TL;DR
Sunhat just raised €9.2M (Series A) to speed up how enterprises turn ESG and compliance data into ready‑to‑send proof. (Source: SunHat Blog)
For Customer Success (CS), this is bigger than sustainability. It’s about closing the “proof gap” so you can answer audits, vendor forms, and security reviews in minutes, not weeks.
Faster proof = faster deals, smoother renewals, and higher trust.
The Signal: Funding That Targets A Real Enterprise Pain
Most teams don’t struggle to do the work. They struggle to prove they did it.
Policies, certifications, audit trails, and ESG facts live across SharePoint, tickets, emails, and point tools. When a security questionnaire or supplier assessment arrives, the hunt begins.
That lag is the proof gap: the time between knowing internally and proving externally.
Sunhat’s raise is aimed at shrinking that gap with an AI engine (“Proof AI”) that maps requirements (ISO, CSRD, CDP, etc.) to verified, current evidence.
Think “time‑to‑proof” as a new speed metric. The company already supports users in 20+ countries and is expanding integrations across enterprise, ESG, and finance platforms.
If you can deliver instant, verifiable proof, you win deals faster, avoid renewal risk, and build trust at exec level.
Why This Matters For Customer Success (And Your Number)
CS owns trust in the messy middle where promises meet reality.
The biggest blockers I see in renewals and expansions aren’t product features; they’re proof bottlenecks:
Security + Compliance reviews stall signatures because evidence is scattered.
Supplier and ESG questionnaires steal weeks from CSMs and SMEs.
Renewal justifications lack clean, auditable proof tied to outcomes.
When you shorten time‑to‑proof, you:
Protect Revenue: You keep deals moving by answering risk questions fast.
Scale Responsibly: You avoid one‑off heroics that burn your team.
Elevate CS: You show up as a control point for governance, not just “relationship owners.”
If you’re building your operating system for renewals, I break this down in a practical playbook on defending renewals without discounts, including coverage math and rollout plans, read it here: Defend Renewals Without Discounts: The CS OS
From “Find The Doc” To “Send The Proof”
Here’s how modern CS teams can operationalize this shift:
1. Make Time‑To‑Proof A Core KPI
Track the clock from request received to evidence sent.
Trend it by customer tier and by request type (security, ESG, infosec, data processing, accessibility). Then publish it in QBRs.
If you need a structure for that conversation, see The Ultimate QBR Playbook: 42% Upsell Tactics from Gong & Snowflake (search QBR Frameworks: Turn Updates into Strategic Growth on The Customer Success Café) for templates to turn data into an executive‑ready story.
2. Build A Proof Library (Not Just A KB)
A knowledge base gives answers; a proof library gives verifiable evidence: signed policies, SOC 2 reports, ISO certificates, DPIAs, audit logs, recert schedules.
Keep versions, owners, and expiry dates visible.
My guide to fixing “invisible” customer tech issues shows how to systematize discovery and documentation across teams. See the Customer Success Templates hub on The Customer Success Café.
3. Automate Intake And Routing
Stand up a single front door for audits and questionnaires (e.g., form + Slack workflow).
Auto‑route by request type, attach the right proof pack, and set SLA by risk level.
We’ve covered how elite teams cut inbound noise by 80–90% with AI and Slack. Check out AI Customer Success: Cut Requests 90% With Slack Tools on The Customer Success Café for step‑by‑step patterns.
4. Add Guardrails Early
Security and privacy requirements aren’t “later problems.”
They’re now table stakes for automation and AI in CS. For a good model of enterprise guardrails (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA/GDPR, consent, data residency), see my breakdown in Governance Is Now a CS Metric—Own It or Lose Renewals on The Customer Success Café.
Use that as your checklist when packaging proofs.
5. Pilot “Proof Packs” In 30 Days
Pick three accounts with upcoming renewals or a live RFP.
Assemble role‑based proof packs (Security, ESG, Accessibility) with owners and expiry alerts. Measure:
Time‑to‑proof (baseline vs. pilot)
Cycle time impact (days pulled in)
Stakeholder satisfaction (short post‑mortem form)
Then fold the packs into your CS OS: playbooks, SLAs, and your QBR rhythm.
What Sunhat’s “Proof AI” Delivers (And How CS Can Exploit It)
Sunhat’s engine learns what counts as valid evidence and auto‑maps it to requests across ISO, CSRD/CDP, and ESG ratings.
For CS and RevOps, that means:
Less Swivel‑Chair Work: Agents can pull verified documents from source systems without manual hunting.
Fewer Expired Artifacts: Owners get alerts before certifications lapse.
Faster Executive Approvals: Pre‑formatted, ready‑to‑send responses cut legal back‑and‑forth.
Use this momentum to formalize proof velocity as a leadership metric in your team scorecard. For career leverage, I also share proven tactics to signal mastery of AI + compliance in interviews. Check Crush AI‑Powered CSM Interviews: 22 Proven Tactics (2025)
What You Can Do This Week
Calculate your baseline time‑to‑proof on the last 10 requests.
Create a shared Proof Library with owners and expiry dates.
Stand up a Slack/Email intake with auto‑routing and SLAs.
Package three Proof Packs and test with one renewal + one RFP.
Show it off in your next QBR and tie it to cycle time and risk reduction.
If you’re serious about proactive risk and early‑warning signals, pair this with my QUIET method for silent churn detection (see Silent Churn Detection: The QUIET Method For CS) so proof work fuels retention, not just compliance.
What This Means For The Industry
GRC spend is growing fast, and the winners will turn compliance into a commercial advantage. CS teams who prove fast will:
Remove the #1 blocker to signatures in regulated accounts.
Earn a stronger seat in deal strategy.
Reclaim time for value delivery instead of document hunting.
Want the full operating system to do this without headcount bloat?
Start with my early‑stage CS OS (search Defend Renewals Without Discounts: The CS OS) and layer in proof velocity as a core pillar.
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—Hakan | Founder, The Customer Success Café Weekly Newsletter