Every breakthrough in human history has been driven by better tools — not just for efficiency, but for new ways of thinking, working, and solving problems. From the printing press to the internet, tools don’t just help us do more; they reshape what’s possible.
Yet when it comes to work management software, many of today’s tools still feel stuck in the past — rigid, disconnected, and evolving far slower than the teams using them.
SmartSuite is different.
Founders Jon and Tara Darbyshire aren’t just improving work management software — they’re redefining it. Built to extend the capabilities of teams and organizations, SmartSuite is a collaborative, adaptable, and AI-driven platform. It not only helps teams plan, track and manage any workflow, it unlocks new ways to work, scale, and innovate.
A Vision Rooted in Experience
At the heart of SmartSuite are second-time founders Jon and Tara Darbyshire. The two previously founded Archer Technologies, a no-code governance, risk and compliance (GRC) platform, and scaled it into a market leader before selling it to EMC (now Dell Technologies). Since the acquisition, Archer has continued to grow, becoming a unicorn with over 800 employees.
But the story didn’t end there. While building Archer, Jon and Tara noticed something unexpected: customers were using the platform to manage workflows well beyond its intended scope. This was more than a creative workaround — it was a clear signal. Enterprises didn’t just need no-code tools for niche use cases; they required a flexible, enterprise-grade platform to manage any business process.
That realization planted the seed for SmartSuite. Jon and Tara saw a gap in the market and knew how to fill it — not with incremental improvements, but with a vision to reshape how work gets done.
The Product: Built to Redefine, Not Just Compete
The prior generation of work management tools is starting to show its age, hitting a wall when it comes to user experience and enterprise scalability. The underlying product and data architectures often crack under the pressure of complex workflows. As a result, they’ve ironically become the very point solutions they set out to replace.
What truly differentiates SmartSuite is its combination of best-in-class user experience, enterprise-grade capabilities, and forward-thinking AI integration – combining the functionality of relational databases, project management, and document management into a single, no-code platform.
- Best-in-Class User Experience: SmartSuite isn’t just easy to use — it’s delightful. The platform’s intuitive interface removes the typical friction of enterprise software, making it accessible to both technical and non-technical users. Whether you’re building complex workflows or managing simple tasks, the experience feels cohesive, fast, and modern.
- Enterprise-Grade Capabilities: Under the hood, SmartSuite is built to handle the scale, security, and compliance requirements of large organizations. It offers advanced permissions, robust data governance, and seamless integrations with critical enterprise systems. Unlike many no-code tools that break down when complexity ramps up, SmartSuite thrives in environments where reliability and performance are non-negotiable.
- Forward-Thinking AI Integration: SmartSuite doesn’t treat AI as an add-on — it’s woven into the fabric of the platform. With features like AI-powered content creation, data analysis, and workflow automation, SmartSuite helps teams work smarter, uncover insights faster, and automate repetitive tasks effortlessly. Its AI-driven workflow assistant even helps configure complex processes, reducing the time it takes to go from idea to execution.
This combination of usability, enterprise readiness, and AI-driven efficiency isn’t just incremental improvement — it’s what’s redefining the category. SmartSuite is here to set a new standard for what work management can be.
Fueling the Mission of Modernizing Every Business Workflow
We’re excited to back SmartSuite in its oversubscribed $13M Series A, led by our friends at Canapi Ventures, with participation from Sorenson Capital. This round follows a $25M founder-led Seed investment, a testament to the Darbyshire’s deep conviction and commitment to building something transformative. Now, with SmartSuite primed for its next phase of growth, this funding will accelerate expansion and scale. We’re thrilled to be part of the journey.
