Communication is a critical function for Investment Teams of all shapes and sizes. Everybody knows the typical internal fights to go Exchange or Gmail, right? Often that decision determines which Chat your team uses, too. The M365 and Google Workspace bundles are simply super attractive.

But let's have a closer look at different groupware vendors. It both includes the known household names like Google, Microsoft, Zoom and Webex. But also Players from the consumer Space like Discord, WhatsApp and Telegram. And a few lesser known names such as Teamwire, Element or the quirky Workadventure. Jump to the end of the article for out StackGenius conclusion.

There are even more tools out there. Let us know, which ones you use and why you like them!

Google Chat (by Workspace)

StackGenius Notes:

• go-to choice for many VCs, specifically in bundle with the entire Workspace stack
• often PEs or banks live in a Microsoft world, thus MS Teams is their go-to
• Google slightly behind on Video quality and features aswell as phone dial-ins

Features:

• Voice Calls: Integrated with Google Meet.
• Video Calls: Integrated with Google Meet.
• Screen Sharing: Available through Google Meet.
• Additional Features: Integration with Google Workspace, file sharing.
• Security: Data encryption, compliance with various standards.

Pros:

• Seamless Google Workspace integration.
• Easy to use.

Cons:

• Limited advanced features compared to other tools.
• Requires Google Workspace subscription for full functionality.

‍

Teams (by Microsoft)

StackGenius Notes:

• bundled and integrated with M365
• features generally on par with Slack and Google
• some users like Slack better for Search and External Users and Google for Sheets/Docs integration

Features:

• Voice Calls: Integrated VoIP and traditional phone systems.
• Video Calls: HD video with various layout options.
• Screen Sharing: Easy sharing of screens and applications.
• Additional Features: Integration with Office 365, collaboration tools.
• Security: Data encryption, advanced threat protection, compliance with various standards.

Pros:

• Seamless Office 365 integration.
• Robust collaboration features.
• Strong security and compliance.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve for new users.
• Requires Microsoft 365 subscription for full functionality.

‍

Slack (by Salesforce)

StackGenius Notes:

• was "first mover" and is well liked for good Search and External Users
• users like the UX if channels and threads
• generally Teams and Google offer on-par performance with small deviations

Features:

• Voice Calls: Built-in voice calling.
• Video Calls: Supports video calls, including group calls.
• Screen Sharing: Allows sharing screens during calls.
• Additional Features: Channels, file sharing, integration with Salesforce and numerous third-party apps.
• Security: Data encryption, compliance with enterprise security standards.

Pros:

• Highly effective for team collaboration.
• Extensive app integrations.
• User-friendly interface.

Cons:

• Video call quality can be inconsistent.
• Can get cluttered with large teams.

‍

Zoom

StackGenius Notes:

• well, you have been hiding under a rock, if you haven't used it a few times ; )
• most users feel it wins at video quality and phone dial-in quality
• it has launched tons of new features but still hasn't won over stand-alone chat and document collaboration from most teams

Features:

• Voice Calls: High-quality VoIP.
• Video Calls: HD video with large participant capacity.
• Screen Sharing: Easy screen sharing with annotation tools.
• Additional Features: Virtual backgrounds, breakout rooms, meeting recordings.
• Security: End-to-end encryption, robust security features.

Pros:

• High-quality video and audio.
• Scalable for small to large meetings.

Cons:

• Can be expensive for large teams.
• Some users report "Zoom fatigue."

‍

Webex

StackGenius Notes:

• the innovator before Zoom came out
• integrates well with Telepresence conferencing solutions
• less wide featureset and document integration compared to Workspaces and Teams

Features:

• Voice Calls: High-quality audio with VoIP.
• Video Calls: HD video with customizable layouts.
• Screen Sharing: Easy screen sharing.
• Additional Features: Breakout sessions, meeting recording, robust integrations.
• Security: End-to-end encryption, advanced security features.

Pros:

• Strong security features.
• Reliable for large organizations.

Cons:

• Complex interface for new users.
• More expensive than some alternatives.

‍

ClickUp

StackGenius Notes:

• features wide range of prodictivity tools (e.g. time tracking, tasks, etc.) - bit of an "Asana feel" to it
• has no built-in video / screenshare though
• can be integarted with pureplays such as Zoom

Features:

• Voice Calls: Not built-in.
• Video Calls: Not built-in.
• Screen Sharing: Available through integrations.
• Additional Features: Task management, docs, goals, time tracking.
• Security: Data encryption, compliance with enterprise security standards.

Pros:

• Excellent for task and project management.
• Comprehensive feature set for productivity.

Cons:

• Lacks built-in voice/video call features.
• Requires integration for full communication capabilities.

