UpDraft Quick Start Guide

Covering the basics on how to get started with UpDraft. Refer to the FAQ or Video Tutorials for more information. Book live support time via Office Hours.

Deliverables
What UpDraft Produces

UpDraft is an AI agent for technical accounting and financial reporting. Upload your documents, brief it on the transaction, and it produces memos, workpapers, schedules and disclosures. Or, simply ask UpDraft a research question about guidance or use it to quickly answer questions about a contract. No deliverables required.

Answers

Get fast, citation backed answers to questions about files or accounting guidance. Use UpDraft as a research and intelligence tool for your day -to-day tasks.

Memos

Produce structured document for formal work like technical accounting analyses, policies and disclosures. Exports to Word.

Workpapers & Schedules

Excel spreadsheets. Financial and analytical schedules designed as either a standalone deliverable or support for other deliverables.

Notes

A freeform document for informal analysis, research summaries, or ad hoc documentation needs. Exports to Word.

How It Works
How UpDraft Works in 30 Seconds

Every project is anchored by three core components that work together to produce accurate, citation-backed analysis.

Knowledge Base

Authoritative accounting guidance, always on. The foundation every analysis is built upon.

Project Files

Contracts, financial data, and reference material specific to this engagement.

Key Terms

Facts UpDraft extracts from your files, plus additional information provided by you.

You drive work in two modes — each designed for a distinct phase of the engagement.

Plan Mode

Scope and structure the analysis. UpDraft identifies the right guides, extracts Key Terms from your contracts, and builds a workflow tailored to the transaction. You approve each step.

Agent Mode

Execute the analysis. UpDraft works through the plan, pausing at decision points for your input. Review as it works, push back where needed, iterate until the analysis meets your standards.

getting started
Your First Project, Step by Step

Follow these seven steps to get from zero to an audit-ready deliverable.

1
Create a project and upload your documents

Click "Start new Project" on the home screen and then upload anything relevant. Contracts, exhibits, schedules, amendments, etc.

2
Brief UpDraft like a team member

Describe the assignment to UpDraft like you would a team member. A few sentences of context: the deal, the deliverable, any important details that aren't contained within the provided documents.

3
Plan the project together

Planning takes a few minutes and dramatically improves the final output. UpDraft builds a workflow tailored to the transaction.

4
Execute step by step

Tell UpDraft to get started once the plan is complete and it works through each issue, sharing details in the chat and drafting the analysis.

5
Review and refine

Read the output as it's produced, push back where needed, and iterate until the analysis meets your standards. Ask UpDraft to self-audit it's own work.

6
Export

Download your deliverables. Memos and Notes deliverables export as Word files. Schedules export as Excel files.

Best Practices
Get the Most Out of UpDraft

These practices consistently produce higher-quality, more defensible analysis.

Provide context

Files often don't provide the whole picture. UpDraft will incorporate additional information you provide in the chat into its analysis.

Check citation links

Every claim UpDraft makes links to the source — guide passage or contract clause. Fastest way to verify a conclusion, understand a rule, or read surrounding context.

Provide feedback

Treat UpDraft like a capable team member and give direct feedback. Tell UpDraft it's too wordy or to re-evaluate the guidance criteria if you're not satisfied.

Collaborate

Deliverables are a shared workspace. Edit memos and notes yourself or tell UpDraft to do it. Discuss analysis points or ask questions without impacting deliverable documentation.

Share your best work

Upload a prior memo or spreadsheet. UpDraft studies the structure, formatting, tone, and analytical logic, then mirrors it in what it produces.

Self audit

Tell UpDraft to critically audit its own work to find where positions are weak or you're likely to receive pushback from auditors.

Resources
Where to Go Next

Additional resources are available to help you get progressively more out of the platform. See the links at the top of this page.

FAQ

What UpDraft is, how it works, and the specifics of features, files, and limits.

Video Tutorials

Click-by-click walkthroughs for specific tasks — the fastest way to learn a new feature.


Questions? Reach the team at support@tryupdraft.com