For years, Papermark has been the go-to choice for early-stage startups looking for a quick and simple way to send pitch decks. Its easy-to-use platform made it attractive for founders who just needed to track whether investors opened their materials. But as deals become more complex, especially in M&A, companies are realizing that Papermark alone is not enough to manage the demands of live duedilligence. DeelTrix is quickly becoming the preferred VDR for teams that want real-time oversight, powerful analytics and data, and the ability to run faster, more coordinated transactions.
The Role of Papermark in Early Fundraising
Papermark was designed to help startups streamline deck sharing in the earliest stages of fundraising. Founders could upload a pitch deck, create a link, and share files with potential investors without any technical knowledge. Papermark offered a simple dashboard showing whether the deck had been opened and when.
This was revolutionary for founders who previously had no insight into investor engagement. But once a company moves beyond simple pitch deck tracking, Papermark starts to show its limitations. For M&A or large fundraising rounds, teams need deeper control, better document organization, and real-time duedilligence progress tracking — things Papermark does not provide natively.
Why M&A Teams Need More Than Papermark
M&A deals involve far more than just sending a deck. They require a full VDR to manage hundreds of documents, multiple buyers, and parallel workflows. While Papermark can technically host files, it was not built for complex mergers and acquisitions processes.
DeelTrix, on the other hand, was designed specifically for these scenarios. Its duedilligence dashboard shows which requests are complete, which are pending, and where bottlenecks exist. This gives M&A teams confidence that nothing is missed and allows them to move faster, even under pressure.
Papermark vs DeelTrix: Feature Comparison
| Feature | Papermark | DeelTrix |
|---|---|---|
| VDR Setup | Basic link-based sharing | Full-featured VDR with structured folder permissions |
| Fundraising Tools | Deck tracking only | Complete fundraising workflows with updates and notifications |
| M&A Workflows | Not built for complex deals | Purpose-built pipelines for mergers and acquisitions |
| Duedilligence Tracking | Simple viewing insights | Visual dashboards + Dedicated Platform Manager, One-Click Update, Auto Q&A Routing |
| Share Files | Yes, limited features | One-click share files with secure permissions and expiry |
| Analytics and Data | Basic open rates | Advanced analytics and data with time-on-page metrics |
| Presentation Share | Static file viewing | Interactive presentation share with live engagement tracking |
| Collaboration | None built-in | Comments, Q&A, and task assignments inside the platform |
How DeelTrix Improves Duedilligence
Papermark lets teams see who opened a document, but that is where its capabilities end. DeelTrix takes this to the next level by offering visual duedilligence dashboards that update in real time. M&A teams can track progress, spot bottlenecks, and report to management with confidence.
In addition, DeelTrix includes a Dedicated Platform Manager who assists with setup and ensures the data room runs smoothly. The One-Click Update feature allows teams to push changes to internal stakeholders and external buyers at once, eliminating version confusion. Auto Q&A Routing ensures investor questions reach the right team members quickly, keeping the process moving forward.
The Importance of Document Organization
One of the biggest pain points for teams outgrowing Papermark is document management. As more files are added, it becomes harder to keep everything organized. DeelTrix solves this with a structured VDR that uses folder-level permissions and activity tracking.
Teams can share files confidently, knowing the right buyers have access to the right documents. This level of control is critical in M&A where confidentiality and compliance matter.
Presentation Share for Investor and Buyer Engagement
Papermark offers static links for decks, but DeelTrix provides a full presentation share mode that allows for live, controlled viewing sessions. This is particularly useful for investor updates, board meetings, and management presentations during M&A.
With DeelTrix, you can disable downloads, restrict access after a certain date, and capture analytics and data about slide-by-slide engagement. This insight helps prioritize follow-ups and prepare better for negotiations.
Why Startups and M&A Teams Are Making the Switch
Startups often begin with Papermark because it’s simple and affordable. But when they enter a larger fundraising round or begin an M&A process, they need more than just deck tracking. DeelTrix combines document hosting, investor engagement tracking, and duedilligence automation into one platform.
This means teams can move faster, spend less time on admin, and keep everyone aligned. The ability to share files securely, run presentation share sessions, and monitor engagement in real time makes DeelTrix the smarter choice for scaling companies.
Real-World Example: From Papermark to DeelTrix
A fintech company preparing for a strategic sale began its process using Papermark to share decks with potential buyers. They soon realized they had no easy way to track which documents were being reviewed or to manage follow-up requests.
After switching to DeelTrix, they were able to upload all files into a structured VDR, track duedilligence progress visually, and use One-Click Update to notify every buyer of new uploads simultaneously. Auto Q&A Routing saved hours by directing questions to the correct internal team members without manual triage. The result was a faster, smoother transaction with fewer errors.
The Advantage of Analytics and Data
In M&A, information is power. Papermark provides basic open data, but DeelTrix offers deep analytics and data that let teams filter engagement by document type, user group, and timeframe. This helps identify which buyers are most engaged and where follow-ups are needed.
For fundraising, this means founders can prioritize investors who are spending time on their financials and product decks, rather than chasing uninterested prospects.
Final Verdict: DeelTrix Wins for Speed and Control
Papermark remains a great entry-level tool for deck sharing, but for serious M&A or fundraising work, DeelTrix offers the structure, visibility, and automation teams need. Its combination of duedilligence dashboards, One-Click Updates, and presentation share features helps deals move faster and with fewer mistakes.
For companies managing multiple investors or buyers at once, DeelTrix turns the VDR from a passive storage space into a true deal execution platform.
Key Takeaways
- Papermark is ideal for early deck sharing but lacks advanced M&A functionality.
- DeelTrix provides structured VDR setup, analytics and data dashboards, and automated duedilligence workflows.
- One-Click Update, Dedicated Platform Manager support, and Auto Q&A Routing save significant time.
- Presentation share and secure share files improve investor engagement and buyer confidence.
- DeelTrix is built for companies that need speed, control, and visibility in mergers and acquisitions.
FAQs
Q1: Can DeelTrix replace Papermark completely?
Yes, DeelTrix handles deck sharing, document management, and duedilligence tracking all in one VDR.
Q2: Does DeelTrix work for both M&A and fundraising?
Absolutely. DeelTrix supports mergers and acquisitions and fundraising workflows in the same platform.
Q3: How does DeelTrix speed up due diligence?
Its visual dashboard, One-Click Update, and Auto Q&A Routing keep all stakeholders aligned and reduce manual work.
Q4: What about analytics?
DeelTrix provides advanced analytics and data, including time-on-page and document-level engagement metrics.
Q5: Is DeelTrix easy to adopt for teams used to Papermark?
Yes, DeelTrix offers onboarding assistance and a Dedicated Platform Manager to ensure a smooth transition.
- Secure Sharing
- Document Analytics
- Watermarking
- Granular Access Control
Share investor decks securely with live updates, page analytics, and instant revocation controls.
Organize financials, contracts, and compliance docs in one secure room with audit trails.
Control sensitive contracts and regulatory files with watermarking and access restrictions.
Send proposals with engagement signals and track which sections prospects value most.
Distribute reports with visibility into reader activity and keep conversations in-platform.
