Vested

What Vested does

Vested Outsourcing Inc., operating as Vested, is a private business methodology and training company headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, that develops and licenses a framework for creating highly collaborative buyer-supplier business relationships. The methodology originated from award-winning academic research conducted at the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business, originally funded by the U.S. Air Force, and is codified in a proprietary Five Rules framework, Ten Elements contractual structure, and 12 Ailments diagnostic toolkit, supported by over 100 decision-making tools and templates. The company monetizes through a multi-tier product suite including freemium online courses (Vested Orientation, Five Rules at $495), premium online courses (Creating a Vested Agreement at $3,500), a multi-year Certified Deal Architect certification program, executive education courses at the University of Tennessee, customized workshops, keynote speaking engagements, book sales, and a global network of licensed Centers of Excellence partner firms that deliver localized coaching and consulting.

Name

Vested

Legal name

Vested Outsourcing Inc.

Website

https://vestedway.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vested (Vested Outsourcing Inc.) is a private methodology and training company that licenses a proprietary framework for creating collaborative business relationships, selling online courses, multi-tier certifications, workshops, and books to enterprises and procurement professionals globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Management Consulting and Training Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAGANAH

Operations, Quality & Process Improvement (Lean/Six Sigma)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Professional Development & Training Materials

SECONDARYMPAJACAL

Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Professional & Legal Publishing (Standards, Compliance, Reference)

SECONDARYEDAGANAN

Industry-Specific Technical & Certification Prep (e.g., Construction, Manufacturing, Energy)

Education/Educational Publishing & Learning Content/Professional Development & Training Materials

Keywords

• Strategic sourcing methodology
• Collaborative business relationships
• Outsourcing contract consulting
• Relational contracting training
• Procurement certification services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirkland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Certification Programs: Vested offers multiple certification levels including Foundation ($0), Practitioner, Certified Deal Architect (CDA), and CDA Coach certifications. The certification programs generate revenue through course fees, with CDA program requiring completion of multiple courses and a validation capstone.
2. Creating a Vested Agreement Online Course: Comprehensive online course priced at $3,500 with 17 modules providing step-by-step guidance for creating Vested agreements. Includes Vested Toolkit access and 8 hours of complimentary coaching support from Centers of Excellence.
3. Vested Five Rules Online Course: Online course priced at $495 consisting of seven interactive, self-paced video modules teaching the Vested Five Rules framework.
4. Deal Reviews and Certification: Organizations can opt for neutral third-party review by Certified Deal Architects or Program Faculty to validate their Vested agreements and relationships, providing feedback on structural flaws and improvement opportunities.
5. Customized Workshops: Kate Vitasek and regional Centers of Excellence offer customized workshop sessions ranging from 30 minutes to multi-day engagements on various Vested topics including Vested 101, RealPlay exercises, Compatibility and Trust assessments, and deep-dive methodology training.
6. Speaking Engagements: Keynote and speaking engagements by Kate Vitasek and Vested faculty at industry conferences and corporate events.
7. Center of Excellence Partnerships: Regional Centers of Excellence (consulting/law firms) provide local support throughout the Vested journey, including workshops, coaching, and consulting services. Partner firms include Cirio, EY, The Forefront Group, Best Value Group, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Vested teaches, certifies, and supports organizations in building highly collaborative, outcome-based business relationships through the proprietary Vested® methodology (Five Rules, Ten Elements, 12 Ailments) developed at the University of Tennessee. The company sells a structured curriculum of online and in-person courses, multi-tier professional certifications (Foundation, Practitioner, Certified Deal Architect, Certified Coach), assessment tools, customizable workshops, and consulting delivered through regional Centers of Excellence. Supporting assets include a 100+ resource Vested Toolkit, a book series, and a multilingual white paper and case study library.