‍

Teamwire

StackGenius Notes:

• self hosting and managed
• made in EU for public and healthcare sector

Features:

• Voice Calls: Encrypted voice calls.
• Video Calls: Encrypted video calls.
• Screen Sharing: Available.
• Additional Features: Messaging, file sharing, enterprise focus.
• Security: End-to-end encryption, compliance with various standards.

Pros:

• Strong security and privacy.
• Designed for enterprise use.

Cons:

• Less well-known, smaller user base.
• Limited third-party integrations.

‍

Discord

StackGenius Notes:

• can be self-hosted and is easy to use with external teams
• Web3 investors like it because their PortCos often use it
• younger PortCos often like Discord or Telegram

Features:

• Voice Calls: High-quality voice channels.
• Video Calls: Supports video calls and streaming.
• Screen Sharing: Easy screen sharing in calls.
• Additional Features: Channels, roles, extensive customization options.
• Security: Data encryption, but originally designed for gaming communities.

Pros:

• High-quality voice and video.
• Extensive customization.
• Free to use with optional premium features.

Cons:

• Less enterprise-focused.
• Limited integration with professional tools.

‍

Telegram

StackGenius Notes:

• consumer app that was "first mover" with chat encryption
• by founder of russian "Facebook" called VK
• mobile-first but features desktop application

Features:

• Voice Calls: High-quality voice calls.
• Video Calls: Supports video calls.
• Screen Sharing: Available during video calls.
• Additional Features: Channels, bots, large file sharing, secret chats.
• Security: End-to-end encryption in secret chats, MTProto encryption for regular chats.

Pros:

• Highly secure communication.
• Free with extensive features.
• Large file sharing capability.

Cons:

• Not specifically designed for enterprise use.
• Limited integration with professional tools.

‍

WhatsApp (by Meta)

StackGenius Notes:

• "everybody" in the Western world knows the phone apps, but they also have a desktop version
• is strong in cross platform communication and virtually everybody already has an account
• much less feature depth for business users and collaboration but on par with Telegram

Features:

• Voice Calls: High-quality voice calls.
• Video Calls: Supports video calls.
• Screen Sharing: Available.
• Additional Features: Messaging, file sharing, status updates.
• Security: End-to-end encryption for all communications.

Pros:

• Easy to use and widely adopted.
• Secure end-to-end encryption.
• Free to use.

Cons:

• Limited to smaller group sizes.
• Less suitable for professional and enterprise environments.

‍

Element

StackGenius Notes:

• made in the UK for the public sector (customers e.g. Navy NATO, German Armed Forces)
• from the makers of the Matrix communication platform

Features:

• Voice Calls: Encrypted voice calls.
• Video Calls: Encrypted video calls.
• Screen Sharing: Available.
• Additional Features: Decentralized, open-source, extensive integrations.
• Security: End-to-end encryption, decentralized servers.

Pros:

• Highly secure and private.
• Open-source and customizable.

Cons:

• Requires technical expertise for setup.
• Smaller user base.

‍

Pexip

StackGenius Notes:

• think "videoconferencing middleware" that connects all protocols
• if you have different legacy systems or want to connect externally a lot, this would be your vendor
• requires technical system integration

Features:

• Voice Calls: High-quality voice calling.
• Video Calls: HD video conferencing with large participant capacity.
• Screen Sharing: Easy screen sharing and collaboration tools.

Pros:

• High-quality video and audio.
• Strong interoperability with other video conferencing platforms.
• Customizable and scalable to meet various business needs.
• Advanced security features and compliance with industry standards.
• Flexible deployment options.

Cons:

• Higher cost compared to some other solutions.
• Can be complex to set up and manage, especially for small businesses.
• Requires technical expertise for optimal customization and deployment.

‍

WorkAdventure

StackGenius Notes:

• think "Zelda 2D" with videoconferencing and screensharing
• fun and enjoyable for special (team) events
• ergonomics / UX not made for everyday use (if you are not a retro gamer at least)

Features:

• Voice Calls: Spatial voice chat.
• Video Calls: Spatial video chat.
• Screen Sharing: Available.
• Additional Features: Virtual office with avatars, customizable spaces.
• Security: Basic encryption, privacy-focused.

Pros:

• Unique virtual office experience.
• Encourages informal interactions.

Cons:

• Novelty may wear off for some users.
• Not suitable for traditional meetings.

‍

StackGenius Conclusion

We would not recommend a client to migrate away from their Microsoft or Google lock-in, unless there is a strong reason. Then often it makes sense to use another solution as complement. For example we have seen many teams that use Zoom on top of Teams or Google for bigger calls with multiple types of phone dial-ins. Or you could use Whatsapp for external communication and another for internal.

Some of the smaller players beat the incumbents in flexibility or performance. But the lock-in factor is just so massive.