PipelinePlus

What PipelinePlus does

PipelinePlus, operating as "PipelinePlus powered by Ackert," is a Los Angeles-based business development platform founded around 2003 by David Ackert and Rebecca Nassi, targeting professional services firms. The company delivers an integrated offering that combines proprietary cloud-based pipeline management software (PipelinePlus TRACKER, TRAINER, and VIEWER), one-on-one executive coaching, group training programs (Business Development Institute, Train the Trainer, Workshops), strategic consulting (BD Health Assessment, Commercial Maturity Assessment, Pricing), and a portfolio of executive peer communities including Legal Lift, Managing Partners Roundtable, Business Leaders Roundtable, and segmented Marketing Leaders roundtables for Am Law 100, Am Law 200, and midsize firms.

The technology core consists of three modules: TRACKER for real-time pipeline and relationship management with collaboration features; TRAINER, a video-based e-learning platform with worksheets and structured lessons; and VIEWER, a customizable business intelligence dashboard integrating via REST API with external CRMs, Outlook calendar, and analytics tools. Native mobile applications are available on iOS, Android, and Windows. The entire platform is underpinned by the proprietary "Short List" methodology, codified by CEO David Ackert in a 2025 bestselling book that won the Nonfiction Book Awards Gold Winner.

Revenue is generated through five streams: monthly software subscriptions (individual tier at $166.67/month, Teams tier for 5+ users), one-on-one coaching engagements, training programs and workshops, strategic consulting, and recurring executive community/roundtable subscriptions. Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales for larger professional services firms (with dedicated Client Success Teams), self-serve individual subscriptions, inside sales for mid-market Teams plans, and community-led demand generation. The customer base spans thousands of professional services firms globally, anchored by 50+ Am Law 200 firms and Big Four accounting relationships; named customers include Armanino, Fenwick & West, Greenberg Traurig, Constangy, Miller Nash, Jenner & Block, and Kitchell. Distribution is amplified by the award-winning Market Leaders Podcast, university lectures, and keynotes at industry conferences.

Name

PipelinePlus

Legal name

PipelinePlus powered by Ackert

Website

https://pipelineplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

PipelinePlus provides business development software, coaching, training, and executive peer communities for professional services firms, with anchor customers including Am Law 200 law firms and Big Four accounting firms across more than 50 enterprise relationships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Software Subscriptions: Monthly subscription licenses for PipelinePlus TRACKER, TRAINER, and VIEWER platforms with tiered plans for individuals and teams
2. Coaching Services: One-on-one coaching partnerships with professionals at every level to clarify goals, prioritize relationships, and maintain momentum
3. Training & Workshops: Business Development Institute programs, Train the Trainer programs, and retreat presentations/keynotes
4. Consulting Services: Strategic planning services including BD Health Assessment and Commercial Maturity Assessment for professional services firms
5. Communities & Roundtables: Executive peer communities including Managing Partners Roundtable, Business Leaders Roundtable, and marketing leader roundtables for Am Law 100/200 firms

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

PipelinePlus sells a cloud-based business development platform built around three proprietary software modules (PipelinePlus TRACKER for real-time relationship and pipeline management, PipelinePlus TRAINER for video-based BD e-learning, and PipelinePlus VIEWER for integrated dashboards) that runs on web and mobile (iOS, Android, Windows) and is offered via individual, Teams, and Coaching subscriptions to professional services firms. The software is bundled with one-on-one business development coaching, paid executive peer communities (Legal Lift, Managing Partners Roundtable, Business Leaders Roundtable, and MLR100/200/Midsize roundtables), training programs, and consulting services anchored by the trademarked Short List methodology.

Product overview

PipelinePlus is a comprehensive business development coaching and technology platform for professional services firms. The product portfolio includes three core software modules: PipelinePlus TRACKER for real-time pipeline and relationship management, PipelinePlus TRAINER for video-based e-learning and professional development, and PipelinePlus VIEWER for customized dashboards and business intelligence. These modules are complemented by executive coaching services, training programs (Workshops, Business Development Institute, Train the Trainer), strategic consulting services (Strategic Planning, Pricing, BD Health Assessment), and peer communities (Legal Lift, Managing Partners Roundtable, Business Leaders Roundtable, and marketing leader roundtables for Am Law 100/200 and midsize firms). The company also produces content including the Market Leaders Podcast and The Short List book. Mobile apps for iOS and Android are available with all standard licenses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PipelinePlus TRACKER: A dynamic, real-time pipeline management tool that keeps valuable clients, prospects, and referral sources front and center.
• PipelinePlus TRAINER
• PipelinePlus VIEWER
• Legal Lift
• The Short List
• Market Leaders Podcast

