-IC
- Systems it usually runs on
- Issues tracker · DealCloud · Excel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Red-flag sign-off
Execution & close
Valuation & LBO model review
Build/refresh the LBO model — entry/exit multiples, leverage, returns (IRR/MOIC) and sensitivities — and review against the bid range.
- Inputs
- Normalized financials · Financing terms · Comparables
- Outputs
- LBO model · Returns (IRR / MOIC) · Bid range & sensitivities
- KPIs it moves
- Base-case IRR / MOIC · Entry multiple · Net debt / EBITDA · Downside IRR
- Systems it usually runs on
- Excel / LBO model · Capital IQ · Debt model
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Bid-range approval
Indicative offer (IOI / non-binding bid)
Prepare and submit the round-1 indicative (non-binding) offer with value range, structure and conditions to advance into the next round.
- Inputs
- Bid range · Process letter · Preliminary findings
- Outputs
- Indicative offer letter · Round-1 bid
- KPIs it moves
- Make-the-round rate · IOI-to-final spread · Turnaround time
- Systems it usually runs on
- Excel · DealCloud · Counsel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Round-1 bid authorization
Final IC memo & approval
Author the full investment-committee memo — thesis, DD findings, valuation, returns, risks and value-creation plan — and secure IC approval for the binding bid.
- Inputs
- DD readout · LBO model · VCP outline
- Outputs
- IC memo · IC decision · Approved binding bid
- KPIs it moves
- IC approval rate · Memo cycle time · Conditions attached
- Systems it usually runs on
- DealCloud · IC / board portal · Excel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- IC approval
LOI / term sheet & exclusivity
Negotiate and execute the letter of intent / term sheet — price, structure and exclusivity for confirmatory diligence.
- Inputs
- IC approval · Term sheet draft · Key terms
- Outputs
- Executed LOI · Exclusivity period
- KPIs it moves
- LOI-to-exclusivity time · Terms-vs-IC drift · Exclusivity granted
- Systems it usually runs on
- Counsel / DMS · DealCloud
- Where a person stays in the loop
- LOI terms approval
Confirmatory DD
During exclusivity, close out open diligence items, verify QoE and key assumptions, and resolve red-flags before final documentation.
- Inputs
- Open issues list · Management access · Updated data
- Outputs
- Confirmatory findings · Closed issues · Final price/structure adjustments
- KPIs it moves
- Issues closed in exclusivity · Surprise findings · Price re-trade
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR · Advisor portals · Issues tracker
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Proceed-to-sign / re-trade decision
SPA & legal documentation
Negotiate the sale & purchase agreement and ancillaries — reps & warranties, indemnities, W&I insurance, disclosure schedules.
- Inputs
- LOI · DD findings · Disclosure schedules
- Outputs
- Negotiated SPA · Ancillary agreements · W&I policy
- KPIs it moves
- SPA cycle time · Open negotiation points · Indemnity cap / escrow
- Systems it usually runs on
- Counsel / DMS · Contract negotiation · W&I broker
- Where a person stays in the loop
- SPA terms approval
Debt financing arrangement
Run the financing process — lender outreach, term sheets, credit approval and commitment papers — to fund the acquisition.
- Inputs
- LBO model · Lender list · Credit materials
- Outputs
- Financing commitment · Credit agreement · Funded leverage
- KPIs it moves
- Spread / pricing · Leverage achieved · Commitment-to-close time
- Systems it usually runs on
- Debt advisor · Lender portals · Excel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Financing terms approval
Regulatory / antitrust clearance & conditions-to-close
Manage the sign-to-close gap: antitrust / merger-control filings (HSR / CMA / EC), regulatory approvals and conditions precedent.
- Inputs
- Signed SPA · Filing requirements · Conditions list
- Outputs
- Filings submitted · Clearances · CP-satisfaction tracker
- KPIs it moves
- Time-to-clearance · CPs outstanding · Regulatory risk
- Systems it usually runs on
- Antitrust counsel · Filing portals · CP tracker
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Clearance / waiver decision
Closing checklist & funds-flow / completion
Run the closing checklist, finalize the funds-flow, satisfy conditions precedent, sign and complete; release funds and confirm ownership.
- Inputs
- CP satisfaction · Funds-flow · Closing deliverables
- Outputs
- Completed acquisition · Disbursed funds · Closing binder
- KPIs it moves
- Closing on-time % · Funds-flow accuracy · Post-close adjustments
- Systems it usually runs on
- Counsel / DMS · Escrow / paying agent · Bank
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Signing & funds release
Value creation & monitoring
100-day plan
Translate the diligence thesis into a sequenced 100-day plan — quick wins, governance setup, management alignment and value-creation initiatives.
