Case Study

Precision-Driven Fund Admin for AI-First Investors

How Banyan Ventures simplified operations, maintained LP confidence, and moved faster with Zive AI

The Situation

New York-based Banyan Ventures focuses on backing innovative AI-native technology companies at the pre-seed and seed stages. As a solo GP establishing a new fund, Founder and GP Sam Awrabi needed to make a critical decision about fund administration. With investments to manage and LPs to serve, he needed a solution that combined efficiency with strategic support, all while upholding the high standards of accuracy LPs expect.
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SUMMARY

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Project

AI-powered fund administration for an emerging VC firm
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Use Case

Complete fund management for solo GP investing in AI-native technology
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Project Size

Supporting operations across 10+ investments with multiple LPs

Key Benefits of Zive

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2-3X cost reduction compared to traditional fund platforms.
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Enhanced accuracy and compliance through AI-powered document processing and financial oversight.
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Strategic guidance and support from industry veterans, crucial for emerging fund managers.
"Zive gets the job done without complications. Having raised the fund and called in capital with ten investments inside of the fund, we haven't encountered any issues that would cause us to lose trust. You'll be in great hands, you'll get that lower price point, you'll have AI integrated into your workflows to help improve accuracy, and you're saving your LPs money."
Sam Awrabi
Founder and GP, Banyan Ventures

The Challenge

Banyan Ventures discovered key limitations with traditional fund administration providers:
Established platforms charged premium prices—often 2-3 times higher
Several competitors requested a percentage of valuable GP carry
Legacy systems created higher fees as funds grew in size
Most solutions offered minimal strategic guidance needed by emerging managers
Many platforms used outdated, manual processes that increased error risk
For an AI-native investment firm, these operational inefficiencies directly opposed the efficiency that technology should create.

The Solution

After reviewing multiple options, Banyan Ventures selected Zive’s platform because of its distinctive functionalities:
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AI-Driven Operation
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Unified Dashboard
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Quick Setup
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Expert Advisory

The Impact

Adopting Zive improved Banyan Ventures' operations:
  • Cost Advantages: Zive costs 2-3X less than competitors, directly benefiting Banyan's LPs who pay the administrative expenses.
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  • LP Satisfaction: The user-friendly platform satisfies the high standards of sophisticated LPs, many with investments across multiple funds. The straightforward experience for document access and performance tracking builds positive relationships.
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  • Core Business Focus: With administration running efficiently, Banyan Ventures can focus on identifying and supporting innovative AI-native technology companies.
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  • Long-term Stability: Unlike competitors that increase fees as funds grow, Zive's model accommodates growth without financial penalties.
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  • AI-Powered Precision: There is no room for mistakes– Zive improved accuracy, experience, and compliance for Banyan Ventures.