Profile

Ridgeline is an industry cloud platform that specializes in investment management. The company was founded in 2017 by Dave Duffield, a visionary software entrepreneur who previously co-founded PeopleSoft and Workday. Dave recognized the unique technology challenges faced by the investment management industry and sought to address them with innovative solutions.

The company started with a clean slate and assembled a team of domain experts and technologists who shared a common set of core values. Their goal was to create a new, modern platform in the public cloud that would cater specifically to the needs of the investment management industry. The platform is designed to prioritize security, agility, and usability, empowering businesses in ways that were not possible with legacy technology.

Headquartered in Incline Village, Nevada, Ridgeline also has offices in Reno and Manhattan. The company has experienced rapid growth and has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work” by Inc. Magazine, Glassdoor, and Northern Nevada, as well as a “Top U.S. Startup” by LinkedIn.

Ridgeline serves the software development industry with a focus on AWS (Amazon Web Services), investment management, fintech (financial technology), software engineering, and business applications. By leveraging modern technology and a deep understanding of the investment management landscape, Ridgeline aims to provide its customers with a competitive advantage and transform the way the industry operates.

Key Products

Platform

Ridgeline’s industry cloud platform offers investment management firms new possibilities for integration, efficiency, and security. Leveraging modern cloud technology and a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services, Ridgeline ensures a highly available system built to scale. With no on-premise servers to maintain, the platform meets the complex requirements of a highly-regulated global industry. Continuous updates ensure seamless and uninterrupted access to new capabilities, features, and fixes, eliminating the need for expensive and painful upgrades. Security is a priority, with a focus on ensuring the privacy, integrity, and security of client information.

Client Engagement

The platform enables relationship managers to provide superior client service by offering easy access to key client information, quick response times, and more time to add value to client relationships. The platform reduces data entry and accelerates actions with accurate and current investment details. All client information is maintained in the same system as trading, portfolio accounting, and reporting services, ensuring on-demand access to the latest client information. Additionally, Ridgeline streamlines client onboarding, enabling new clients to be onboarded once and granting all users within the firm immediate access to client portfolio details.

Trading

Their trading system is fully integrated with other modules, including client engagement, accounting, reporting, and compliance. The platform provides real-time data synchronization, ensuring up-to-date information for executing trades. Ridgeline offers right-sized processing power by leveraging cloud-native and serverless architecture, scaling processing power to meet high-volume trading demands. The trading system supports multiple asset types and trading venues, providing flexibility for diverse trading strategies. Compliance features are built into the system, enabling adherence to regulatory restrictions, compliance rules, and client mandates.

Portfolio Management

It also enables investment firms to implement investment ideas efficiently by managing high volumes of accounts, sophisticated strategies, and investor customization. The platform supports complex strategies at scale while automating processes like compliance mandates, investor preferences, and tax loss harvesting. Ridgeline allows portfolio managers to work in a sandbox environment, creating draft allocation runs and simulating results before executing trade orders. With a single book of record and real-time data, portfolio managers can rely on the accuracy of positions and access firm-wide exposures, portfolio composition, and performance analytics.

Accounting

Ridgeline’s accounting application provides investment management firms with transactional detail, reconfigurability, and reliability. The platform offers double-entry bookkeeping, a configurable chart of accounts, near-real-time data, and a full general ledger. With a team of experienced accounting specialists, Ridgeline ensures accurate handling of multi-asset, multi-currency, and multi-custodial accounting tasks. The accounting system serves as a single source of truth, capturing all actions in the underlying single book of record. This allows for easy traceability and comprehensive audit trails.

Compliance

Their compliance engine is integrated throughout the platform, enabling investment firms to proactively reduce risk and maintain compliance. The compliance features provide universal rule access, real-time exception-based management notifications, and pre-and post-trade compliance checks. The system facilitates transparency and visibility, allowing the entire team to operate in lockstep. Comprehensive audit trails enable the tracking of allocation history and provide details

Customer Insights

Customer Service

Ridgeline Apps prioritizes customer success by adopting a customer-centric approach. Their customer service team follows a mantra of “Do the right thing for the customer.” This demonstrates their commitment to advocate for the customer and ensure their firm’s success throughout their interaction with the Ridgeline product.

