# Connect your own domain

> Put your fund portal on an address such as apply.yourfund.com. Add two DNS records, follow the checks, then choose where founders land.

Source: https://delsivo.com/help/portal-and-branding/connect-a-custom-domain · Updated 2026-11-06

## Key takeaways

- An Admin adds the domain in Settings, Domains, under Your own domain, then adds two DNS records where the domain is managed.
- The TXT record proves your fund owns the domain. Nothing is connected until Delsivo sees it.
- Delsivo checks every 5 minutes, issues the certificate and marks the domain Live, usually within an hour of the records being in place.
- A live domain isn't used in founder links until you choose it under Where founders land. Your delsivo.app address keeps working and sends founders there.
- Custom domains are part of some plans. Without one, the card shows an upgrade prompt.

You can run your portal on your fund's own domain, for example **apply.yourfund.com**, instead of **yourfund.delsivo.app**. You add the domain, copy two DNS records to wherever your domain is managed, and Delsivo checks them, issues the certificate and switches your portal over. Your delsivo.app address keeps working and sends founders to the new one.

## Before you start

- **Your plan must include custom domains.** If it doesn't, the **Your own domain** card shows **Your plan doesn't include a custom domain** with **See plans**. See [plans and billing](/help/billing/plans-and-billing).
- **You need to be an Admin.** Partners, Analysts and Committee members can see the domains but not change them.
- **You need access to your domain's DNS**, or someone who has it (often whoever looks after your website or email). You'll add records at your DNS host, such as your domain registrar or a DNS service.
- **Pick a subdomain if you can.** An address such as **apply.yourfund.com** or **portal.yourfund.vc** needs a CNAME record, which every DNS host supports. A bare domain such as **yourfund-apply.com** needs an A record instead.

Most plans include 2 custom domains: one to use and one spare, for example while you move from one address to another.

## Add the domain

1. Click **Settings** in the sidebar, then **Domains** under **Portal**.
2. In the **Your own domain** card, click **Add a custom domain**.
3. Type the address, for example `apply.yourfund.com`. You can paste a full link: `https://` and anything after the domain are removed.
4. Click **Add and show records**.

The domain appears in the list as **Waiting for DNS**, and its details open in a side panel.

## Add the DNS records

The side panel shows a step tracker (**Add the domain**, **Prove ownership**, **Point to Delsivo**, **Certificate**, **Live**) and the records to add. Each record has **Copy** buttons for its name and value.

| Record | Name (most DNS hosts) | Value | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| **TXT** | `_delsivo.apply` | `tr-verify=` followed by a code for your fund | Proves your fund controls the domain |
| **CNAME** (for a subdomain) | `apply` | The value shown in the panel | Points the domain at Delsivo |
| **A** (for a bare domain) | `@` | The value shown in the panel | Points the domain at Delsivo |

Copy the values from the panel rather than from this page: they're specific to your domain.

Tips:

- **Short or full name.** Most DNS hosts add your domain to the name for you, so you type `_delsivo.apply`. If yours asks for the full name, use the one shown underneath (`_delsivo.apply.yourfund.com`).
- **No proxy.** If your DNS host can proxy traffic (some show an orange cloud), turn it off for these records.
- **One more TXT record, sometimes.** If the domain was used with our hosting provider in another account, the panel shows a third record, **Asked for by our hosting provider**. Add it too.
- **Time.** DNS changes usually show within minutes, but some DNS hosts take a few hours.

