Fintech Apps
Acorns
Roundup purchases and invest your change
Father and son duo Jeff and Walter Cruttenden founded Acorns in Newport Beach in February 2012. With the algorithmic help of Nobel Laureate economist Dr. Harry Markowitz, Acorns’ smart portfolio provides a simple entry-point for anyone to begin investing.
Money Raised $32M
Largest Round $23M Series C in April 2015 led by Greycroft Ventures
Robinhood
Commission-free stock trading
Built by Stanford roommates Vladimir Tenev and Baiju Bhatt who – after graduation – moved to New York, building trading platforms for the largest financial institutions in the world. After realizing electronic trading firms pay nothing to place trades yet charge investors for each trade, they ventured back to California, aiming to democratize access to the markets. Today, zero-dollar commissions are available for self-directed individual or joint cash brokerage accounts.
Money Raised $66M
Largest Round $50M Series B in May 2015 led by New Enterprise Associates
Robo-Advisors
Wealthfront
Big bank expertise, technology-driven
With nearly $3B in assets under management, Wealthfront is the largest and fastest growing automated investment service. The management team has previous experience at Vanguard, Facebook, eBay, Microsoft, and other Fortune 500 Companies. With such a diversified background, they offer an equally diversified approach. Wealthfront offers the same financial expertise as a big bank, with technology-driven investment management tools, and a price everyone can afford.
Money Raised $129.5M
Largest Round $64M Series D in October 2014 led by Spark Capital
Betterment
Diversified portfolio investing with a twist
Founded by Jonathan Stein and Eli Broverman simply because they couldn’t answer friends and family when asked, “How should I invest my money?” Since launching in 2010, Betterment has raked in 9 figures of venture capital and earned a valuation of $700M. Every dollar invested in Betterment is seamlessly invested in up to 12 different asset classes, optimized for each user’s selected asset allocation.
Money Raised $205M
Largest Round $100M Series E in March 2015 led by Kinnevik