Ticketing System

The organization employs a real-time, rep-staffed ticketing system in collaboration with Zendesk. This system efficiently tracks and manages customer requests. The key features of the ticketing system include, auto-routing and auto-escalation of customer issues based on topic and severity level, respectively, direct routing to knowledgeable Customer Support Analysts, confirmation emails with tracking numbers for future reference, and satisfaction surveys accompanying each request to gather valuable feedback.

Account Manager

The app assigns a dedicated Account Manager to each customer. The Account Manager’s primary focus is on building a long-term relationship with the customer. They strive to understand the customer’s business, provide guidance, and ensure the customer’s success with Ridgeline Apps.

Knowledge Portal

Ridgeline Apps offers a robust, self-guided knowledge portal to help customers maximize their usage of the software. The knowledge portal includes comprehensive user guides, video aids, release notes, guided hands-on experiences, and step-by-step instructions for every feature. This wealth of informational and educational resources empowers customers to make the most out of the Ridgeline product.

Product Support

It also provides extensive product support to address various customer queries and concerns. The areas covered under product support include product troubleshooting, integration troubleshooting, trade execution support, system availability, and enhancement requests. By offering comprehensive support, Ridgeline Apps ensures that customers can rely on them to resolve any issues related to the product.

Account Service

In addition to product-related assistance, Ridgeline Apps extends its support to various topics outside the product itself. This includes account management, business documents, invoices and payments, customer service items, and general inquiries. By offering assistance beyond the core product, Ridgeline Apps demonstrates its commitment to providing a holistic customer experience.

Statistics

• Ridgeline is a privately funded, high-growth fintech startup founded in 2018 in the USA.


• 300+ employees.


• Location: 2

Ratings and Commentary

Ridgeline Apps, led by Founder and CEO Dave Duffield, demonstrates significant strengths that position it well in the competitive market. The organization benefits from a strong leadership team, including Dave Blair as the President and Jack Lynch as the Head of Strategy. These key individuals are instrumental in making important decisions and steering the company toward success. Their experience and expertise in the industry of software development and fin-tech contribute to the overall strength of the organization.

One of the notable strengths of Ridgeline Apps is the size of the market it operates in. With a solid presence in the investment management industry, the company has access to a vast customer base and potential for growth. This presents exciting opportunities for expansion and revenue generation, allowing Ridgeline Apps to tap into various sectors and serve a diverse clientele like portfolio managers, organizations at large, and more.

Furthermore, Ridgeline Apps has gained a reputation for delivering top-class security for portfolio management. The company is committed to providing efficient investment management solutions that meet customer needs and expectations. This dedication to product quality enhances customer satisfaction and fosters positive relationships with clients.

Ridgeline Apps enjoys private strong capital backing, which contributes to its overall competitiveness. With the necessary financial resources, the company has invested in research and development, marketing, and talent acquisition. This financial stability provides a solid foundation for growth and allows Ridgeline Apps to stay ahead in the dynamic mobile app development market.

While Ridgeline Apps has notable strengths, it also faces competitive threats in the industry. With the constant evolution of technology and an abundance of investment manager development companies, the market remains highly competitive. However, Ridgeline Apps is well-positioned to navigate these challenges due to its strong leadership, market size, product quality, and financial support.

Ridgeline's Video

Key Executives

Dave Duffield, CEO

With a distinguished career spanning over five decades in the business software industry, Dave has founded or co-founded six enterprise software companies, including renowned companies like PeopleSoft and Workday. His entrepreneurial ventures have consistently delivered software and technology solutions that have been ahead of their time, benefiting businesses and institutions globally. Dave strongly believes in core values and the significance of happy employees in ensuring customer satisfaction.

Dave Blair, President

As the President of Ridgeline Apps, Dave Blair brings a modern, cloud-based product and technology focus to the company. He has over 30 years of experience in the investment management software industry, specializing in bringing new solutions to the market. Before joining Ridgeline in 2020, Dave held leadership roles at SS&C Advent for 28 years, overseeing multiple product areas and the entire portfolio of software solutions. He has a track record of success in driving product development and played a pivotal role in bringing a new cloud platform and solution to market.

