About Yak
Yak’s mission is to help auditors feel empowered, not overwhelmed.
Awards and Recognition
Accounting Today: 2025 Top New Products
“Yak is another Top Product that reflects both the broadening and the deepening of the marketplace for audit tools. While the developer aims eventually to serve all types of audit and attest services, it currently handles SOC 1 and SOC 2 compliance audits (an area its founder, a credentialed Certified Information Systems Auditor, is thoroughly familiar with), managing them from end to end, and simplifying control mapping, document request collection, review cycles, approvals, client communication.”
Columbia River Pitch: Best Overall and Audience Choice
Yak has been a strong contender in several other pitch competitions.
Founder Story
Shannon Smith lived the auditor life—the long hours, the endless spreadsheets, the manual processes that turn every engagement into a grind. She felt that burden firsthand. She watched talented colleagues walk away from the profession—not because they weren’t great auditors, but because the work was unsustainable.
After years in the audit and compliance industry, she knew something had to change. The inefficiencies, the outdated processes, the lack of automation—it all slowed audits down, costing firms time, money, and morale. Auditors were spending more time wrestling with tools than delivering value.
There had to be a better way.
Shannon collaborated with other audit professionals to design a tool to streamline and automate the audit process. Then she teamed with a team of designers and developers to deliver an intuitive experience, smart automation, and seamless collaboration between auditors and their clients.
This result was Yak, a tool built by auditors for auditors.
Leadership
Shannon Smith
CEO and Founder
Sachin Nigam
CTO
Chetana Bangre
Development Lead
Jennifer Bolton
Marketing Advisor
John Wager
Legal Advisor
Sumana Iyengar
Technical Advisor
Susannah Axelrod
Product Advisor
Nicer Studio
UX Advisor
Why Yak?
Auditing is a journey—one that requires resilience, guidance, and the ability to navigate complex, sometimes treacherous terrain. In the Himalayas, yaks are more than just animals; they are essential partners in exploration. They help sherpas transport heavy loads across rugged landscapes, ensuring climbers reach their destination safely.
Much like a sherpa relies on a yak, auditors help their clients navigate the path to compliance. The process is demanding, filled with obstacles, and requires endurance. Yak embodies this partnership—our platform doesn’t just help auditors carry the load; it ensures that engagements are efficient, smooth, and less burdensome for everyone involved.
But there’s another layer to the name. “Yak shaving” is a term in software and project management that describes seemingly small, tedious tasks that are necessary to reach a larger goal. Anyone who has been in an audit knows how much of the process can feel like yak shaving—chasing down documents, formatting reports, cross-referencing evidence. Yak cuts through that inefficiency, automating and streamlining the work so auditors can focus on what really matters.
And finally, the Pacific Northwest connection. Yaks may be more common in the Himalayas, but their rugged nature is reminiscent of the grit and determination found in the PNW’s outdoor culture—whether it’s climbing Rainier, backpacking through the Cascades, or braving the rain to get things done. Just like a good yak, our platform is built for endurance, helping auditors face any challenge, no matter the terrain.
So why Yak? Audits are an expedition, but auditors don’t have to go alone. Yak helps carry the weight.