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      <p>
        Shares, a UK-based social stock trading platform, has raised USD 40 million in Series A funding led by Valar Ventures (Peter Thiel&rsquo;s fund). The company&rsquo;s total funding following this round stands at USD 50 million.&nbsp;
      </p>
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  </ul>
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      <p>
        The funding announcement also marks the launch of its investing app to the market. The platform already had over 60,000 users on its waitlist.&nbsp;
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
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    <li>
      <p>
        Shares has grown its employee headcount to over 130 and expanded its geographic presence with three new offices in London, Paris, and Krakow.
      </p>
    </li>
  </ul>
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  <p>
    <a href="https://www.fintechfutures.com/2022/03/social-and-investing-app-shares-closes-40m-series-a-funding-round/">
      Fintechfutures
    </a>
  </p>
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Retail Trading Infrastructure

Shares raised USD 40 million in Series A funding

ANALYST_QUICK_TAKE

<div>
 <p>Moneyfarm, a robo-advisory platform, has purchased Willis Owen, an investment services provider, for an undisclosed amount. The expected completion of this acquisition is by early 2025.</p>
 <p>This deal will enable Willis Owen's clients to access a wider range of investment offerings from Moneyfarm, such as managed portfolios and wealth management services. The existing platform services and charges will be unchanged during this transition period.</p>
 <p>Post acquisition, Willis Owen will add its assets under management, worth GBP 680 million (~USD 866 million) to Moneyfarm's portfolio. This will elevate the total AUM of Moneyfarm to more than GBP 5 billion (~USD 6.4 billion).</p>
 <p>Willis Owen is renowned for its user-friendly investment solutions and strong client-focused approach, supported by over 50 years of experience in the field. It is notable for empowering investors with the necessary tools and support for independent portfolio management.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Online trading platform Robinhood <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/31022"> acquired Pluto Capital </a> to enhance platform capabilities (July 2024), <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/30252"> acquired Bitstamp </a> to expand its crypto services globally (June 2024), and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/36495"> announced the acquisition of </a> TradePMR to expand into wealth management (last month). It highlights a trend of platform convergence and service diversification within the retail wealth management space. <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/96533"> Robinhood </a> and <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/companies/79721"> Moneyfarm </a> ’s moves reflect a growing demand for integrated investment offerings catering to independent investors and those seeking professional advice. These acquisitions also emphasize the increasing importance of scale and technological differentiation in capturing broader market segments.</p>

Moneyfarm acquires Willis Owen for undisclosed sum to expand UK investment services

<div>
 <p>An online trading platform, Public.com, has successfully secured a funding of USD 135 million, which includes USD 105 million in equity financing and USD 30 million in debt, under the leadership of Accel.</p>
 <p>They plan on utilizing the funding to enhance their platform by introducing a variety of asset classes and account types. Furthermore, they will also develop AI-powered features that will facilitate investors in creating portfolios and acquiring a better understanding of markets.</p>
 <p>Public.com has revealed that there has been a consistent quarterly growth in its gross profit per user for the past three years. Not only this, but the platform's assets under management have also expanded into billions.</p>
</div>

Public.com raises USD 135 million in Series D2 to expand platform offerings

<div>
 <p>Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) in Japan has revealed its plans to procure WealthNavi, a robo-advisory platform also based in Japan, for a sum of USD 664 million or approximately JPY 99.7 billion. The arrangement entails a tender offer valued at JPY 1,950 or around USD 13 per share, a value which is 84% more than the last closing price of WealthNavi.</p>
 <p>This acquisition compliments MUFG's goal to diversify its digitised services and boost its associations with fintech establishments. MUFG aims to widen its reach in the investment sector of Japan and fortify its offerings in digital financial facilities via this procurement.</p>
 <p>WealthNavi was recorded to have managed in excess of JPY 1 trillion or roughly USD 6,700 in assets as of January of the current year.</p>
 
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
 </b> Last week, Robinhood <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/36495"> announced to acquire </a> TradePMR for USD 300 million in a stock and cash deal. Robinhood planned to enter the USD 7 trillion RIA industry, targeting wealthier investors seeking advisory solutions and catering to its maturing customer base, through this acquisition.</p>

MUFG announces acquiring of WealthNavi to expand digital offerings

<div>
 <p>UK-based robo-advisory platform, Wahed Invest, which offers Shariah-compliant investments, has received a strategic investment from Qatar Development Bank (QDB). The exact amount invested has not been revealed.</p>
 <p>The goal of this investment is to back the Qatar National Vision 2030 and to establish a technologically advanced Islamic finance leader. It aims to provide a financial ecosystem that does not rely on interest income, also known as Riba.</p>
 <p>At present, Wahed Invest manages over $1 billion in assets and has a global client base of more than 400,000 individuals.</p>
</div>

Wahed Invest secures undisclosed investment to support Qatar National Vision 2030

<div>
 <p>Online trading platform, Robinhood, has announced its decision to acquire TradePMR, a custodial and portfolio management platform for registered investment advisors (RIAs). The deal stands at USD 300 million in stock and cash and is set to close in the first half of 2025.</p>
 <p>The acquisition has a strategic focus; Robinhood is planning to venture beyond retail trading, stepping into the USD 7 trillion RIA industry. The platform intends to attract wealthier investors in need of advisory solutions and also to cater to its existing, maturing customer base.</p>
 <p>Already managing a staggering USD 40 billion in assets under its administration, TradePMR offers its services to RIAs. The company prides itself on providing financial advice that is specifically tailored to align with the unique goals and circumstances of its diverse clientele.</p>
</div>

