Cyber Partners
M&a Technology, Ai & Cyber Due Diligence
Technology Risks Don’t Show Up in Financial Models. Until It’s Too Late.
40-60% of M&A deal value is tied to technology integration success. Yet most diligence teams lack the technical depth to spot material risks hidden in code, cloud infrastructure, AI claims, and cyber posture.
We surface the technology risks that kill deals – and provide the evidence to help you renegotiate them.
The Problem – What Your Financial Dd Team Misses
Every Deal Is Now a Technology Deal
Whether you’re acquiring a SaaS platform, a traditional business with digital operations, or a tech-enabled service company, technology is the business model, not a support function.
Hidden in every deal:
The cost of missing these issues? Discovery post-acquisition, when your investment thesis is already at risk.
The Problem – What Your Financial Dd Team Misses
Every Deal Is Now a Technology Deal
Whether you’re acquiring a SaaS platform, a traditional business with digital operations, or a tech-enabled service company, technology is the business model, not a support function.
Hidden in every deal:
The cost of missing these issues? Discovery post-acquisition, when your investment thesis is already at risk.
Recent Findings That Protected Client Capital
FinTech Platform Investment ($100M+)
“Proprietary AI credit scoring” was a ChatGPT wrapper.
Validated AI claims: No defensible IP, basic API integration
Exposed offshore development quality issues causing 18-month roadmap delays
Client outcome: Walked away, capital protected
Enterprise Software Roll-up ($220M)
Quantified $5M+ undisclosed technical costs across legacy platforms.
Discovered CTO resignation notice not disclosed
Uncovered critical Microsoft licensing non-compliance ($1M+ exposure)
Extensive cybersecurity gaps blocking insurance coverage ($1M+ remediation required)
Client outcome: Deal restructured with technology-focused earnout milestones
Healthcare SaaS Acquisition ($200M+)
Identified $12M undisclosed ERP replacement cost and multi-year project.
Payment card processing compliance gaps requiring immediate remediation
Client outcome: Valuation renegotiated, structured earnout protecting downside
Utility Service Business ($1BN+)
Uncovered project management chaos before close.
50 in-flight projects, half delayed, no dedicated leadership
Key system replacement: 36-month delay, $8M+ cost overrun
$3M+ cybersecurity investment gap
Client outcome: New deal conditions with quality and milestone gates
What You Get – Independent, Evidence-Based Assessments
1. The 'So What?'
- Investment Thesis Alignment: Clear, evidence-based assessment of what the technology landscape means for your deal thesis
- Red flags requiring walk-away decision or material valuation adjustment
- Value creation opportunities immediately post-acquisition
- Quick wins vs. multi-year transformation requirements
- Recommendations for deal structuring (earnouts, holdbacks, warranties)
2. Quantified Technology Risk & Hidden Costs
- Not “risks exist” – specific dollar estimates affecting your valuation model
- Undisclosed infrastructure costs (cloud migration, ERP replacement, etc)
- Technical debt remediation estimates
- License compliance exposure and cloud scale-up costs (Microsoft, Oracle, Amazon,Google)
- Capital requirements management didn’t forecast
3. AI & Platform Capability Validation
- Independent assessment of technology claims
- Is the “proprietary AI platform” actually defensible IP or off-the-shelf integration?
- Can the platform scale to support 10x revenue growth?
- Is machine learning genuinely competitive advantage or basic statistical models?
- Does the “AI-generated code” have structural flaws requiring complete rebuild?
4. Cybersecurity & Regulatory Compliance Exposure
- Material breach probability and quantified liability
- Regulatory non-compliance costs (GDPR, Privacy Act, PCI DSS, APRA CPS234)
- Third-party vendor risks exposing customer data
- Cybersecurity maturity assessment against frameworks (NIST, Essential Eight)
- Post-acquisition liability quantification (cyber insurance gaps, remediation costs)
- Business continuity and disaster recovery capability
5. Technology Team & Execution Reality Check
- Can this team actually deliver the roadmap they presented?
- Key person dependencies and retention vulnerabilities
- Skill gaps between current team and business plan requirements
- Offshore development team quality and delivery track record
- Cultural issues blocking agile transformation
- Project management capability assessment (on-time delivery rate, budget control)
6. Integration Complexity & Timeline Assessment
- Real costs and timeframes for post-acquisition integration
- Technology stack compatibility analysis
- Data migration complexity and risks
- System separation requirements for carve-outs
- TSA (Transition Service Agreement) duration and cost implications
- Re-platforming requirements and alternatives
Why Choose Cyber Partners For Technology Due Diligence
We’re Not Techies Pretending to Understand Business. We’re Operators Who Understand Technology.
Track Record:
- 10+ years providing technology, AI, and cyber due diligence
- Transactions valued up to US$3.5 billion
- Major PE funds across New York, London, Singapore, Sydney
- 50+ technology diligence engagements across software, FinTech, healthcare, enterprise platforms
Independence:
- No vendor commissions. No upselling post-acquisition consulting that creates conflicts of interest.
