The State of M&A Due Diligence
Algorithmic screening has reshaped the early layers of M&A diligence. What it catches is real. What it misses is what determines whether a deal surviv…
Read the insight →Confidential intelligence and risk analysis on people, companies, and situations. Before you stake your money, reputation, or equity, we help you understand what you're actually walking into.
Algorithmic screening has reshaped the early layers of M&A diligence. What it catches is real. What it misses is what determines whether a deal surviv…
Read the insight →The categories of intelligence strategics and private-equity acquirers pull first in a confirmed M&A process — and the pre-deal work a founder can…
Read the insight →Traditional due diligence reviews documents, financials, and legal filings. That's necessary. But it misses the things that actually kill deals: hidden conflicts, fabricated credentials, behavioral patterns, and reputational risks that only surface after you've committed.
AI tools can flag data anomalies. They can't tell you if someone is trustworthy. The enterprise firms can, but they charge $50K and take months. Founders and investors making decisions right now don't have that luxury.
A complete intelligence picture, delivered in 48 to 72 hours.
Career history, business relationships, financial patterns, and public records analyzed and cross-referenced for inconsistencies.
Source inquiries, pattern identification, and behavioral signals that reveal character beyond what any database can show.
A clear, narrative intelligence brief with identified red flags and a direct recommendation: proceed, proceed with caution, or walk away.
Founded by an investigative journalist trained at Columbia and TIME Magazine. We synthesize messy information into clear, decision-ready narratives.
Deals move fast. Our process is built for the speed of startup fundraising and partnership negotiations, not corporate M&A timelines.
AI can flag anomalies. It takes a trained investigator to read between the lines, conduct discreet inquiries, and spot what someone is trying to hide.
Enterprise intelligence firms start at $50K. Clearstake delivers the same depth of analysis at a price point that makes sense for early-stage decisions.
Three engagement depths. Same human-led investigation. Pick the time-to-decision that matches your deal velocity.
Every brief is delivered by a human investigator. If the deliverable does not meet the tier's depth spec, we redo or refund.
Before you commit money, reputation, or equity, understand what you're actually walking into.
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