Products and services

• PipelinePlus TRACKER Cloud-based pipeline and relationship management tool that helps professionals and teams create Targets, add Steps, track due dates, manage business development priorities, and collaborate with colleagues inside the same firm. Built on PipelinePlus's mobile-friendly cloud platform and offered as a subscription.
• PipelinePlus TRAINER Video-based e-learning platform delivering structured lessons on business development topics for legal, accounting, and consulting professionals. Includes worksheets, transcripts, and curated industry-standard resources accessible to individual and team subscribers.
• PipelinePlus VIEWER Business intelligence dashboard module that consolidates pipeline, pursuit, revenue, web, email, social, competitive, and financial metrics into a single customizable reporting interface, with REST API and Outlook calendar integration.
• Legal Lift Paid executive peer community and roundtable forum for legal industry leaders facilitating dialogue between law firm leaders and in-house counsel. Operates as a recurring community offering under the PipelinePlus portfolio.
• Managing Partners Roundtable Paid facilitated peer community for managing partners of professional services firms, providing strategic programming, retreats, and honest peer dialogue.
• Business Leaders Roundtable Paid facilitated executive community for business leaders in professional services firms offering peer-to-peer conversations and strategic programming.
• MLR100 Roundtable Paid executive peer community for chief marketing officers and marketing leaders at Am Law 100 law firms.
• MLR200 Roundtable Paid executive peer community for marketing leaders at Am Law 200 law firms.
• Marketing Leaders Midsize Firms Roundtable Paid facilitated executive community for marketing leaders at midsize law and professional services firms.
• Business Development Coaching One-on-one coaching engagement in which PipelinePlus advisors partner with attorneys, accountants, consultants, and other professionals to clarify BD goals, prioritize client relationships, and maintain accountability for pipeline activities. Available as a Coaching tier subscription upgrade.
• Executive Leadership Coaching Executive-level coaching engagement focused on leadership development and growth strategies for partners, managing partners, COOs, and other firm leaders.
• Workshops & Seminars In-person and live group training sessions covering business development topics for professional services firms and their BD teams.
• Business Development Institute Formal structured training program delivering in-depth business development education and professional development for individuals and firms.
• Train the Trainer Program Specialized training program helping firms develop internal business development trainers and facilitators who can sustain BD capability building beyond external engagements.
• Upskilling Marketing & BD Teams Targeted training engagements to enhance the skills and capabilities of in-house marketing and business development teams at professional services firms.
• Retreat Presentations & Keynotes Speaking engagements and keynote presentations delivered by PipelinePlus leadership at firm retreats and industry conferences on business development topics.
• Strategic Planning Services Consulting engagement in which PipelinePlus advisors help professional services firms develop strategic plans covering business development, growth, and execution priorities.
• Pricing Consulting Services Consulting offering focused on pricing strategy and fee-setting for professional services firms.
• Client Feedback Consulting Consulting offering that gathers and analyzes client feedback for professional services firms to improve client experience and performance.
• BD Health Assessment Diagnostic consulting engagement that evaluates the business development health of a professional services firm and identifies concrete areas for improvement.
• Commercial Maturity Assessment Diagnostic engagement that evaluates the commercial maturity of a professional services firm across BD, marketing, pricing, and client feedback capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Users maintain 9–35 active relationships in a healthy pipeline
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• CRM Platforms with REST APIcoreTechnology or IntegrationPipelinePlus seamlessly integrates with any platform that supports a REST API, allowing firms to enhance their existing CRM investments with PipelinePlus's targeted BD tools and analytics
• Microsoft OutlookcoreTechnology or IntegrationCalendar integration allowing Pipeline Targets to be synced to Outlook Calendar via internet calendar subscription, enabling users to manage BD activities within their existing workflow
• Google AnalyticssupportingTechnology or IntegrationUsed for analytics tracking on the PipelinePlus website to analyze usage patterns and improve services
• Podcast Distribution PlatformssupportingTechnology or IntegrationMarket Leaders Podcast distributed through Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, Pocket Casts, Podchaser, and Deezer for broad audience reach

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LexisNexis InterAction: LexisNexis InterAction is the dominant CRM and BD platform purpose-built for law firms, offering client intelligence, pipeline tracking, and relationship management. It is the most direct competitor to PipelinePlus in the legal BD software niche, targeting the same Am Law 100/200 buyer.
• Outreach: Outreach is a leading sales engagement platform with sequencing, pipeline management, and AI-driven coaching. It directly competes with PipelinePlus TRACKER/VIEWER mechanics in sales acceleration, though focused on B2B tech rather than professional services.
• Salesloft: Salesloft is a sales engagement and revenue orchestration platform offering cadences, pipeline tracking, and coaching. It overlaps with PipelinePlus's pipeline and coaching modules in the sales acceleration workflow category.
• Clio: Clio is a leading cloud-based legal practice management platform increasingly expanding into client intake and BD workflows. It is comparable as a vertical SaaS player serving law firms, with growing overlap into the BD/pipeline space PipelinePlus occupies.
• Aderant: Aderant is a legal practice management and business intelligence platform used by Am Law and global firms. It overlaps with PipelinePlus on dashboards, performance analytics, and firm-level revenue visibility for law firm clients.
• Sandler Training: Sandler Training is a global sales methodology, coaching, and training franchise used heavily in professional services. It directly parallels PipelinePlus's coaching + methodology + training layer, with much broader geographic reach but lighter software integration.

Broad incumbents

• Salesforce Sales Cloud: Salesforce Sales Cloud is the largest general-purpose sales acceleration and CRM platform globally, with verticalized editions for professional services. It competes with PipelinePlus on enterprise BD pipeline management but at vastly broader scope and scale.
• HubSpot Sales Hub: HubSpot Sales Hub provides sales engagement, pipeline management, and CRM for SMB through mid-market, increasingly used by professional services firms. It overlaps with PipelinePlus on subscription sales acceleration but lacks legal-vertical depth and coaching layer.

Emerging players

• Apollo.io: Apollo.io combines sales intelligence, prospecting, and engagement in a single platform used by SMB and mid-market sales teams. It is comparable to PipelinePlus as a sales acceleration tool, with a stronger intelligence/prospecting angle and lighter coaching/community layer.
• Gong: Gong is a revenue intelligence platform that records, transcribes, and analyzes sales calls to surface pipeline insights and coaching opportunities. It is comparable to PipelinePlus VIEWER in surfacing BD performance, with stronger AI analytics and weaker community / methodology layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pipelineplus-poweredbyackert
• Facebookfacebook.com/pipelinepluspoweredbyackert

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PipelinePlus