Bison Announces Series A Investment Round and Launch of New Software Platform, Cobalt

BOSTON, Oct. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Bison (Boston Illiquid Securities Offering Network, Inc.), a technology company focused on developing innovative software for the financial services industry, today announced a Series A round led by Hamilton Lane, a leading private markets asset management firm, with the participation of Boston-based venture firms GrandBanks Capital and Accomplice.  This round of investment represents significant support from industry leaders in Bison, which provides breakthrough technology and analytics for the private markets.

Today, Bison also announced the launch of its new software platform, Cobalt – jointly developed with Hamilton Lane. The Cobalt platform will provide industry-leading data plus powerful analytics through two unique products built specifically for limited partners and general partners in the private markets – Cobalt GP and Cobalt LP.

The Cobalt GP platform, exclusively distributed by Bison, puts the power of data and limited partner insight in the hands of general partners. With Cobalt, general partners will know how and if they fit within a limited partner's strategy – allowing them to build long-lasting client relationships with the right information at the right time. The Cobalt LP platform, exclusively distributed by Hamilton Lane, provides limited partners with better transparency and tools to assist in portfolio construction, due diligence and decision making.

"We are excited to announce the launch of Cobalt," said Rasmus Goksor, CEO of Bison. "The dual-sided Cobalt platform is the culmination of a tremendous amount of effort, vision and commitment from our team; our partnership with Hamilton Lane; and feedback from more than 100 current GP users of our software. At Bison, we believe technology for private markets should be held to the same standards as for the rest of the fintech industry. We are proud to be leading the charge to provide best-in-class solutions for our customers."

"We are extremely excited about our partnership with Bison," said Erik Hirsch, Chief Investment Officer of Hamilton Lane and Chairman of the Board of Bison. "In them, we've found a cutting-edge development firm that understands the unique data and analytic challenges facing the private markets. Although private equity firms have financed and supported the innovation of countless new technologies, as users, our industry still tends to rely on the most basic systems. Our investment in Bison and collaboration on Cobalt demonstrates our continued commitment to closing that gap."

For more information on Cobalt, please visit www.cobaltGP.com and www.cobaltLP.com.

About Bison
Founded in 2011, Bison is a fast-growing startup company focused on developing innovative technology for private markets. With roots in solving complex challenges within private equity and venture capital, Bison's mission has been to use the power of nimble technology and transparent data to bring unmatched, creative software solutions to the market.  Headquartered in Boston, MA, Bison's products currently serve an impressive roster of some of the industry's leading private equity firms and investors, including large buyout and venture capital firms, leading endowments and foundations, as well as private and public pensions. www.bison.co

About Hamilton Lane
Hamilton Lane is an independent alternative investment management firm providing innovative private markets solutions to sophisticated investors around the world. Dedicated to private markets investing for 25 years, the firm currently employs more than 250 professionals operating in offices throughout the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. With more than $315 billion in total assets under management and supervision¹, Hamilton Lane offers a full range of investment products and services that enable clients to participate in the private markets asset class on a global and customized basis.

For more information, please visit: http://www.hamiltonlane.com/.

¹ As of June 30, 2016

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SOURCE Bison