Zocks

Zocks is a vertical AI powerhouse transforming wealth management. Led by Mark Gilbert—an engineering executive with a pedigree from Microsoft, Zip2, and Twilio—Zocks has solved one of the most stubborn problems in finance: the massive administrative burden of the back office.

By the time Zocks reached its Series B, the company was growing at a staggering 7.5x year-over-year. Crucial to this success was Mark’s decision to implement high-rigor operations before the heat of the fundraising trail. By using Mantle to organize their equity early, Zocks ensured that their Series A and Series B rounds were built on a "bulletproof" foundation.

The Challenge: Outrunning the Infrastructure

Mark Gilbert knew from his time at Twilio that high-growth companies often outrun their own internal systems. For Zocks, the risk was high: they were building a sophisticated AI product for a highly regulated industry (Wealth Management), leaving little room for operational "debt."

Before their first major institutional round, Zocks faced the "early-stage dilemma":

• The "Wild West" Spreadsheet: Like many startups, early equity data was fragmented. Mark knew that entering a Series A with an unverified cap table could lead to "expensive mistakes" and diligence delays.

• Forecasting Uncertainty: Without a dedicated tool, it was difficult to accurately model the dilution impact of potential Series A terms or plan for the employee option pool required to attract top AI talent.

• The Scale Gap: Zocks was growing so fast that manual billing and equity tracking were becoming massive distractions from their core mission of building AI for RIAs.

"We were growing very quickly... the Twilio lessons came into play where you realize you need the talent and the systems to hold on and do that. You have to be ready."
- Mark Gilbert, co-founder & CEO of Zocks

The Solution: Building for the Future from Day One

Mark chose Mantle as Zocks' equity "source of truth" well in advance of their funding rounds. This proactive move allowed the team to walk into negotiations with total confidence.

• Diligence Readiness: Because Zocks used Mantle to house all securities and resolutions early, their Series A and Series B diligence processes were seamless. There were no "missing documents" or "math errors" to fix under the pressure of a closing deadline.

• Strategic "What-If" Modeling: Before signing term sheets, Mark used Mantle’s forecasting tools to model various funding scenarios. This allowed the founders to visualize exactly how their ownership would evolve through both the $14M Series A and the $45M Series B.

• Automated Equity Workflows: From issuing grants to new hires across different time zones to managing board approvals, Mantle automated the "paperwork tax," mirroring the efficiency Zocks provides to its own customers.

The Result: A 90-Day Sprint to Series B

By setting up Mantle early, Zocks avoided the operational friction that usually slows down hyper-growth companies.

• Back-to-Back Success: Zocks closed a $14M Series A and a $45M Series B in rapid succession. Having a clean, verified cap table meant investors could move quickly, contributing to their impressive trajectory.

• 7.5x Growth Without the Headache: While the business grew over sevenfold in a single year, the administrative burden of managing equity stayed flat. Mantle scaled with the company, from a handful of founders to a global organization.

• High-Rigor Culture: Implementing Mantle early set a standard for operational excellence that resonated with product-focused investors like Lightspeed.

The Founder's Takeaway: Instruments for the Hurricane

For Mark, Mantle isn't just a record-keeping tool; it's an instrument panel for navigating high-velocity growth.

"We've used Mantle for two fundraises last year. A lot of the forecasting tools and 'what-if' tools were very helpful."