Digital Industries

What Digital Industries does

Digital Industries is a Portland, Oregon-based digital-first venture studio that co-creates and operates a portfolio of digital businesses through a centralized shared services model. The studio currently operates six portfolio companies: GRAYBOX (a digital agency, founded 2009), Businesstastic (a website creation Software-as-a-Service product, launched 2014), GBX (an integration Platform-as-a-Service offering, launched 2016), Upstart Collective (a founder community and co-founder sourcing platform, launched 2022), and Brandwoven (a marketplace management agency for Amazon, Walmart, and Target sellers, launched 2024); a sixth portfolio company, Secured Ledger, was wound down following adverse crypto regulatory conditions.

The studio provides its portfolio companies with fractional executive leadership across CFO, CTO, and CMO-equivalent functions, plus shared back-office services spanning accounting, human resources, technology, and strategy. Digital Industries itself is staffed by six people — three Principals and three Associates — who service the portfolio and recruit new co-founders through direct outreach and community channels such as Upstart Collective.

Digital Industries generates revenue through two primary mechanisms: recurring shared services fees charged to portfolio companies, and equity ownership in those companies with realization on exits or distributions. The firm claims a 40% portfolio company success rate compared with a stated 5% industry benchmark for venture studios, positioning its operational playbook and selection methodology as core differentiation.

Name

Digital Industries

Legal name

Digital Industries

Website

https://digital.industries

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Digital Industries is a Portland-based digital venture studio that co-operates six portfolio companies through shared services and fractional executive leadership. It earns revenue via shared services fees and equity stakes, spanning digital agency, SaaS, iPaaS, and marketplace management businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Venture Studio Services

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Venture Studios & Incubators (Build/launch ventures) (FSANAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technology & Software Growth Equity (FSANACAA), Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ)

Keywords

• Venture studio services
• Shared business services
• Startup co-operation
• Portfolio incubation
• Fractional executive services

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Portfolio Company Ownership: Digital Industries generates revenue through equity ownership in portfolio companies they co-operate and build through their venture studio model. Success is tied to portfolio company growth and exits.
2. Shared Services Revenue: Provides fractional resources including accounting, finance, HR, technology, and strategy services to portfolio companies, generating recurring service fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Digital Industries is a digital-first venture studio that co-operates and builds portfolio companies through a shared services model. The studio provides fractional executive resources, accounting, finance, HR, technology, and strategy services to its portfolio of digital businesses, while taking equity ownership in those companies. Success is tied to portfolio company growth, with the studio claiming a 40% success rate against an industry benchmark of 5%.

Product overview

Digital Industries is a digital-first venture studio that operates a portfolio of six distinct subsidiary companies, each serving different market needs. The core offering is a co-operative studio model where Digital Industries provides shared services (accounting, HR, strategy, technology) to its portfolio companies. The product portfolio includes: GRAYBOX (digital agency), GBX (iPaaS integration platform), Businesstastic (website creation SaaS), Brandwoven (marketplace management), Upstart Collective (startup community), and Secured Ledger (smart contract auditing - discontinued). These products share internal operational infrastructure and cross-company knowledge transfer but serve distinct market segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GRAYBOX Portland-based digital agency providing business operations consulting, branding, and creation of results-driven apps and websites. Builds integrated campaigns with measurable results for business clients.
• Businesstastic Website creation service combining a SaaS platform with human consultants to quickly design and launch custom business websites, with ongoing support, maintenance, and revisions for business customers.
• GBX iPaaS (integration platform as a service) enabling data integration and synchronization between multiple applications. Allows business users to create sophisticated integrations without coding.
• Brandwoven Full-service marketplace management agency helping brands navigate online marketplace landscapes (e.g., Amazon). Provides holistic channel management to improve performance and meet client objectives for brand clients.
• Upstart Collective Portland-based startup community and co-working space with two locations. Provides a supportive environment for founders to collaborate, celebrate successes, and navigate entrepreneurship challenges.
• Secured Ledger Multi-faceted public exchange for security assessments of smart contracts. Created platform for decentralized auditing involving smart contract developers and security assessors. Discontinued due to cryptocurrency regulatory challenges.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% startup success rate vs 5% industry average

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BrandwovencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Brandwoven is a full-service Amazon agency and marketplace management service. Helps brands navigate the complicated landscape of online marketplaces, continually working to improve performance and meet client objectives through holistic channel management.
• Upstart CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Upstart Collective is a Portland founder community launched in 2022 with co-founders Ben Parish and Josh Carter. Provides a supportive environment for founders to thrive, with two locations in Portland. Digital Industries co-founded and actively supports this entrepreneur community.
• Secured LedgerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Secured Ledger was a multi-faceted public exchange for security assessments of smart contracts, founded in 2018. The token SLRT was released with goal of creating a decentralized process for smart contract security audits. Wound down due to shifting cryptocurrency regulatory ecosystem.
• GBXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016GBX is an iPaaS (integration platform as a service) founded in 2016. It facilitates streamlined operations and enhanced visibility to business data ecosystems, enabling business users to create sophisticated integrations between multiple applications.
• BusinesstasticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Businesstastic is a website creation platform combined with consultant services, founded in 2014. It helps businesses create great-looking websites quickly using a SaaS platform with human-centric service. Provides ongoing support, maintenance, and revisions.
• GRAYBOXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009GRAYBOX is a Portland-based digital agency and portfolio company of Digital Industries, built in 2009. It builds intentionally designed integrated campaigns and digital solutions with marketing and content. Services include business operations consulting, branding, and creation of results-driven apps and sites.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Idealab: Idealab is one of the longest-operating venture studios, building and operating multiple companies under a shared services model. Directly comparable to Digital Industries in core model: co-operative studio, equity ownership, and shared back-office infrastructure.
• High Alpha: High Alpha is a venture studio that creates and invests in B2B SaaS companies, offering shared services and operating support. Directly comparable to Digital Industries in studio model, equity ownership, and portfolio diversification across software.
• Betaworks: Betaworks is a New York-based venture studio that builds and operates multiple digital companies from a shared platform. Comparable to Digital Industries in operating model, portfolio diversification, and equity-based ownership structure.
• Science Inc. Science Inc. is a venture studio that operates and invests in digital businesses across consumer and enterprise. Comparable to Digital Industries in co-operative studio model, shared services, and multi-portfolio equity approach.
• Atomic: Atomic is a venture studio that partners with founders to build companies from inception, providing shared operational resources. Directly comparable to Digital Industries in studio model, equity partnership structure, and shared services delivery.
• Expa: Expa is a venture studio founded by Garrett Camp that creates and launches technology companies with shared infrastructure. Comparable to Digital Industries in studio model, founder co-operation, and portfolio-based equity model.
• Founders Factory: Founders Factory is a global venture studio that builds, scales, and invests in startups with shared operational support. Comparable to Digital Industries in co-operative studio model and equity ownership in portfolio companies.
• Antler: Antler is a venture studio that supports founders from ideation through company-building with shared infrastructure and capital. Comparable to Digital Industries in studio model, founder co-operation, and portfolio equity approach.

Regional players

• Pioneer Square Labs: PSL is a Seattle-based venture studio operating in the Pacific Northwest, co-creating companies with founders. Closely comparable studio model with shared services, and particularly relevant given Digital Industries' Portland base and shared PNW region.

Broad incumbents

• Founders Fund (studio-style portfolio): Founders Fund is a major venture capital firm with a portfolio approach that includes active company-building. Comparable to Digital Industries' portfolio diversification strategy and technology focus, though it operates as a traditional VC rather than a co-operative studio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments2 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Digital Industries