- We diagnose. We don't sell the therapy.
- Our incentive is accurate assessment, not inflating follow-on work.
Operator Credibility:
Our practitioners haven’t just evaluated tech businesses—we’ve built them:
- Founded, scaled, acquired, and exited technology companies
- Led hyper-growth, public-listed software businesses (Deloitte Fast50 #6, Fast500#17)
- Delivered 650% share price growth as CEO of AIM-listed IoT platform
- $850M telco exit, $24M software acquisition, $450M ASX-listed corporate sale
- Built and sold technology businesses—we know what actually works
Breadth & Depth:
- Big4 pedigree combined with specialist M&A boutique experience
- Qualified and experienced in: Cybersecurity, IT Strategy, Data & Analytics, Artificial Intelligence
- MIT AI Strategy, Harvard Big Data, Oxford, LSE Cyber Law executive education
- Board-level communication: Experienced non-executive directors of large industry and technology companies with formal enterprise governance qualifications and, GAICD/FGIA standing.
Our Approach – Thesis-driven, Risk- Focused, Commercially Grounded
We Start With Your Investment Thesis, Not a Generic Checklist
Phase 1: Rapid Assessment (Week 1)
- Investment thesis alignment workshop
- Key risk hypothesis development
- Management presentation review and red flag identification
- Initial data room assessment
- Customized diligence scope and execution plan
Phase 2: Deep Dive Assessment (Weeks 2-3)
- Technical infrastructure and architecture review
- AI/platform capability validation (code review, IP assessment, scalability testing)
- Cybersecurity maturity assessment (NIST CSF, Essential Eight, regulatory compliance)
- Technology team capability evaluation (skills, delivery track record, retention risk)
- Vendor and third-party technology dependency analysis
- Integration complexity and cost estimation
Phase 3: Findings & Recommendations (Week 3-4)
- Executive summary: red flags, valuation impact, deal structure recommendations
- Quantified risk register with specific dollar estimates
- Value creation opportunities and quick wins
- 100-day plan recommendations for portfolio company
- Management presentation and Q&A session
- Post-acquisition roadmap and budget estimates
Engagement Models – Flexible To Your Deal Rhythm
Single Deal Engagement
Retained Advisory Partnership
Vendor Due Diligence Support
Engagement Models – Flexible To Your Deal Rhythm
Single Deal Engagement
Retained Advisory Partnership
Vendor Due Diligence Support
Sectors We Serve
Software & SaaS: Enterprise software, vertical SaaS, B2B platforms, developer tools
FinTech: Payments, lending platforms, InsurTech, WealthTech, core banking systems
HealthTech: Healthcare SaaS, digital health platforms, medical devices with software, telehealth
Tech-Enabled Services: Professional services with proprietary platforms, managed service providers, BPO with technology differentiation
Infrastructure & Utilities: Smart infrastructure, IoT platforms, energy management systems
Consumer Tech: E-commerce platforms, MarTech, AdTech, consumer apps
What Sets Us Apart From Big4 And Boutiques
| Big4 Firms | Specialist Boutiques | Cyber Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Broad M&A advisory, technology DD one of many services | Technology-only focus, limited commercial experience | Deep technology + proven M&A operating experience |
| Large teams, variable quality, high cost | Small teams, may lack cyber/AI depth | Senior practitioners only, full-stack capability |
| Junior consultants supported by senior oversight | Founder-led but capacity constraints | Partner/Director-level engagement, scalable delivery |
| Strong process, less operator insight | Strong technical depth, less deal experience | Operator credibility + Big4 rigor |
| Often sell post-acquisition consulting (conflict) | Independent but may lack integration perspective | Independent + integration experience from operator background |
More than a Decade’s Experience
Our client reviews
“Cyber Partners identified $18M in undisclosed technical debt and project management chaos that would have destroyed our investment thesis. Their quantified risk assessment allowed us to restructure the deal with technology-focused earnouts. Worth every dollar.”
— Partner, Mid-Market PE Fund (Enterprise Software Roll-up)
“We were 48 hours from signing when Cyber Partners validated that the ‘proprietary AI platform’ was a ChatGPT wrapper with no defensible IP. Walking away was the right call. They saved us $100M+ and protected our LP relationships.”
— Investment Director, Growth Equity Fund (FinTech)
“The cybersecurity exposure analysis was eye-opening—$3M+ in undisclosed remediation costs and insurance coverage gaps. Cyber Partners didn’t just identify risks; they quantified the financial impact and gave us negotiating leverage.”
— Head of M&A, Corporate Acquirer (Utility Services)
Discuss Your Next Deal's Technology Risks
Your diligence window is short. Material technology risks are hidden.
Let’s discuss how independent technology, AI, and cyber due diligence protects your capital and validates your investment thesis.