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We are a venture services firm

" Software is eating the world "

is how Mark Andreessen, founder of Netscape, famously described the current wave of technology-driven innovation sweeping across the business landscape.

Software platforms are no longer in the background. Software increasingly defines the brand, competitive advantage, and enterprise value of today’s most transformative startups and growth businesses.

Software “Product” can create more value than any other business investment today. In fact, ignoring the need to invest in software productization is a clear path to decline in today’s disruptive environment where software is eating the world.

In 2009, we set out on a mission to partner with management teams in the creation of products that are engineered for market leadership. Operating as a trusted product partner, we have now led the strategy, design, engineering, and technical operation of over 50 comprehensive digital platforms, products and services.

As we worked alongside talented management teams, it became clear that the value we created together yielded strong business and investment returns. Increasingly, our partnerships with companies became more strategic in nature, and over time, we started investing in the great teams and businesses as part of our venture services business model.

Our firm today, operating as a unified team of over 100 product professionals with local product studios in select markets, seeks to partner with innovative growth companies, experienced entrepreneurs, and investors to transform businesses, start new ventures, and launch new digital capabilities. Together, we can build value with software.

What We Do

Castle is a digital partner for management teams of software-driven businesses. We team with management to envision, design, develop and operate digital platforms, products and services that drive growth, market differentiation — and ultimately enterprise value.

Startups

We create new digital products, services and platforms that are the strategic foundation for new companies.

Enterprise Ventures

We create new digital products, services and platforms that enable new startups or business lines to be created inside larger enterprises.

Transformations

We transform existing business processes and legacy software into new digital products, services and platforms that are better positioned to achieve the vision of a business.

We are a venture services firm operating as a true partner and investor in our portfolio businesses. We focus on software-as-a-service, digital commerce, and tech-enabled services companies that have strong management, solid business traction, and a clear opportunity for digital product creation or transformation. We then partner on the execution of the digital thesis with creative deal structures involving equity investment and/or fees.

Castle Facts

50 Products and Platforms Launched Since 2009

Castle has designed, developed, launched and operated over 50 custom software application initiatives since its founding in 2009. We take pride in our track record of successfully delivering high quality, market-leading technology solutions for innovative start-up and enterprise clients.

4 Product Studios — New York, Los Angeles, Charlotte, London

Castle’s local Product Studios enable a close collaboration and tight integration between Castle and its clients. Our product management teams can work alongside our clients on a daily basis while leveraging our design and engineering delivery studios located in Prague and Samara. Our international footprint provides delivery efficiencies and economies of scale not possible with smaller organizations.

110 Team Members with Product, Design, and Engineering Expertise

Our organization is comprised of all the capabilities necessary to create advanced digital products and platforms. Our Strategic Product Teams deliver digital strategy and concept definition, user experience and user interface design (UX / UI), custom software and application development, operational support, and ongoing feature roadmap development. This end-to-end approach ensures reliable, high quality, continuous delivery.

3 Years Average Client Partnership Duration

Castle works with clients over multiple years to create market-leading software-driven businesses. When the time is right, we help to transition these initiatives to in-house teams. Each year, our portfolio of clients is largely comprised of long-term multi-year engagements in which we are a strategic technology partner.

94% Average Annual Team Retention Since 2009

We focus diligently on the quality of life of our team members, creating a collaborative culture and environment that is conducive to the wellbeing of designers and engineers who enjoy contributing to cross-functional projects and ventures. Our strong staff retention results in reliability and consistency in service quality, as well as yielding a certain degree of added value for our clients, by keeping our people inspired, rewarded and motivated to work with peers and fellow product experts.