SmartSuite, the next-generation work management platform, has announced a significant global expansion, fueled by a total of $38 million in funding. The investment includes a newly secured $13 million Series A round, led by Canapi Ventures with participation from Sorenson Capital and High Alpha. This follows an earlier $25 million founder-led seed round, underscoring the company’s rapid growth and the increasing demand for modernized workflow management.
SmartSuite’s success has been propelled by its ability to unify work processes across industries, offering a seamless, no-code platform that enhances collaboration, automation, and efficiency. In 2024 alone, the company experienced 300% growth, expanding its user base to over 50,000 professionals across more than 5,000 businesses in over 100 countries. Organizations such as Apple Bank, Credit One Bank, UCLA, Georgetown University, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and UC Berkeley have adopted SmartSuite to streamline workflows and eliminate inefficiencies.
Redefining Work Management
Founded by industry veterans Jon Darbyshire, Tara Darbyshire and Peter Novosel, SmartSuite was designed to revolutionize business process management. The team, previously behind Archer Technologies, experienced firsthand the challenges companies face with fragmented workflows, spreadsheets, and outdated tools. Their mission was clear: to develop an intuitive, user-friendly platform that integrates work management across teams and industries.
“We were drawn to SmartSuite’s ability to eliminate complexity from inherently complex processes, such as Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), for enterprises and financial institutions of all sizes,” said Walker Forehand, President and General Partner at Canapi Ventures. “With over 50,000 users, SmartSuite’s rapid growth makes it clear that companies across industries are seeking a modernized work operating system. SmartSuite’s no-code approach is reshaping how teams collaborate, plan, and execute—all within a single, intuitive platform.”
A Unified Work Management Platform for Every Industry
SmartSuite delivers an all-in-one solution that combines project management, process automation, document collaboration, and real-time team coordination. The platform offers over 200 pre-built workflow templates, co-developed with industry experts, allowing organizations to implement best-in-class solutions across departments like sales, HR, marketing, IT, finance, and compliance.
The platform’s deep integrations with over 5,000 applications—including Slack, Microsoft, Google, HubSpot, Salesforce, Jira, Make, and Zapier—enable seamless orchestration of workflows without disrupting existing processes. This level of interoperability ensures that SmartSuite becomes an integral part of any organization’s tech stack.
SmartSuite’s Expanding Role in GRC
A growing number of financial institutions, Fortune 500 companies, and high-growth enterprises are leveraging SmartSuite for Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) management. Traditional GRC solutions have often been complex and isolated from core business operations. SmartSuite takes a different approach by embedding GRC within everyday workflows, offering agility and cost-effectiveness.
“GRC should never be isolated from the core business,” said Jon Darbyshire, Co-founder & CEO of SmartSuite. “With our 300% growth in 2024, it’s clear that companies are looking for a fresh approach—one that integrates compliance, risk, and security operations into everyday work management. SmartSuite delivers this agility, helping businesses adapt to evolving compliance requirements while maintaining a unified source of truth across teams—at a fraction of the cost of traditional GRC products.”
Leveraging AI to Power the Future of Work
SmartSuite is also integrating cutting-edge artificial intelligence to further enhance workflow automation and decision-making. SmartSuite AI streamlines work processes by assisting with content generation, feedback categorization, language simplification, and much more. Users can personalize their AI experience with custom prompts, helping teams work more efficiently across a wide range of tasks, from drafting reports to analyzing assessments.
Powered by OpenAI, SmartSuite AI provides teams with 200 free requests before allowing them to seamlessly continue leveraging AI capabilities with their own API key. This AI-driven enhancement positions SmartSuite as a leader in intelligent workflow automation, empowering businesses to work smarter, not harder.
What’s Next for SmartSuite?
With this latest funding round, SmartSuite is set to accelerate global adoption, scale its go-to-market initiatives, and expand its platform’s capabilities. The company remains committed to empowering teams with a unified work management solution that eliminates the need for disjointed tools and inefficient processes.
As organizations continue to seek innovative ways to manage projects, streamline collaboration, and integrate compliance into their workflows, SmartSuite is poised to lead the next era of work management.
