40% of PE-backed deals are delayed or devalued due to undisclosed cybersecurity issues.

That’s not a tech problem. That’s a portfolio risk management problem.

For private equity firms, cyber risk can quietly kill a deal—or stall it at the worst possible time. For portfolio companies, it means longer sales cycles, costly compliance gaps, and last-minute remediation.

Start Left is a cybersecurity maturity platform built to solve both problems—giving PE firms visibility and control across portfolios, while enabling companies to scale securely and prove compliance faster.  Learn more

Why Private Equity Firms Need a Portfolio-Wide Security Strategy

🛡️ Reduce Cybersecurity Risk Across Portfolio Companies

Start Left provides centralized visibility into software risk, security posture, and governance maturity across all portfolio companies. That means no more surprises during diligence or board reviews.

“Start Left uncovered maturity gaps that would have cost us 6 months in diligence.” – Managing Director, Mid-Market PE Firm

📈 Improve Audit Readiness and Exit Valuation

Portfolio companies using Start Left have audit-ready documentation, security controls mapped to compliance frameworks, and a clear maturity roadmap—all of which drive higher valuations during M&A.

💰 Cut Security and Compliance Costs by 30%

Start Left replaces expensive consultants and redundant tooling with a scalable, repeatable platform that’s already helped PE firms save up to $2.4M across portfolios in 18 months.

⏩ Accelerate M&A and Compliance Timelines

Firms using Start Left report 3+ months saved in audit prep thanks to automated assessments, remediation playbooks, and centralized reporting.

How Start Left Helps Portfolio Companies Build Security Maturity

👥 Launch a Security Program Without Hiring a CISO

Startups and mid-stage companies often can’t afford security teams. Start Left gives them pre-built templates, Secure-by-Design workflows, and role-based tools to operate like mature organizations—without headcount.

✅ Meet Compliance Standards Like SOC 2 and ISO Faster

Whether pursuing SOC 2, HIPAA, or ISO 27001, Start Left aligns engineering and product teams around what matters most—and helps them pass audits with confidence.

🚀 Scalable Security That Grows with the Business

Start small. Expand as needed. Companies can manage up to 5–10 repositories, enable software composition analysis (SCA), static and dynamic scanning, and manage domains—all within a low-cost starter plan designed for quick wins.

🧠 Create a Security-First Culture from Day One

Security isn’t just a tool—it’s a behavior. Start Left promotes collaboration between developers, product owners, and security leaders, making it easy to embed secure practices into daily work.

Start Left Delivers Value Across the PE Ecosystem

Here’s what both stakeholders gain:

For PE Firms

💵 Lower audit & remediation costs

💸 Higher exit valuation & investor confidence

📊 Centralized visibility into security gaps

📉 Portfolio-wide risk reduction

For Portfolio Companies

⚡ Faster time to compliance

🧰 Tools to launch security without headcount

📁 Audit-ready documentation & maturity roadmap

🚀 Secure-by-design software development

FAQ: Cybersecurity, Compliance & PE Firms

Q: What is Start Left?

A: Start Left is a cybersecurity and governance platform that helps PE firms and SaaS companies build secure-by-design practices and prove security maturity during audits, sales cycles, or M&A.

Q: How does Start Left help private equity firms?

A: It provides real-time visibility into portfolio-wide software risk, helping firms reduce exposure, improve valuation, and accelerate exits—all with one standardized platform.

Q: Is Start Left only for companies with security teams?

A: No. Start Left is ideal for startups and growth-stage companies who need to build strong security foundations without hiring dedicated security staff.

Q: What types of compliance frameworks does Start Left support?

A: SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and custom enterprise frameworks—Start Left provides mapping, reporting, and remediation planning aligned to these and more.

Let’s Talk Security ROI

👉 Book a 20-minute strategy session   Let’s discuss how Start Left can reduce risk, protect valuation, and accelerate secure growth—across every company in your portfolio.