Robinhood to acquire TradePMR for USD 300 million to expand into wealth management

PROMINENT_CATEGORY

<div>
 <p>Robo-advisory platform Betterment has teamed up with Daffy, a charitable giving platform, to facilitate securities-based donations through donor-advised funds (DAFs). This collaboration will enable Betterment's over 900,000 clients to donate appreciated shares from their taxable accounts to more than 1.5 million US charities through Daffy's platform. </p>
 <p>Betterment's strategy involves the automatic selection of low-cost-basis investments in order to boost tax savings. Meanwhile, Daffy will be responsible for managing the funds and facilitating donations via its iOS app or web platform. </p>
 <p>This partnership provides benefits such as tax-free growth of donated funds, flexible contribution options, and accessible giving features. Additionally, it also aids financial advisors in better portfolio management and strengthening of customer relationships through the provision of charitable giving services.</p>
 
</div>

Betterment partners with Daffy to provide charitable donations through donor-advised funds

<div>
 <p>Revolut, a UK-based neobanking platform, has received its UK trading license from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This permits Revolut Trading to function as an authorized investment firm and broaden its product range for over 650,000 UK trading customers. The firm is also planning to introduce UK and EU stocks and ETFs and update its trading platform.</p>
</div> <p><b>Analyst QuickTake:<br>
</b> This July—after a three-year wait—Revolout secured its <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32011"> UK banking </a> <a href="https:<br>
//sp-edge.com/updates/32011"> license </a> from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). These regulatory licenses position the company to offer a wider range of financial services in the UK and set it toward a potential IPO, despite the company not confirming such plans. Following an <a href="https:<br>
//fintechmagazine.com/articles/revolut-hits-us-45bn-valuation-after-share-sale#:<br>
~:<br>
text=Revolut%20Reaches%20US%2445bn,Employee%20Share%20Sale%20%7C%20FinTech%20Magazine"> employee share sale transaction </a> , Revolut was valued at USD 45 billion in August 2024 .</p>

Revolut secures UK trading licence for standalone operations

<div>
 
 <p>AI platform Zeplyn raised 3 million USD in seed funding, with Leo Capital leading the round. Money from Converge and various angel investors also contributed. The funds will be used by the company as it looks to rebuild wealth management from an AI-native perspective.</p>
 <p>The platform's AI Meeting Assistant is designed to help financial advisors save time by automating several different tasks. This automation applies to pre-meeting preparation, note-taking during the meeting, and post-meeting workflows. The system boasts an over 90% reduction in manual work and is compatible with several systems like Salesforce, Redtail, and Wealthbox.</p>
 <p>The platform was founded in 2022 with a mission to provide an AI-powered assistant for financial advisors. Created by ex-Google engineers, it turns disorganized meeting conversations into neat, structured notes. Furthermore, it integrates well with commonly used video conferencing and CRM platforms.</p>
 
</div>

Zeplyn raises USD 3 million in seed funding to streamline advisor workflows

<div>
 
 <p>Moneybox, a UK-based investing and savings platform, has garnered GBP 70 million (~USD 90.5 million) from a secondary funding round headed by Apis Global Growth Fund III and including Amundi. This funding round has raised the company's value to GBP 550 million, reflecting an 84% rise since its Series D valuation in March 2022.</p>
 <p>The funds will be raised via a sale of secondary shares, with present investors offloading around 10%–15% of their existing share capital. This allows the company's 35,000 shareholders, such as crowdfund investors, clients, and staff, to sell off 10% of their shares.</p>
 <p>With over GBP 10 billion in assets under administration (AUA), Moneybox has moved into profitability. The firm reported a 168% surge in revenue and a 46% rise in AUA per client in the previous fiscal year, offering its services to over a million customers throughout the UK.</p>
 
</div>

Moneybox raises GBP 70 million in secondary funding from Apis Growth Fund III

<div>
 <p>Brighty App, a digital banking app based in Switzerland, has launched an AI-powered investment management service. The service, which is available on the App Store and Google Play to users in EU and EEA countries, makes use of custom portfolio offerings and data-driven strategies such as Momentum and Industrial.</p>
 <p>With the use of AI, the service allows for investment in assorted portfolios with a single click of a button. In addition, continuous market analysis and trade rebalancing, driven by AI that analyses millions of data points, is available.</p>
 <p>Brighty App states their AI platform offers advanced strategies, previously available only to quant firms. Reportedly, the customised portfolios year-on-year returns can go up to 21%. A zero-commission fee structure is in place for the platform, with instant deposits and withdrawals.</p>
</div>

All Updates

Shares raised USD 40 million in Series A funding

Moneyfarm acquires Willis Owen for undisclosed sum to expand UK investment services

Public.com raises USD 135 million in Series D2 to expand platform offerings

MUFG announces acquiring of WealthNavi to expand digital offerings

Wahed Invest secures undisclosed investment to support Qatar National Vision 2030

Robinhood to acquire TradePMR for USD 300 million to expand into wealth management

Betterment partners with Daffy to provide charitable donations through donor-advised funds

Revolut secures UK trading licence for standalone operations

Zeplyn raises USD 3 million in seed funding to streamline advisor workflows

Moneybox raises GBP 70 million in secondary funding from Apis Growth Fund III

Brighty App launches automated investment management offering

Retail Trading Infrastructure

Shares raised USD 40 million in Series A funding

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