- Inputs
- DD value-creation hypotheses · Management input · VCP outline
- Outputs
- 100-day plan · Owners & milestones · Governance cadence
- KPIs it moves
- Milestone on-time % · Quick-win value captured · Time-to-first-board
- Systems it usually runs on
- Portfolio PMO tool · Board portal · Excel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- 100-day plan approval
Value-creation plan (VCP) design & tracking
Design the full value-creation plan across revenue, margin, cash and multiple levers; assign owners and track initiative value to plan.
- Inputs
- Thesis & levers · Baseline KPIs · Initiative pipeline
- Outputs
- VCP · Initiative tracker · Value bridge to plan
- KPIs it moves
- EBITDA uplift vs plan · Initiatives on-track % · Run-rate value captured
- Systems it usually runs on
- Portfolio PMO / VCP tool · BI · Board portal
- Where a person stays in the loop
- VCP / initiative gate
Portfolio KPI & board-pack reporting
Collect portfolio-company KPIs and financials and build the board pack and fund-level portfolio dashboard for LP and IC reporting.
- Inputs
- Portco financials & KPIs · Covenant data · Reporting template
- Outputs
- Board pack · Portfolio dashboard · LP / IC reporting
- KPIs it moves
- Reporting cycle time · Data completeness · Covenant headroom · Plan variance
- Systems it usually runs on
- Portfolio monitoring · BI · Board portal
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Covenant breach / variance escalation
Add-on / buy-and-build screening
Screen and prioritize bolt-on targets for platform companies; assess strategic fit, synergies and accretion.
- Inputs
- Platform thesis · Target universe · Synergy estimates
- Outputs
- Ranked add-on pipeline · Accretion / synergy case
- KPIs it moves
- Add-on pipeline coverage · Synergy capture · Multiple arbitrage
- Systems it usually runs on
- DealCloud · PitchBook / Sourcescrub · Excel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Pursue add-on decision
Exit
Exit readiness & timing assessment
Assess exit options (sale, secondary, IPO, continuation vehicle) and timing; identify and close value/readiness gaps ahead of a process.
- Inputs
- VCP status · Market conditions · Comparable exits
- Outputs
- Exit options & timing · Readiness gap list · Indicative value
- KPIs it moves
- Value vs entry (MOIC) · Readiness gaps closed · Window assessment
- Systems it usually runs on
- Excel · Capital IQ / PitchBook · Board portal
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Exit path / timing decision
Vendor due diligence (VDD)
Commission sell-side QoE and commercial VDD to pre-empt buyer diligence, control the narrative and reduce re-trade risk.
- Inputs
- Financials & KPIs · Advisor scope · Equity story
- Outputs
- VDD reports (QoE / CDD) · Fact base · Pre-empted issues
- KPIs it moves
- Issues pre-empted · re-trade avoided · VDD turnaround
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDD provider · VDR · Excel
- Where a person stays in the loop
- VDD findings sign-off
Equity story & sell-side materials
Build the equity story, CIM / IM and management presentation that frame the growth thesis and value-creation runway for buyers.
- Inputs
- VCP results · VDD fact base · Growth thesis
- Outputs
- Equity story · CIM / IM · Management presentation
- KPIs it moves
- Buyer engagement · Story-to-bid conversion · Materials turnaround
- Systems it usually runs on
- Banker / advisor · Deck / design · VDR
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Equity story approval
Sell-side process & data-room / buyer-Q&A management
Run the sell-side process: buyer outreach, manage the data room, handle buyer Q&A and bid rounds through to a signed exit.
- Inputs
- Buyer list · Data room · Process timeline
- Outputs
- Managed data room · Buyer Q&A log · Bids & selected buyer
- KPIs it moves
- Bid count / competitive tension · Q&A turnaround · Final-vs-VDD price · Time-to-close
- Systems it usually runs on
- VDR (Datasite / Intralinks) · Banker · DealCloud
- Where a person stays in the loop
- Buyer selection / final bid acceptance
What a blueprint is, and is not
A blueprint supplies the vocabulary, the typical steps, the KPIs and the approval points for a process. It is a starting point, not a pre-built agent: tacitrun builds the domain agents by reading your own procedure, tests them against cases derived from it, runs them in shadow beside your team, and holds every write for a person. Your IT connects the systems and approves before anything goes live.
