Dealtech Glossary
This glossary defines the core virtual data room and dealtech terms in plain language. Each entry leads with a direct definition and links to the use cases and comparisons where the term is operational, so it works both as a reference and as a way into the rest of the documentation.
Glossary entries
- What is a virtual data room? — the foundational definition of a VDR and how AI data rooms differ.
- Virtual data room vs cloud storage — why Dropbox or Google Drive is not a substitute for a data room.
- What is a data room index? — what the index is and how to structure a room.
- Document redaction in due diligence — why redaction matters in disclosure and how AI redaction works.
- Q&A in a data room — the classic VDR Q&A workflow and how AI Q&A changes it.
- Data room readiness and checklist — what a ready room contains, by deal type.
Where to go next
- AI Virtual Data Room — the pillar these terms build toward.
- Comparisons · Use cases — where the glossary terms apply in practice.
DocSend vs Virtual Data Room
DocSend is a document-sharing and pitch-deck tool, not a full data room. It is great for sending a deck and seeing who read it, but due diligence needs the permissions, audit, Q&A, and redaction a virtual data room provides — plus, in an AI data room, an agent workforce inside and MCP-operability from outside.
What Is a Virtual Data Room?
A virtual data room (VDR) is a secure online repository where a company shares confidential documents with controlled access for due diligence, fundraising, or a transaction — with permissions, audit trails, and viewer controls a shared folder lacks.