Quick Start: Your First Data Room in 5 Minutes
Create a Peony data room, upload files, and share a secure link in under five minutes.
Last updated April 13, 2026
Sign up, drag files into a new room, toggle the protections you want, send the link. AI auto-indexing finishes in under three minutes while you configure the rest.
1. Sign Up
Go to app.peony.ink and sign in with your work email. Peony uses OTP — no password to remember. Your workspace is created on first sign-in.
The free tier covers creating and sharing a data room. Upgrade to Pro ($20/admin/month) or Business ($40/admin/month) for custom domains, advanced watermarks, unlimited storage, and Advanced Q&A.
2. Create a Data Room
Click New Data Room on the dashboard. Name it something your counterparty will recognize — "Acme Series A" or "Project Falcon Diligence." The name appears in the viewer's browser tab. You can rename later without breaking the link URL.
If your workspace has branding defaults (logo, colors), the new room inherits them. Override per room from Data Room Settings > Branding.
3. Upload Files
Drag and drop files — or a whole folder — into the room. Peony accepts PDFs, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, images, and common video codecs (H.264, MP4). Folder structure is preserved.
AI auto-indexing runs in the background. Keep going — you can configure the link while it indexes.
4. Configure the Link
Click Links in your data room. A default link already exists. Open its settings and toggle on the protections you need:
- Email verification — viewer enters their email before access
- NDA gate — viewer agrees to (or signs) your NDA before files load
- Dynamic watermark — overlays viewer's email and IP on every page
- Screenshot protection — blocks screen captures on desktop browsers
- Downloads disabled — view-only
Typical fundraise stack: email verification + watermark + screenshot protection + downloads off. For live M&A, add an NDA gate.
5. Share the Link
Copy the link and send it — email, Slack, LinkedIn, whatever.
The moment a viewer opens the link, their activity shows up in the Analytics tab — pages read, dwell time, exact file order. Click into any viewer's name to see their full activity timeline, location, device, total view time, and downloads. You can also create a separate link per counterparty (using email access, domain gating, or simple links) to isolate their analytics cleanly.
Common Mistakes
- One link for all investors. Per-viewer analytics still work (click into each name), but separate links make it easier to filter, revoke, and watermark per counterparty.
- Forgetting to toggle protections. The default link is open. Turn on watermark and screenshot protection in link settings.
- Using "Invite Team" when you meant "Invite Viewer". Team invites add paid admin seats. Viewer invites are free. See Invite Your Team.