Jon Ruggiero, CTO

Prior to joining Ridgeline, Jon worked at Workday, where he served as the chief technology architect and later as the senior vice president. During his tenure at Workday, Jon led a product incubation organization focused on innovating the next generation of products and technology. He has extensive experience in architectural design, product development, and technology strategy. Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Cornell University and has invented multiple patents in areas such as digital credentials, parallel processing, and analytics.

Jeremy Hittle, CSO

Jeremy Hittle serves as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) at Ridgeline Apps. With 20 years of experience in IT, security, fraud, and compliance, Jeremy is responsible for building and overseeing all security, compliance, and IT programs at Ridgeline. His expertise in both the consumer and enterprise spaces allows him to bring a unique vision to the company, emphasizing security and privacy in product development, technology, and engineering choices. Prior to joining Ridgeline, Jeremy held the positions of CSO and Vice President of Security at Workday.

These key positions demonstrate the depth of experience and expertise within Ridgeline Apps’ leadership team.

Organizational Insights

Ridgeline has gained notable recognition and positive reviews for its organizational practices. According to Glassdoor reviews, the company has received high ratings from employees, highlighting its positive work culture. This is further supported by the company’s inclusion in various prestigious lists such as Inc. Best Workplaces 2021, Glassdoor Best Places to Work 2021, and LinkedIn Top Startups 2020. Ridgeline’s commitment to innovation has also been acknowledged by Fast Company, naming it a “Best Workplace for Innovators.”

One of the key insights into Ridgeline’s organizational culture is its emphasis on employee well-being and benefits. The company offers attractive perks such as stock option grants, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits with no premiums for employee-only plans, and a dog-friendly office environment. Ridgeline also provides unique benefits like Paw-ternity leave, allowing employees to take time off to care for their furry friends, and an annual wellness reimbursement of $600. These initiatives demonstrate the company’s commitment to supporting the physical and mental well-being of its employees.

Another notable aspect of Ridgeline’s organizational insights is its family-friendly policies. The company offers 12-week paid parental leave for both primary and secondary caregivers, demonstrating its support for work-life balance and equality. This policy aligns with contemporary trends of fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment for employees with family responsibilities.

Ridgeline also promotes continuous learning and professional development among its employees. The company provides a $1,500 annual education reimbursement, allowing employees to invest in their growth and acquire new skills. Additionally, Ridgeline offers a 401(k) program for all employees, highlighting its commitment to long-term financial stability and retirement planning.

The company’s positive reviews on Glassdoor and its inclusion in prestigious lists demonstrate the satisfaction and appreciation of its employees.

Board Members

Mike Frandsen

Mike Frandsen is a strategic advisor at Compa, a software company dedicated to achieving fair and competitive compensation. With Compa, he helps talent acquisition teams simplify the compensation process and create attractive offers. Mike is also a board member at Ridgeline, a fintech startup focused on modernizing investment management software. He has an extensive background in the technology industry, having held executive positions at companies like Workday, Zendesk, and SS&C Advent.

Chris McClain

Chris McClain is an experienced executive specializing in scaling cloud and software companies. He has played significant roles in the growth and success of companies like Ridgeline, SAP, and DocuSign. Currently serving as a board member and advisory board member at Ridgeline and Legion Technologies, respectively, Chris has contributed to the expansion of these organizations. With a wealth of international experience, he has worked in over 30 countries, leveraging his expertise in go-to-market strategies.

Silvia Johnson

Silvia Johnson is a multifaceted professional with a background in human resources, writing, and executive leadership. As a board member, HR executive, and writer, she brings a unique perspective to her endeavors. With over 20 years of experience in the tech industry, Silvia has been involved in turnarounds, consulting businesses, and high-growth startups. She is recognized for her achievements and thought leadership, including being featured in publications like Hispanic Executive and Black Enterprise. Silvia holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master’s in Fine Art, Creative Writing.

Investors

The organization is a privately funded fin-tech with no publicly known investors.

