Europe’s retail investing landscape is hampered by steep fees, clunky platforms, and hurdles that keep ordinary people from investing in stocks, ETFs, or bonds. Trade Republic cuts through all that with a straightforward mobile app that lets users trade commission-free, execute trades in one tap, and build wealth without the hassle, now serving over 10 million customers and managing €150 billion in assets.
The latest €1.2 billion secondary share deal, supported by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, Sequoia, Fidelity, Wellington, and GIC, boosts the company’s valuation to €12.5 billion, roughly double its previous €5 billion valuation, all without fresh primary funding.
Giving free access to financial markets
In 2015, Christian Hecker teamed up with Thomas Pischke and Marco Cancellieri to launch Trade Republic, originally called Neon Trading, from a Munich startup incubator. The end goal is to give millions fast, simple, safe, and free access to financial markets, with a broader vision of becoming Europe’s top digital investing hub.
At its core, Trade Republic runs on a custom-built tech engine for lightning-quick trades through direct execution and smart rebates, delivering profits for two consecutive years without commissions.
Standout features include 1% cash interest, built-in debit cards, checking accounts, and a no-frills app design, setting it apart from Robinhood, eToro, and Scalable Capital.
What’s next?
Trade Republic is opening bank branches in Spain, France, Italy, and Poland, unlocking private markets, adding more options in bonds and derivatives, and lining up fresh income sources to avoid rules such as PFOF crackdowns.
