Investor & Corporate Due Diligence

Know Who You're Betting On.

Before you fund a founder, hire an executive, or close a deal, know the full picture. Encyphir's investigative due diligence goes far beyond database searches. We deliver verified intelligence on individuals and companies so you can deploy capital and make hiring decisions with confidence.

Who We Work With

Built for Investors, Operators, and Legal Teams

Our due diligence practice serves venture capital and private equity funds, family offices, corporate acquirers, and in-house legal and HR teams who need verified intelligence, not just database printouts.

Venture Capital & Private Equity

Pre-investment founder and key executive investigations. We verify the claims in pitch decks, uncover undisclosed litigation and regulatory history, and surface reputational risk before you deploy capital.

Corporate & Strategic Acquirers

Pre-acquisition due diligence on target company leadership, ownership history, litigation exposure, and undisclosed liabilities. We deliver intelligence your legal team needs to negotiate from a position of strength.

Executive Search & HR

Comprehensive pre-hire investigations for C-suite, board, and other sensitive-role candidates. We go far beyond standard background checks. We conduct live source interviews, credential verification, and deep reputational research.

Family Offices & High-Net-Worth Investors

Discreet investigations on investment managers, business partners, and deal counterparties. Protect your capital with verified, in-depth intelligence before entering significant financial relationships.

What We Look For

The Full Picture, Not Just What's in a Database

Standard background check vendors search public records. We go further. We conduct live interviews, source development, and deep research to surface the information that doesn't appear in automated reports.

Identity & Credential Verification

We verify education, professional licenses, employment history, and claimed accomplishments directly with issuing institutions to catch résumé fraud and inflated credentials before they become costly mistakes.

Litigation & Regulatory History

Comprehensive civil, criminal, and regulatory record searches across all relevant jurisdictions, including county court records, federal filings, SEC and FINRA actions, and licensing board disciplinary history.

Financial & Business Background

Bankruptcy filings, UCC liens, tax judgments, corporate dissolution history, and patterns of financial distress that don't appear in standard credit reports, surfaced through investigative research.

Live Source Interviews

We conduct discreet interviews with former colleagues, supervisors, business partners, and professional references, going beyond the references your subject provides to surface unfiltered professional reputation.

OSINT & Digital Footprint

Open-source intelligence analysis of social media, public statements, news archives, and online presence to identify contradictions, undisclosed affiliations, and reputational concerns.

Corporate Structure & Ownership

Beneficial ownership research, shell company identification, related-party relationships, and conflicts of interest. Critical for fund managers and acquirers evaluating complex deal structures.

Our Process

Intelligence You Can Act On

Every due diligence engagement is scoped to your timeline, risk tolerance, and specific questions. We don't deliver generic reports. We answer the questions that matter most to your decision.

1. Scope & Brief

We align on your subject, key questions, required jurisdictions, and timeline. Most engagements are scoped in a single call.

2. Investigation

Our investigators conduct records research, source interviews, and OSINT analysis, working quickly without alerting your subject.

3. Verification

All findings are verified before inclusion. We distinguish between confirmed facts, unverified allegations, and areas requiring further review.

4. Delivery

You receive a detailed written report with sourced findings, risk ratings, and our investigative assessment, delivered securely.

Why Encyphir

Investigative Depth. Institutional Standards.

Our team brings law enforcement investigative training and corporate intelligence experience to every engagement. We apply the same rigor to a founder background check as we would to a major fraud investigation.

Beyond the Database

We use proprietary law enforcement databases, live source interviews, and investigative tradecraft, not the same consumer reporting agencies available to anyone with a credit card.

FCRA-Compliant Reporting

For employment-related investigations, our reports meet Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements. We advise on permissible purpose and proper adverse action procedures so your process stays compliant.

Clear, Actionable Deliverables

Our reports are written for decision-makers, not filed in a folder. Findings are organized by risk category, sourced, and accompanied by our professional assessment.

Confidential & Discreet

All investigations are conducted without alerting the subject. We operate under strict confidentiality and sign NDAs upon request. Your competitive advantage stays yours.

Service Areas

Due Diligence Across the U.S.

We conduct due diligence engagements nationwide, deploying investigators in any U.S. jurisdiction with the same rigorous standards and chain-of-custody documentation on every engagement.

California

Due diligence investigations serving the Bay Area's venture ecosystem, Los Angeles's entertainment and private equity market, San Diego's biotech sector, and Sacramento's government contractor community.

Florida

Due diligence investigations serving Miami's international investment and real estate market, Tampa's finance and healthcare sector, and Fort Lauderdale's marine and logistics industries.

From Our Blog

Due Diligence Resources

Third-Party Due Diligence: A Complete Guide

How to Choose a Background Check Company

Online Reputation Management: What It Is and Why Businesses Should Care

Vendor Due Diligence: A Step-by-Step Guide

Pre-Acquisition Due Diligence: What Buyers Need to Know

Investment Due Diligence: How to Evaluate Fund Managers

Reputational Risk: Definition, Examples, and How to Manage It

Sanctions Screening and PEP Checks: A Compliance Guide

Supply Chain Risk Management: Protecting Your Business

Executive Background Screening: What to Look For

Compliance Risk Assessment: How to Build a Framework

How to Run a Background Check: An Employer's Guide

Frequently asked questions

What is investigative due diligence and how is it different from a background check?

Standard background check vendors search public records and databases. Investigative due diligence goes further with live source interviews, credential verification directly with issuing institutions, open-source intelligence analysis, and corporate ownership research. The result is verified intelligence rather than a database printout.

How do investors run a background check on a startup founder?

Pre-investment founder investigations verify the claims in pitch decks, uncover undisclosed litigation and regulatory history, and surface reputational risk before capital is deployed. Findings are verified before inclusion, organized by risk category, and delivered with our investigative assessment.

Can a due diligence investigation be done without the subject finding out?

Yes. All investigations are conducted discreetly without alerting the subject, under strict confidentiality, and we sign NDAs upon request. Your interest in the subject stays private.

What does executive pre-hire due diligence include?

For C-suite, board, and other sensitive-role candidates we conduct live source interviews, credential and license verification, litigation and regulatory record searches, and deep reputational research. For employment-related investigations, our reports meet Fair Credit Reporting Act requirements, and we advise on permissible purpose and proper adverse action procedures.

Do you conduct due diligence investigations nationwide?

Yes. Encyphir is licensed in California and Florida and works with licensed investigators in all 50 states and every U.S. county, so we can deploy in any U.S. jurisdiction. Every engagement follows the same rigorous standards and chain-of-custody documentation, and you can call or text us 24/7 at (888) 965-5150.

Don't Close Until You Know.

Schedule a confidential consultation with a senior investigator. We'll scope your engagement, give you a clear timeline and cost, and get to work immediately.