Key Milestones

• 2022 – Best Workplace for Innovators by Fast Company: In 2022, Ridgeline Apps was proud to be recognized as one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators by Fast Company. This prestigious accolade acknowledges Ridgeline’s commitment to fostering innovation within its workplace, reflecting the company’s dedication to pushing boundaries and creating forward-thinking solutions.


• 2022 – Ranked 93rd on The Software Report’s Top 100 Software Companies: Ridgeline Apps achieved a notable position of 93rd in The Software Report’s Top 100 Software Companies of 2022. This ranking reflects the company’s growth, influence, and impact within the software industry. Being included among the top software companies highlights Ridgeline’s success and recognition among industry peers.


• 2021 – Inc. Best Workplaces Honoree: Ridgeline Apps secured its position as a 2021 Inc. Best Workplace honoree. This recognition signifies Ridgeline’s dedication to providing an exceptional work environment that fosters employee satisfaction, growth, and collaboration. Among the various awards Ridgeline has received, the “best place to work” designation holds particular importance to the company.
  
  


• 2021 – Best Places to Work – Small & Medium Companies, Glassdoor: Ridgeline Apps further solidified its reputation as an exceptional workplace by being listed among the Best Places to Work in the Small & Medium Companies category on Glassdoor in 2021. This recognition is a testament to Ridgeline’s commitment to employee well-being, engagement, and overall job satisfaction.

News and Press Releases

• May 10, 2023 – The Ridgeline Reformation (Read)


• Jan 31, 2023 – Top 4 Questions Asset Managers Are Asking Ridgeline in 2023 (Read)


• Dec 19, 2022 – How Ridgeline Built a Magnet for Innovative Talent: 8 Questions with Industry Leaders at Ridgeline (Read)


• Oct 25, 2022 – 5 Things We Learned About Modern Investment Management from Ridgeline’s First Conference (Read)


• Aug 16, 2022 – Part 2: How Ridgeline Is Solving for the Investment Management Industry (Read)


• May 10, 2022 – 7 Questions with Ridgeline CTO Jon Ruggiero (Read)

Competitors

Abacum

Abacum is a platform that aims to empower finance teams by enabling better decisions and faster execution. Their mission is to make every finance team a hero in their organization. Abacum’s focus is on providing speed, precision, and improved business operations, similar to the efficiency of an abacus. Both companies operate in the finance technology (FinTech) sector.

BridgeFT

BridgeFT is a cloud-native, API-first WealthTech infrastructure platform that caters to registered investment advisors (RIAs), financial institutions, and FinTech innovators. Their platform enables these entities to deliver better, data-driven outcomes for their clients. With a focus on automating back-office operations and providing a personalized client experience, BridgeFT positions itself as a comprehensive solution for wealth management. While BridgeFT’s target audience seems to differ from Ridgeline Apps, there overlap sufficiently in terms of providing technological solutions for financial institutions.

TradeCore

TradeCore is a Fintech company that has gained prominence in the industry due to its deep industry knowledge and fast growth. While its website does not explicitly mention its core product or service, they emphasize treating each client as its first and prioritizes customer success. TradeCore also highlights its company values, which revolve around happy customers, great products, health and happiness, flexible work arrangements, everyday essentials, rewards and recognition, central location, and professional advancement.

Corporate Responsibility

Ridgeline Apps, as a technology company specializing in providing modern solutions for the investment management industry, holds corporate responsibility as one of its core values. The company is committed to delivering a competitive advantage to its customers through purpose-built technology. With a history rooted in the vision of its founder, Dave Duffield, Ridgeline was established in 2017 with the goal of revolutionizing the industry by leveraging innovative solutions and human connectivity.

Ridgeline’s commitment to corporate responsibility is evident in its approach to developing its platform. The company emphasizes security, agility, and usability as key priorities when building its modern platform in the public cloud. By prioritizing these aspects, Ridgeline aims to empower investment management firms like never before, offering them a better and more efficient experience compared to legacy technologies.

Furthermore, the company’s dedication to corporate responsibility extends beyond its technological offerings. The company recognizes the importance of ethical business practices and strives to uphold these principles in its operations. This includes transparency in its dealings, ethical decision-making, and fostering positive relationships with its customers and stakeholders.