The research notebook vs the diligence engine

Sentieo The research notebook

Sentieo was built to organise an analyst's thoughts. It allowed you to highlight text in SEC filings, tag transcripts, and manage your investment thesis. It was a productivity tool for the "public side" investor managing a portfolio of ideas.

Colabra The diligence engine

Colabra is built to execute a specific transaction. We do not just manage notes; we process the raw evidence. We ingest the VDR to verify the target's assertions against the documents. Sentieo helps you track what you think; Colabra helps you verify what is true.

Why the "RMS" model doesn't fit diligence

Static vs dynamic

Research Management Systems (RMS) like Sentieo are designed for static documents (PDFs, annual reports) that don't change. M&A data rooms are dynamic—sellers upload new files, delete old ones, and rename folders constantly. Colabra is built to handle this chaos, automatically tracking version changes and new uploads so you never miss a risk.

Entity intelligence

Sentieo is ticker-based (searching for "AAPL"). Colabra is entity-based. We map the complex web of private subsidiaries, holding companies, and SPVs that make up a private equity target—structures that often don't have a ticker symbol.

See Colabra in action →