Why Standard Metrics Made the Switch to Pulley for Reliable Cap Table Management

About Standard Metrics

Standard Metrics combines institutional-grade infrastructure with cutting-edge AI to transform portfolio management for 10,000+ companies and 100+ venture capital and private equity firms.

Top investors like Bessemer Venture Partners, General Catalyst, and Accel trust Standard Metrics for data collection, analysis, reporting, and benchmarking. A single source of truth for company performance and investment data, Standard Metrics arms investors with a robust set of auditable metrics, while reducing the reporting burden on portfolio companies. Automated data ingestion combined with AI-driven analysis and reporting tools help VC/PE firms streamline portfolio reviews, valuations, LP reporting, diligence, and more. Leveraging this new supercharged workflow, finance teams and investors alike can confidently make informed, data-driven decisions without delay.

Challenge

Standard Metrics had been managing its cap table on a legacy platform since the company was founded in 2020. John Melas-Kyriazi, Co-Founder and CEO, owns all aspects of equity management. But over time, he found the experience of working with his previous provider increasingly frustrating.

"As a frequent user of our cap table product, I needed something that was snappy and fast — easy to get in, then get out," said Melas-Kyriazi.

Routine cap table administration felt slower than it should, and small friction points began to add up. So did costs.

As Standard Metrics continued to grow rapidly and add additional stakeholders, tolerating unforeseen frustrations and costs was no longer an option. "Staying put meant spending way more money on this problem every year, " said Melas-Kyriazi. “It was time for a fix.”

Solution

Melas-Kyriazi had prior familiarity with Pulley's product as an angel investor in several companies that were already Pulley customers. That firsthand experience gave him confidence in the product before he ever evaluated it for Standard Metrics. He knew Pulley was intuitive and surfaced the information he needed without extra steps.

His criteria for a replacement was straightforward: fast workflows, easy to use interface, and predictable costs. Pulley checked all three boxes. Beyond the core workflows, the fact that Pulley included in-house 409A valuations as part of the package made the decision even easier.

Implementation was straight-forward once the decision was made. "It took a couple of weeks from start to finish," said Melas-Kyriazi. "The team was really responsive. Within a short period of time, we were in a really good spot."

The Results

Standard Metrics saw an immediate difference in their day-to-day experience managing their cap table. The speed of the platform changed how quickly Melas-Kyriazi could act on routine questions, turning tasks that might have been deferred into ones that get done in under a minute.

• Saved time: Standard Metrics saves an hour each week with a UI built for clarity and ease of use.
• Onboarded fast: Implemented in 11 business days, with whiteglove onboarding and data reconciliations
• Improved budgeting: Transparent pricing helps Standard Metrics more confidently predict future spend

Data confidence has remained high throughout. Post-migration, Pulley’s Support team has been right by Standard Metrics’ side, making sure Melas-Kyriazi gets accurate, reliable information from Pulley. 

What's Next

Switching to Pulley delivered everything Standard Metrics was looking for in a cap table provider: fast workflows, easy-to-use interfaces, and trustworthy, transparent pricing. They’re excited they’ve found a partner who understands how to build for founders.

And adopting the platform is only the beginning. Having used Pulley's 409A service for the first time this past year, the team expects it to become a regular part of their annual process, given that it’s just as straightforward as the rest of the product.

"Everything with Pulley feels like a seamless process," said Melas-Kyriazi.