## Follow the checks

Delsivo checks every 5 minutes. To check straight away, click **Check now** in the side panel. The list and the panel refresh on their own while a domain is being set up.

| Status | Step | What's happening |
|---|---|---|
| **Waiting for DNS** | Prove ownership | We haven't seen the TXT record yet. Two separate DNS services must both see it |
| **Checking routing** | Point to Delsivo | Ownership confirmed. We're waiting for the CNAME or A record to point at Delsivo |
| **Issuing certificate** | Certificate | Routing confirmed. The certificate is being issued and we check that your portal answers on the domain |
| **Live** | Live | Your portal answers on the domain |
| **Couldn't verify** | The step it was on | The records didn't appear within 72 hours. Fix them, then click **Retry** |
| **Needs attention** | Live | The domain was live, but its records changed. See below |

The panel shows the last message from the checks under the step tracker, for example **The TXT record that proves ownership isn't visible yet.** or **The routing record doesn't point at Delsivo yet.**

## Choose where founders land

A live domain doesn't change any links until you choose it. When at least one domain is live, a **Where founders land** card appears under **Your own domain**:

1. Select the address founders should use.
2. Confirm with **Make primary**.

From then on, links in emails to founders use that address, and your other addresses (your delsivo.app address and any other domain) send founders to it, keeping the rest of the link. A toast offers **Undo** for a few seconds. You can also click **Make primary** in a live domain's side panel.

The **Portal address** card at the top of the page then shows your own domain, with a note that your delsivo.app address sends founders there.

## If a live domain stops working

Delsivo checks every live domain once a day. If the TXT record is removed or the domain stops pointing at Delsivo:

1. The domain stays live for up to 3 days while we keep checking, and the panel says what's wrong.
2. After 3 days in a row it shows **Needs attention**. Founder links and emails switch to your delsivo.app address straight away, and the Delsivo team is alerted.
3. Fix the records. The next daily check (or **Check now**) brings the domain back to **Live** and it becomes the primary address again.
4. If it stays broken for 14 more days, Delsivo disconnects it. Add it again once the DNS is fixed.

This protects founders if a domain lapses and someone else registers it: we stop sending founders there. See [custom domain security](/help/privacy-and-security/custom-domain-security).

## Remove a domain

Open the domain's side panel, click **Remove**, then **Remove domain**. Delsivo disconnects it first, then removes it. If it was the primary address, founder links go back to your delsivo.app address. Links already sent with the removed domain stop working, so remove a primary domain only once founders have moved over. You can delete the DNS records afterwards.

## Messages you might see

| Message | What to do |
|---|---|
| **That isn't a domain name. Enter an address such as apply.yourfund.com, without https:// or a path.** | Check for typos and extra characters |
| **That address belongs to Delsivo. Use a domain your fund owns.** | Use your fund's own domain. Your delsivo.app address is changed in the **Portal address** card |
| **Wildcard domains aren't supported.** | Enter one address |
| **You've already added that domain.** | It's in your list already |
| **That domain is connected to another portal on Delsivo. If it belongs to your fund, contact support.** | Contact support with proof of ownership |
| **That domain can't be used on Delsivo. Contact support if it is yours.** | Contact support |
| **Your plan includes 2 custom domains. Remove one first, or ask Delsivo for more.** | Remove a domain you no longer need, or contact support |
| **Your plan doesn't include a custom domain.** | An Admin can upgrade in **Settings → Billing** |
| **The TXT record is visible to one DNS resolver but not the other yet.** | Wait a little: your change is still spreading |
| **Only a live domain can be the primary address.** | Wait until the domain shows **Live** |

## Frequently asked questions

### Does my delsivo.app address stop working?
No. It keeps working and sends founders to your primary address, keeping the rest of the link.

### Do founders have to sign in again?
Founders sign in per address. Someone who opens the portal on the new address for the first time is asked to sign in once; if they're still signed in to their Delsivo account, **Continue with Delsivo** brings them straight back.

### Can I use the domain of my main website?
Use a subdomain of it, such as apply.yourfund.com. Pointing your main website's address at Delsivo would replace your website.

### Can we send emails from our own domain too?
Not yet. Emails to founders come from Delsivo's sending address with your fund's name, and replies go to the address you set.

### Who can see the DNS records?
Everyone on your team can open the side panel. The TXT value isn't secret: it's published in your DNS. It only works for your fund and this domain.