Trusted advisors need trusted models.
The modeling solution for high-stakes consulting and financial services.
River equips analysts to deliver verifiable, high-quality models with exceptional speed. All in Excel.
All River features are available from within Excel, allowing to stay in a well-known environment.
Build model visually using the model map, allowing to validate the logic with experts or clients.
All model data is available in the Excel interface for exploration, validation or visualization.
Configure components easily, without formulas and without errors.
Automated data quality checks detect data issues before they even become a problem.
Analysts are have a critical role in modeling, yet they’re held back by the tools they have
Advisors use data-driven models to help their clients make critical decisions.
Business analysts build these models and strive for excellence.
However models are still built from scratch in Excel every time.
The risks of building models in Excel are underestimated.
Excel is too versatile for critical models
One of the most used software tools in the world, Excel turned 40 in 2025. It can do everything short of making coffee. But its versatility is also the source of huge risks.
Models typically have a huge number of formulas
Complex models used in consulting and financial services typically have at least 25,000 formulas.
Errors are unavoidable
Each formula requires careful check. Even so, it's impossible to reduce the chance of error to less than 10%.
Validation is an illusion
Fully explaining a complex model to a colleague is impossible, so most models are never fully validated.
What is your biggest headache when building Excel models?
Results of qualitative LinkedIn survey, June 2025, N=37
We believe models should be easy to build, explainable and reliable
Centered on the business professional
Many domains have their specialized modeling software, but not corporate decision-making. How many times have we collectively recreated a valuation model or a project ROI model?
A business-oriented approach is needed to program our models using a more concise and efficient language.
Transparency at the core
The logic of a sophisticated model is highly non-linear, with many branches that split and merge.
This needs to be represented visually with information that can be understood fast. Formulas do not offer that type of transparency, so this requires an innovative approach.
Errors minimized at the source
Typical errors in data processing have been known for decades. A formula not properly dragged to the bottom of the column, duplicate records in a table joined using VLOOKUP, all these have led to catastrophic consequences.
We believe the software should prevent these errors or at least warn the user if they're at risk.
Designed by former McKinsey consultants
Based on decades of observing the same problems, we've built River to help business analysts, modeling experts and consultants have a more satisfying modeling experience and elevate the quality level in the profession.
How does River work?
River focuses on making building models efficient, transparent and safe.
Visually explainable models
The model is built as a visual map, for the analyst to easily validate the logic with their manager or an expert.
Hierarchical structure is added to further improve comprehension.
Each component is a mid-level abstraction, making the model easily readable.
Error prevention and detection
Each component is easy to configure and prevents analysts from making mistakes.
In addition, data quality checks are automatically enabled and warn of current issues.
An audit report can be generated to review all model risks.
Integrated in Excel
All features are accessed from Excel, and the model is saved with the data in the Excel workbook itself.
Model data can be freely explored and visualized using Excel's standard features.
This helps analysts go up the learning curve and become professional modelers.
Watch the overview video
The result:
Trusted models built fast.
River reduces errors, increases productivity and modeling ROI, and improves analyst experience sharply.
+50%
Modeling productivity
25-1000x
Less errors
How to start using River?
River is fully contained in an Excel Add-In, making installation easy
1
Get a licence
See the products page for our plans.
2
Install the Excel Add-In
Download the installer and follow the instructions.
3
Start modeling
Open Excel and start building models right there!
4
Share your models
River models are saved inside your Excel workbook, so you can share them with your colleagues the way you want.
Frequently asked questions
Of course! It is strongly encouraged. River models are saved inside the Excel workbook together with the data it uses, making sharing very easy.
You currently need a license to be able to view the model in a workbook, but we're designing a "viewer" version that will allow people without a license to open the model in read-only mode.
If you just want to keep the model for reference, no need to do anything. When your current River license expires, you will always be able to open the Excel workbook and see the input and output data of your model. With the "viewer" version of River, you will also be able to see all the modeling logic and its parameters.
If you want to recreate your model using plain Excel (or another tool), you can use it as a guide during your rebuild.
We come from the consulting industry, where protection of client data is a top priority.
Therefore we designed River so that it runs entirely on your computer, and no data from your workbook is ever leaving.
The only data that River can send is application usage data, to help us build the product. And you can decline this option.
River has been carefully designed to have the smallest possible footprint.
It is packaged in a single Excel Add-In, doesn't send data outside your computer and can be deployed using corporate IT tools.
If you already use think-cell (another popular Add-In), chances are your IT will easily approve it. Otherwise feel free to contact us at info@river-solutions.com.
We currently provide support via via email. Over time we will build our support offering.
Want to know more? Get in touch!
Supported by
Fondation Genevoise pour l'Innovation Technologique
River has been awarded Innovation Initiation Support by FONGIT