Product overview

Vested is a business methodology and training platform developed by the University of Tennessee's Haslam College of Business. It offers a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services centered around the Vested® business model for creating highly collaborative business relationships. The portfolio includes online courses (Vested Orientation, Five Rules, Is Vested Right, Getting Ready, Creating a Vested Agreement, Getting to We), on-site courses (3-Day Executive Education, 2-Day Collaborative Contracting), certification programs (Foundation, Practitioner, Certified Deal Architect, Certified Coach), assessment tools (Compatibility and Trust Assessment, 12 Ailments, Readiness, 10 Elements), the Vested Toolkit with 100+ resources, workshops, regional Centers of Excellence consulting services, a book series, and a white paper/case study library. The methodology is based on award-winning research and the Five Rules framework for creating win-win business partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vested Orientation Online Course Free 13-module online course introducing the University of Tennessee's award-winning Vested research and foundational methodology, intended for individuals and enterprises new to Vested.
• Vested Five Rules Online Course Seven-module self-paced interactive video course teaching the Vested Five Rules framework for collaborative business relationships, priced at $495 and including the 12 Ailments and Readiness Assessments.
• Is Vested Right for Your Situation Online Course Free seven-topic online course that helps prospective adopters determine whether Vested is appropriate for their business relationship scenario.
• Getting Ready for Your Vested Journey Online Course Free online course with 10 tools designed to close readiness gaps for organizations that have completed a Business Model Map and confirmed Vested as their path.
• Creating a Vested Agreement Online Course 17-module self-paced online course providing step-by-step instructions to create a Vested Agreement, including the Vested Toolkit and 8 hours of complimentary coaching from Centers of Excellence, priced at $3,500.
• Getting to We Online Course Online course on laying the relational foundation for Vested agreements using a 5-step process published in Harvard Business Review and proven relational contracting practices.
• 3-Day Vested Executive Education Course Intensive in-person or 5 half-day virtual course immersing champions of Vested agreements in the why, what, and how of the methodology, hosted at the University of Tennessee and global locations.
• 2-Day Collaborative Contracting Course Advanced in-person or 5 half-day virtual course teaching negotiation and writing of strategic contracts based on relational contracting and behavioral economic theories.
• Certified Deal Architect (CDA) Program 1-2 year certification program requiring completion of all Vested courses and leading an organization to create a Vested agreement, culminating in a UT CDA Validation capstone.
• Vested Foundation Certification Entry-level certification awarded after completing the Vested Orientation and Vested Five Rules courses with quizzes validating foundational knowledge.
• Vested Practitioner Certification Practitioner-level certification requiring completion of five Vested courses, inspired by ITIL and Agile Practitioner programs, for professionals applying Vested in real-world engagements.
• Vested Certified Coach Certification Highest certification recognizing CDAs with exceptional expertise in Vested theory and practice, qualified to evaluate deal architecture and lead workshops.
• Vested Toolkit Open-source toolkit of more than 100 decision-making tools, templates, and resources spanning stakeholder analysis, project planning, requirements roadmap, taxonomy, and economic modeling for Vested implementations.
• Compatibility and Trust (CaT) Assessment Scientifically evaluated model that assesses cultural compatibility and fit between business partners across five dimensions using a two-world view.
• 12 Ailments Self-Assessment Proprietary self-assessment that diagnoses whether existing agreements suffer from structural flaws across Vested's 12 identified ailments.
• Readiness Self-Assessment Self-assessment identifying gaps in organizational readiness before embarking on a Vested implementation.
• 10 Elements Self-Assessment Self-assessment tool evaluating alignment with the 10 essential elements of a Vested Agreement.
• Vested Deal Reviews and Certification Service Neutral third-party review by Certified Deal Architects or Program Faculty providing feedback on structural flaws and improvement opportunities in proposed or existing Vested agreements.
• Vested Customized Workshops Tailored workshops on Vested topics including Vested 101, From Theory to Practice, RealPlay exercises, Barrier-Busting, and Compatibility and Trust assessments, taught by Kate Vitasek and regional CoE partners, ranging from 30-minute sessions to multi-day engagements.
• Vested Centers of Excellence Coaching and Consulting Regional partner network of consulting and law firms certified by the University of Tennessee to provide local workshops, coaching, facilitation, and implementation support for Vested methodology, including Cirio, EY, The Forefront Group, Best Value Group, NEVI, and Collaborative Impact Advisory.
• Vested Book Series Series of published books on Vested methodology including 'Vested', 'Vested Outsourcing', 'Strategic Sourcing in the New Economy', 'Contracting in the New Economy', 'Getting to We', 'The Vested Outsourcing Manual', 'Preventing the Dispute Before it Begins', and the mini e-book 'The Vested Way', sold through Amazon and the Vested bookstore.
• Vested White Paper and Case Study Library Extensive library of downloadable case studies and white papers documenting Vested methodology in practice across industries, available in English plus Spanish, French, Swedish, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian, and Slovenian translations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rocky Flats Nuclear Site completed 65 years early, $30 billion under budget, with 800% safety improvement
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• University of Tennessee Haslam College of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrigin of Vested methodology. The Center for Executive Education, led by Kate Vitasek and Dr. Alex Miller, conducted award-winning research funded by the U.S. Air Force that formed the foundation of the Vested business model. UT continues as the academic home for Vested faculty and certification programs.
