GUST
Gust is a New York-based SaaS platform that provides startup incorporation, digital cap-table management, fundraising document execution, and deal-flow tools to early-stage founders, angel investor groups, and accelerators across 192+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingSoftware
What GUST does
Gust, Inc. is a privately held Delaware-incorporated SaaS company headquartered in New York that operates a global platform supporting the founding, operation, and early-stage investment of high-growth ventures. Founded around 2010, the company serves three primary user groups: early-stage founders (incorporating Delaware C-Corps, managing cap tables, and executing fundraising documents), angel investor groups (deal-flow management and due diligence), and accelerators (application management and cohort operations). Its flagship product, Gust Launch, is positioned as a Company-as-a-Service (CaaS) platform covering incorporation, founder stock issuance with 83(b) elections, digital cap tables, board-action workflows, SAFEs, convertible notes, option plans, 409A valuations, and business-banking integration, sold on three annual subscription tiers ($450/$1,250/$3,500).
Complementing Gust Launch are Gust Mission Control ($99/month for expert office hours and Slack community), Gust for Investors (deal-flow SaaS for 350+ investor groups), Gust for Accelerators (cohort application management), Co-Founder Equity Split (collaborative equity-planning tool), and the wholly-owned Preferred Return subsidiary providing 409A valuations. The platform also includes acquired properties Fundacity and LeanMonitor. Gust distributes primarily through product-led growth on its website and a community/channel-led motion via partnerships with 300+ accelerators and 750+ angel groups, supported by an integrated partner ecosystem of 20+ SaaS and service providers offering bundled discounts (AWS, Brex, HubSpot, Segment, Morgan Lewis, and others). Reported scale metrics include 850,000+ startups connected with 85,000+ investment professionals across 192+ countries, $170M invested through the platform in 2022, and 27,000 applications processed in 2022; user satisfaction is reported at NPS 70 and CSAT 98. The company is led by Founder & Executive Chairman David S. Rose, CEO Peter Swan, and COO Ryan Nash, and operates with a fully remote, relatively small team of 101-250 employees.
GUST firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GUST
- Legal name
- Gust, Inc.
- Website
- https://gust.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Gust is a New York-based SaaS platform that provides startup incorporation, digital cap-table management, fundraising document execution, and deal-flow tools to early-stage founders, angel investor groups, and accelerators across 192+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GUST industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Formation & Equity Management Software
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151), Other Computer Related Services (541519)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Investment Management Advisory (RIA) (FSAEAAAB)
Keywords
Where GUST is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
GUST business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations
Revenue model
- Gust Launch Subscriptions: Three-tier annual subscription plans (Start $450/yr, Accelerate $1,250/yr, Raise $3,500/yr) providing increasing levels of incorporation, legal, and fundraising tools
- Mission Control Subscription: $99/month subscription providing access to expert sessions, office hours, Slack community, and discounts on Gust software
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | START - Incorporation foundation at $450/year |
| Subscription | Annual | ACCELERATE - Full legal and fundraising tools at $1,250/year |
| Subscription | Annual | RAISE - Option plan and employee equity at $3,500/year |
| Subscription | Monthly | Mission Control - Expert support at $99/month |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
GUST product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gust operates a global SaaS platform that supports startup founders through incorporation, equity management, and fundraising. Its flagship Gust Launch product is positioned as a Company-as-a-Service (CaaS) platform enabling Delaware C-Corp formation, digital cap table management, stock issuance, and online execution of SAFEs and convertible notes. Complementary offerings include Gust Mission Control (subscription expert support), Gust for Investors (deal flow management for 350+ angel groups), Gust for Accelerators (cohort management for 300+ accelerators), Co-Founder Equity Split, and 409A valuation services via Preferred Return.