Questions people ask
- How do I give an agent a reference document (e.g. a sample template) to use at runtime?
- Two places, both drag-and-drop: (1) for ONE agent, open it → Knowledge tab → drop the file on “Documents it can look up”; (2) for the WHOLE process (available to every agent in it), the process page has a “Documents for this process” card — drop it there. For example, drop a sample proposal template for a Proposal Generator. Whatever the format — PDF, Word, Excel, CSV, HTML, text, OR a screenshot/image (PNG, JPG, etc.) — we handle it: documents convert to clean markdown (tables and headings preserved, not a flattened blob), and images/screenshots are read by vision (Claude) which transcribes all the text and describes what’s in them (e.g. a screenshot of an invoice becomes a markdown table of its line items). Then we cap it to a sensible size for efficient token use, chunk and embed it so retrieval is sharp. It’s added immediately (no IT approval needed, nothing hardcoded) and shows in the document list. From then on the agent searches it live every run and uses it as a reference — e.g. it drafts new proposals in the shape of your template. To have it ALWAYS apply a rule instead of just look it up, use “Teach it” on the same tab (or the Rules tab for enforceable policies).
- What is the Salesforce Data Hygiene blueprint, and how do I use it?
- It’s a pre-built end-to-end process (a "crew" of 5 domain agents) that replaces the manual job of cleaning up messy CRM data and re-importing it. In the Catalog it shows as a Blueprint with the problem it solves, the outcomes it delivers, and the process mapped to each domain agent: (1) Data Quality Auditor profiles the object and reports duplicates/blanks/malformed/stale records; (2) Duplicate Finder & Merger proposes human-approved merges; (3) Field Standardizer normalizes phone/state/country/titles/casing; (4) Data Re-import Loader picks up a cleaned file (SFTP/SharePoint/Drive) and UPSERTS each row by external ID — so re-runs update the same record instead of creating duplicates; (5) Import Reconciliation Auditor verifies the load matched the source. Adopt each step from the blueprint; we build a private copy in your workspace that you can adapt, connected to your own Salesforce. Every write goes through human approval until you trust it.
- What’s a Skill vs a Blueprint?
- A Blueprint is a starter process template. A Skill is a reusable knowledge pack a domain agent loads on demand at runtime.
- Do you have blueprints for private equity / deal teams?
- Yes. Pick "Private equity" in Blueprints to get the full deal lifecycle (origination → diligence → execution & close with IC + signing gates → value creation → exit), plus the cross-portfolio value-creation playbook as standardized levers (working capital, FP&A, pricing/margin, spend analytics, JML access) that deploy identically across every portfolio company. Human-approval gates are built into the deal-close and IC steps. On Ingest, choosing "Private equity" also offers starter templates — Deal Sourcing & Screening, DD Red-Flag Log, IC Memo & Approval, and 100-Day & Value-Creation Plan.
Why offload this process to tacitrun’s AI operating layer
tacitrun is built for exactly this handoff: a business team describes the process it already runs, and the platform turns it into governed domain agents that work across the systems you have, under your IT’s approval, with every write waiting for a person.
- Built from your procedure, not a vendor template
- Describe the process in plain English or hand over the SOP. tacitrun compiles it into a process graph and composes one domain agent per step, so the agents carry your rules, your exceptions and your vocabulary.
- Tested against the process before it can act
- Evaluation cases are derived from the graph itself, so a passing agent is one that does what your process says. Then it runs in shadow beside your team on real work before anyone lets it act.
- Every write stops for a person
- The approval gate sits on the actual call to Salesforce, Shopify, SendGrid, SAP or any connected system. A person accepts, modifies or rejects; the corrected version is what executes; the trace keeps the record.
- Runs across the systems you already have
- Built-in connectors, your own REST APIs or MCP servers, and on the Enterprise plan your own cloud project and your own models. The systems of record stay where they are; the layer does the work between them.
- IT approves, business leads
- Business users build and prove; IT connects the credentials, binds the fields and approves before anything goes live. Neither side inherits the other’s risk.
Read next
- What is an AI operating layer?
- How do AI agents improve operational efficiency without adding risk?
- Enterprise: agents in your cloud, gated by your IT
- AI agents for Retail operations
- AI agents for Consumer goods operations
- AI agents for Manufacturing operations
- AI agents for Insurance — personal lines operations