• International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIAOP endorses the Vested approach. The University of Tennessee's three-day Vested Outsourcing course counts towards the IAOP Certified Outsourcing Professional designation, creating a pathway for professionals to earn dual credentials.
• Sourcing Industry Group (SIG)flagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerDawn Tiura, President and CEO of SIG, provided endorsement of Vested methodology. SIG serves as a platform for promoting Vested to sourcing and procurement professionals globally.
• International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTim Cummins, CEO of IACCM, endorsed Vested Outsourcing as a robust approach for developing high-performing strategic relationships. IACCM is a leading global organization for contract and commercial management professionals.
• Supply Chain Council (APICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAwarded Academic Advancement Award to UT's Haslam College of Business recognizing Vested research as advancing the supply chain management body of knowledge.
• Cirio Law Firm (Nordics)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRegional Center of Excellence for Vested in Nordic countries. Provides local support for organizations in Scandinavia implementing Vested methodology. David Frydlinger, partner at Cirio, is a Vested faculty member and author of 'Getting to We'.
• EY (Ernst & Young)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGlobal professional services firm operating as a Vested Center of Excellence. Multiple EY consultants are Certified Deal Architects who help clients implement Vested agreements.
• The Forefront GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBoutique consulting firm founded by Bonnie Keith, a Vested faculty member. Provides specialized consulting for creating Vested relationships. Operates Centers of Excellence in North America.
• Best Value Group / NEVIcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerDutch Center of Excellence led by Jeroen van de Rijt. NEVI is the Dutch Association of Procurement Professionals. Co-founders of Best Value Group are Vested Certified Deal Architects serving the European market.
• Collaborative Impact Advisory (Australasia)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAndrew Downard's boutique consulting firm serves as the Australasian Center of Excellence for Vested. Brings blend of academia and practice for implementing collaborative supply chains in the region.
• Palgrave MacmillanflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher of the Vested book series. Palgrave Macmillan is also the publishing home for Jim Womack's pioneering book 'LEAN: The Machine That Changed the World', positioning Vested alongside other transformative business methodologies.
• Elizabeth KannaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness producer who coined the name 'Vested' and developed the integrated branding and market adoption strategy that helped transform the academic research into a movement. Co-creator of the Vested brand.
• US Air ForceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunded the original University of Tennessee research that led to the development of the Vested methodology. The research collaboration produced award-winning insights into collaborative business relationships.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP): Professional association for outsourcing and global services professionals. IAOP recognizes Vested's UT course toward its Certified Outsourcing Professional designation, making it a direct peer in the outsourcing training and certification market.
• Sourcing Industry Group (SIG): Membership organization for sourcing, procurement, and outsourcing executives. SIG provides executive education, certification, and thought leadership in collaborative sourcing — overlapping with Vested's target audience and content positioning.
• International Association for Contract and Commercial Management (IACCM): Global membership association for contract and commercial management professionals. IACCM offers training, certification, and research in contract management — directly overlapping with Vested's relational contracting and outsourcing training curriculum. Already an endorser of Vested's methodology.
• The Forefront Group: Boutique consulting firm founded by Vested faculty member Bonnie Keith. Operates as a Vested Center of Excellence and delivers Vested training, workshops, and consulting — a peer in the Vested ecosystem serving similar enterprise clients.
• Cirio Law Firm: Swedish law firm serving as Nordic Center of Excellence for Vested. Partner David Frydlinger is a Vested faculty member and co-author of 'Getting to We', combining legal advisory with Vested methodology delivery to enterprise clients.
• Best Value Group: Dutch Center of Excellence for Vested, co-founded by Vested Certified Deal Architects. Delivers Vested training, certification, and consulting to European procurement and supply chain organizations.

Broad incumbents

• PeopleCert: Global certification provider (including ITIL, PRINCE2) that owns major methodology certifications. Competes indirectly by setting the standard for operational/procurement certification programs that Vested's tracks resemble.
• Mind Tools: Subscription-based professional development platform offering management, leadership, and business skills training. Wider in scope but comparable in delivering business methodology content to enterprise L&D audiences.
• Association for Talent Development (ATD): Professional membership association for talent development practitioners offering training, certification (CPTD, APTD), and research. Comparable in offering methodology certifications and corporate training content across industries.

Regional players

• NEVI (Dutch Association of Procurement Professionals): Dutch membership organization for procurement professionals with a regional training and certification portfolio. Comparable to Vested's model of professional certification and methodology training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thevestedway

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Vested