Product overview
GUST operates as a unified platform-plus-modules architecture centered around Gust Launch, the world's first Company-as-a-Service (CaaS) platform for startup formation and operations. The portfolio includes complementary products: Gust Mission Control ($99/month) provides expert-led support for founders; Gust for Investors offers deal flow management for 350+ investor groups worldwide; Gust for Accelerators provides application and cohort management for accelerator programs. Supporting tools include Co-Founder Equity Split for equity planning, Preferred Return for 409A valuations, and Gust Equity Management for cap table services. The ecosystem is augmented by acquired tools Fundacity (deal flow) and LeanMonitor (lean startup validation). Gust powers over 850,000 startups across 192 countries.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gust Launch: Company-as-a-Service (CaaS) platform for startup founders that facilitates legal, financial, and back-office operations for incorporating as a Delaware C Corp and operating high-growth ventures.
- Gust Mission Control
- Co-Founder Equity Split
Products and services
- Gust Launch Company-as-a-Service (CaaS) SaaS platform for startup founders that handles incorporation as a Delaware C-Corp, cap table management, stock issuance with 83(b) elections, online execution of SAFEs and convertible notes, equity incentive plans, option grants, board approvals, and business banking integration with partner Brex. Available in tiered annual subscriptions (Start, Accelerate, Raise).
- Gust Mission Control Subscription support program for founders that provides weekly office hours with the Gust team, expert sessions on financial modeling, pitch reviews, tax preparedness, and insurance, plus access to a Slack community and discounts on Gust software. Priced at $99/month.
- Gust for Investors Platform for angel investor groups and syndicates that enables them to receive startup applications, screen and evaluate companies, run due diligence, and track member investment commitments. Used by 350+ investor groups worldwide, including New York Angels, HBS Alumni Angels, York Angels, Paris Business Angels, Melbourne Angels, Anjos Brasil, and Park City Angels.
- Gust for Accelerators Application and cohort management platform for startup accelerator and incubator programs. Includes customizable evaluation criteria, unlimited programs and applications, and integration with 500+ external services such as Salesforce, Slack, Google Apps, Mailchimp, and Insightly.
- Co-Founder Equity Split Collaborative tool that helps co-founders plan and determine fair equity splits by analyzing co-founder contributions and aligning expectations on roles, responsibilities, and equity allocation.
- Preferred Return (409A Valuation) 409A valuation service, operated through Gust's wholly-owned subsidiary Preferred Return, Inc., that generates formal fair market value reports for company common stock in compliance with regulatory guidelines.
Quantifiable outcome
- Incorporate in as few as 3 days
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use GUST
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
GUST technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration17 records
Feature5 records
GUST partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AWS (Amazon Web Services)core$5,000 in AWS Activate credits for Gust Launch customers. Provides cloud infrastructure credits to help startups build and scale.
- BrexcorePreferred business banking partner. Gust Launch companies can open accounts online with no maintenance fees and get virtual cards instantly.
- HubSpotcore75% off marketing software for first 12 months, 50% off second year, 25% off third year for Gust Launch customers.
- WeWorkminor20% off for 6 months with no commitment for Gust Launch customers.
- Segmentcore$50,000 in Segment credits for eligible Gust Launch customers. Provides analytics and customer data infrastructure.
- Webflowminor50% off team plan for first 12 months for Gust Launch customers.
- Typeformminor30% off Typeform annual Professional and Premium plans for Gust Launch customers.
- WefunderminorSpecial offer: 6.5% of funds successfully raised with Wefunder for Regulation CF rounds.
- FlatironsminorPriority application for product development and design resources, supporting underrepresented founders.
- Clarus (R&D Tax Credit)minorHelps companies evaluate R&D tax credit eligibility, potentially up to $250,000 in payroll tax credits per year.
- KMK Venturesminor10% discount off tax preparation, bookkeeping, and accounting services.
- Cleer Tax & Bookkeepingminor$150 discount on corporate tax filing for Delaware C-Corporations.
- Forecastrminor25% off annual subscription with white-glove onboarding for financial modeling support.
- Startup Law Firms (Network)coreVetted network of startup attorneys with waived initial retainers (avg $2,500 savings) and 1 hour monthly credit on legal work.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GUST competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LegalZoom: LegalZoom is a large, established online legal services platform that offers business formation, registered agent, and legal document services. While not focused exclusively on venture-backed startups, it overlaps with Gust Launch at the lower end of the incorporation market.
