Excel vs the App | ValueBridge App

The ValueBridge App is not a black box. Every model can be replicated in Excel. Subscriptions include a content library with 80+ templates for different private equity scenarios, with concise video instruction, step-by-step examples, and error-checking tools — plus documentation of all math and methods. The App brings speed and scale when Excel models become too difficult to maintain (past about a dozen companies).

Video introduction

Guide highlights

The problem of scalability

Many analysts start value bridges intending to roll up a portfolio. They often give up around a dozen companies because Excel models get complicated and hard to update — especially with multi-event deals, quarterly market refreshes, and portfolio roll-ups.

We love Excel — and the content library

Subscriptions include the ValueBridge.net content library: 80+ Excel templates for different private equity scenarios, with concise video instruction, step-by-step examples, and error-checking tools — plus documentation of all math and methods. They can reproduce the App’s results to the penny. The App is not a black box.

Limiting inputs to maintain quality

All Excel templates in the content library are driven by limited inputs — the only the highlighted numbers should change when you create a company or update a quarterly valuation. The App uses the same principle: at quarter-end, just update the latest Platform FMV transaction record (date plus a short set of capital-structure and P&L fields) and you’re done.

Portfolio roll-ups for simple scenarios

Because inputs are minimal, they transpose. A portfolio-style Excel module can hold one row of inputs per deal and one row of value drivers per deal, with the sum as the portfolio bridge — workable until deals get multi-event.

Multi-event complexity in Excel

Most private equity deals are not entry-and-exit only. A full Excel tab may need support investments, add-ons, asset purchases, sales, dividend recaps, quarterly market refreshes, and a separate IRR path for value creation IRRs — often one heavy tab per deal before aggregation is possible.

Scaling with the ValueBridge App

The App builds return and value creation calculations around portfolio company transaction records. All transactions are listed on the portfolio company dashboard, and an unlimited transactions can be added to each deal. This is a unique feature that drives both usability and scalability.

Each transaction record stands on its own, without reference to other activities. Tips provide instructions and examples to help ensure that they are created properly. Once saved, they rarely change. Except for FMV records that are updated with quarterly valuations or converted to a platform sale record upon exit, transactions can be recorded and forgotten.

The transaction records instantly build the consolidated entry and exit metrics that drive portfolio company value bridges. When deals are linked to market datasets, transaction dates automatically find the entry and exit multiples and addressable market growth rates used to calculate market vs manager-driven returns.

Since all transactions are dated, they are used to calculate IRRs and fund-level management fee, preferred return, and carried interest estimates.

Ultimately, it is this transaction-structured approach that enables automatic gross and net return and value creation calculations, and instant roll-ups across funds, managers, and limited partner investment portfolios.

Export and verify

Right-click charts to copy or save a PNG. Download value creation tables to build your own Excel charts. Open the matching content-library Excel template anytime to verify offline and save down copies that may be needed for limited partner due diligence sessions or regulatory compliance purposes.