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Findependent has raised $2.2M across 2 funding rounds.
Key people at Findependent.
Findependent has raised $2.2M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Founded in 2019 by Matthias Bryner and Kay Foerschle, Findependent is a Swiss financial technology startup operating a low-cost investment application focused on exchange-traded funds and automated robo-advisory services. Operating as an independent asset manager with seven employees, the firm manages over CHF 100 million in assets for more than 20,000 retail customers seeking simple ETF investing. The company charges an annual management fee of approximately 0.52 percent and recently secured a FINMA license as a securities firm to provide transparent, fair, and personalized investment solutions. Findependent has raised over CHF 8.5 million in total funding, including a recent CHF 5 million crowdinvesting round, and is backed by prominent investors like Roland Brack. The platform utilizes Hypothekarbank Lenzburg as its banking partner and features academic input from Thorsten Hens on its investment committee alongside Chairman Philipp Marti.
Findependent has raised $2.2M in total across 2 funding rounds.
Findependent's investors include Tobias Reichmuth.
Findependent has raised $2.2M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $2.0M Seed in June 2024.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 1, 2024 | $2M Seed | — | Tobias Reichmuth | Announced |
| Nov 1, 2021 | $160K Seed | — | Tobias Reichmuth | Announced |
Findependent AG is a Swiss fintech company offering simple, affordable ETF-based investment solutions via a user-friendly app, targeting long-term savers including beginners and families. Founded in 2019 and FINMA-authorized, it provides four pre-built portfolios (e.g., 98% stocks) using physically replicating ETFs, plus custom options from ~40 ETFs including ESG and SRI variants, with features like child portfolios and multiple goal-based "pots."[1][2][3][4] It serves retail investors in Switzerland starting from CHF 500, with no fees on the first CHF 2,000, free deposits/payouts, and no minimum term; as of January 2025, it has over 20,000 customers and CHF 220m+ in assets under management (AUM), up from CHF 100m in April 2024.[1][3]
The mission is to democratize investing like digital banks (e.g., Neon) did for banking—simple, digital, transparent, and low-cost—using passive, diversified index strategies without currency hedging to minimize fees.[2][3][5] This positions Findependent as an accessible entry for novices, with strong growth via word-of-mouth and features like transparent ETF disclosures.[1][4]
Findependent was founded in June 2019 by Matthias Bryner, inspired by his experience at digital bank Neon, where he saw demand for user-friendly, affordable financial tools.[1][3] Bryner aimed to replicate that excitement for investing, creating an app for seamless ETF access without complexity.[3][5] Key co-founders and team include Beat Müller (software), Kay Foerschle (marketing), Tobias Hochstrasser (portfolio management), Shari Kalmar (content), Michael Röthlisberger (software), Tobias Katzfuss (operations), and Jordan Frey (customer success), forming a young, dynamic group focused on simplicity for novices.[3][7][8]
The company launched publicly in February 2021 after friends/family and investors like Backbone Ventures provided seed funding; the team retains ~50% ownership.[1][4] Pivotal moments include rapid scaling to 10,000+ clients and CHF 100m AUM by April 2024, a board change with Philipp Marti as Chairman in February 2024, and a June 2024 crowdfunding campaign targeting CHF 2-5m to boost customer loyalty via co-ownership.[3][4]
Findependent rides the fintech democratization wave in Switzerland, simplifying ETF investing amid rising retail interest post-low-rate era, much like Neon/Viac disrupted banking.[3][5] Timing aligns with growing demand for affordable, digital passive strategies as traditional investing remains complex/expensive for small savers.[5] Market forces favoring it include Switzerland's high savings culture, ETF popularity (broad diversification at low cost), and regulatory trust via FINMA authorization.[1][4]
It influences the ecosystem by lowering barriers—e.g., child accounts promote generational wealth-building—and fostering transparency, pressuring incumbents while building a loyal base through co-ownership.[4] As a startup with CHF 220m AUM, it exemplifies fintechs blending app UX with compliant asset management, accelerating passive investing adoption.[1][2]
Findependent's trajectory points to continued AUM growth toward CHF 500m+ by 2027, fueled by crowdfunding success, portfolio expansions, and viral beginner appeal amid volatile markets favoring diversified ETFs.[1][3][4] Trends like ESG demand, AI-driven personalization, and regulatory pushes for retail access will shape it, potentially adding robo-advisory or crypto ETFs while maintaining simplicity.[2]
Its influence may evolve from niche disruptor to mainstream player, empowering more Swiss households toward financial independence—tying back to its core mission of uncomplicated, transparent investing for all.[3][9]
Key people at Findependent.
