Upvest Company Profile

Background

Overview

Upvest, founded in 2017 by CEO Martin Kassing, is a Berlin-based fintech company specializing in providing investment infrastructure through its Investment API. The company aims to make investing as accessible as spending money by enabling businesses to offer a wide range of investment products seamlessly integrated into their platforms.

Mission and Vision

Upvest's mission is to democratize investment opportunities by simplifying the process for businesses to offer investment products to their customers. The company's vision is to become the leading provider of investment infrastructure in Europe, empowering financial institutions to deliver innovative and user-friendly investment experiences.

Primary Area of Focus

Upvest focuses on developing and providing a comprehensive Investment API that allows businesses to integrate investment products such as stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds into their platforms. This enables companies to offer tailored investment solutions to their customers without the need to build complex infrastructure in-house.

Industry Significance

In the rapidly evolving fintech landscape, Upvest plays a crucial role by bridging the gap between traditional financial institutions and the growing demand for digital investment solutions. By offering a scalable and modular API, Upvest facilitates the expansion of investment services across Europe, contributing to the broader adoption of digital wealth management.

Key Strategic Focus

Core Objectives

Expansion of Investment Offerings: Enhancing the range of investment products available through the API, including fractional shares, ETFs, and mutual funds.

International Growth: Extending services beyond Germany to other European markets, with recent expansions into the UK.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring adherence to financial regulations across different jurisdictions to build trust with partners and end-users.

Specific Areas of Specialization

Investment Infrastructure: Providing a robust API that supports various investment products and services.

Embedded Finance: Enabling businesses to integrate investment capabilities directly into their platforms, enhancing user engagement and retention.

Key Technologies Utilized

API Development: Crafting scalable and secure APIs that facilitate seamless integration of investment products.

Cloud Computing: Leveraging cloud infrastructure to ensure reliability and scalability of services.

Data Security: Implementing advanced security protocols to protect sensitive financial data.

Primary Markets or Conditions Targeted

Fintech Companies: Partnering with neobanks, robo-advisors, and other fintech firms to enhance their investment offerings.

Traditional Financial Institutions: Assisting banks and asset managers in modernizing their investment services to meet digital demands.

Financials and Funding

Funding History

Series A Extension (May 2021): Secured an additional €4 million from ABN AMRO Ventures to accelerate growth and product development.

Series B (June 2022): Raised $42 million, led by Bessemer Venture Partners, with participation from Earlybird and ABN AMRO Ventures.

Series C (December 2024): Closed a €100 million funding round led by Hedosophia, with participation from Sapphire Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and BlackRock, doubling the company's valuation.

Total Funds Raised

As of December 2024, Upvest has raised a total of approximately €146 million across its funding rounds.

Notable Investors

Bessemer Venture Partners: A leading global venture capital firm.

BlackRock: The world's largest asset manager.

Earlybird: A European venture capital firm.

Sapphire Ventures: A global venture capital firm.

ABN AMRO Ventures: The corporate venture capital arm of ABN AMRO Bank.

Intended Utilization of Capital

The funds raised are intended to:

Enhance Product Offering: Develop and expand the range of investment products available through the API.

Support International Expansion: Facilitate entry into new European markets, including the UK.

Strengthen Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to financial regulations across different jurisdictions.

Pipeline Development

Key Pipeline Candidates

Fractional Shares: Enabling users to invest in portions of high-priced stocks, making investing more accessible.

ETFs and Mutual Funds: Expanding the range of investment products to include diverse asset classes.

Cryptocurrencies: Integrating digital assets into the investment platform to meet growing demand.

Stages of Development

Product Development: Ongoing enhancement of the Investment API to support new asset classes and features.

Regulatory Approval: Securing necessary licenses and approvals in target markets, including the recent authorization from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority.

Target Conditions

Retail Investors: Providing accessible investment options for individual investors.

Institutional Clients: Offering scalable investment solutions for banks, asset managers, and other financial institutions.

Relevant Timelines

2025: Expected launch of fractional shares and expanded ETF offerings.

2026: Planned integration of cryptocurrency investment options.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Proprietary Technologies

Investment API: A modular and scalable API that enables businesses to integrate investment products seamlessly.

Cloud Infrastructure: Utilizing cloud services to ensure scalability and reliability of the platform.

Significant Scientific Methods

Data Security Protocols: Implementing advanced encryption and security measures to protect user data.

API Integration Frameworks: Developing standardized frameworks to facilitate easy integration with client systems.

Leadership Team

Key Executives

Martin Kassing: CEO & Co-Founder. A tech entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in fintech and capital markets, previously involved in private equity and fintech ventures.

Tobias Auferoth: Managing Director & Co-Founder. Formerly co-founded Savedo and has experience in investment banking at Goldman Sachs and UBS.

Dr. Til Rochow: Chief Product Officer, Managing Director & Co-Founder. Led investment and pension products at Raisin and has over 15 years in financial services, including a tenure at McKinsey.

Symmie Swil: UK General Manager.

Rebekah Fox: Chief People Officer.

Jonathan Brander: Chief Operating Officer.

Julian Lange: Chief Financial Officer.

Prina Patel: General Counsel.

Sebastien Jeanquier: Chief Strategy Officer.

Dang Ngo: Managing Director, Upvest Securities.

Roberto Fajardo: Senior Vice President, Engineering.

Leadership Changes

As of October 2025, there have been no publicly disclosed significant changes or appointments within Upvest's leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The European fintech market is experiencing rapid growth, with increasing demand for digital investment solutions. The global wealth tech solution market is expected to reach a value of $137 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 14.1%.

Competitor Analysis

Alpaca: Offers commission-free trading APIs for developers and businesses to build investment applications.

Apex Clearing: Provides clearing and custody solutions for fintech companies, enabling them to offer investment services.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

BlackRock: In October 2023, Upvest partnered with BlackRock to enhance investment accessibility for European investors.

Broadridge Financial Solutions: In February 2025, Upvest extended its strategic global agreement with Broadridge.

upvest