Direct peers
- Pulley: Pulley is a cap table and equity management platform offering 409A valuations, option plan administration, and investor reporting. It directly competes with Gust Launch's RAISE-tier offering for startups that have moved beyond incorporation and need ongoing equity management.
- AngelList Venture: AngelList (now AngelList Venture) operates rolling funds, syndicates, and a job platform for startups and investors. It competes with Gust's fundraising marketplace and investor deal flow tools for connecting founders with angel investors.
- Carta: Carta is the leading cap table and equity management platform for venture-backed startups. It directly overlaps with Gust's equity management, 409A valuation, and option plan capabilities, and competes for the same founder and investor segments as Gust Launch's higher tiers.
- Doola: Doola offers Delaware C-Corp and LLC formation, banking, tax, accounting, and compliance for international and US founders. It competes with Gust Launch on incorporation and back-office services, particularly for non-US founders forming US entities.
- Clerky: Clerky provides legal paperwork and formation documents specifically designed for Delaware C-Corps and venture-backed startups. It competes head-to-head with Gust Launch's legal and incorporation workflows for founders seeking high-quality, attorney-grade documents.
- Stripe Atlas: Stripe Atlas is a direct competitor to Gust Launch, offering Delaware C-Corp incorporation, EIN, and integrated banking/payments for international founders. Both target the same early-stage founder persona and compete on speed of incorporation and ecosystem of business tools.
- Firstbase: Firstbase helps founders incorporate US businesses, get an EIN, open a bank account, and access startup perks. It is a direct peer in the incorporation-as-a-service category targeting first-time founders globally.
Others
- Wefunder: Wefunder is a Regulation Crowdfunding platform that Gust Launch integrates with as a partner. It is a complementary rather than directly competitive service, focused on retail-facing crowdfunding rounds rather than angel group deal flow.
Emerging players
- Cooley GO: Cooley GO is a free set of legal documents and startup tools from law firm Cooley. It competes with Gust Launch on free incorporation documents and standard venture financing forms, particularly for early-stage founders who might otherwise use Gust's legal templates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GUST social profiles
Digital presenceGUST financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GUST leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GUST subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
GUST funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GUST M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GUST
What does GUST do?
Gust operates a global SaaS platform that supports startup founders through incorporation, equity management, and fundraising. Its flagship Gust Launch product is positioned as a Company-as-a-Service (CaaS) platform enabling Delaware C-Corp formation, digital cap table management, stock issuance, and online execution of SAFEs and convertible notes. Complementary offerings include Gust Mission Control (subscription expert support), Gust for Investors (deal flow management for 350+ angel groups), Gust for Accelerators (cohort management for 300+ accelerators), Co-Founder Equity Split, and 409A valuation services via Preferred Return.
Is GUST a public or private company?
GUST is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was GUST founded?
GUST was founded in 2010. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is GUST based?
GUST is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does GUST make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Gust Launch Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are mission Control Subscription.
Who are GUST's main competitors?
LegalZoom is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Pulley, AngelList Venture, Carta, Doola, Clerky, Stripe Atlas and Firstbase. Wefunder is listed as an others. Cooley GO is listed as an emerging player.
Does GUST have an API?
Yes. Gust Terms of Service references APIs as part of the platform: 'This includes any and all of the Content thereon and services provided by Gust on or in conjunction with websites wholly owned by Gust, including but not limited to, application program interfaces ("api's"), storage, email, professional services, and collaboration services.' The terms also mention Zapier integration: 'Link to your existing tools - Connect to Gust via Zapier to receive updates in your other apps.' No public API documentation URL or developer portal is explicitly listed in the source content.
What industry is GUST in?
GUST's product category is Startup Formation & Equity Management Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAAAB, Investment Management Advisory (RIA). Its NAICS code is 54151 and its SIC code is 8742.