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§ Private Profile · Friesenstr. 50, 50670, Köln, Germany
nextmarkets is a technology company.
nextmarkets operates an online trading platform providing private investors with sophisticated tools and expert guidance for capital market engagement. The proprietary platform offers access to a broad selection of Contracts for Difference (CFDs) and enables commission-free equity trading. It features integrated charting, technical indicators, and seamless execution, empowering users with professional capabilities for informed decisions.
Founded in 2014 by brothers Manuel Heyden and Dominic Heyden, the company’s genesis stemmed from a clear insight: private investors frequently lack the comprehensive support and advanced resources necessary for effective financial market participation. Leveraging complementary expertise, the Heydens built a platform addressing this deficiency, providing a more structured and robust investment experience.
Serving individual investors, nextmarkets envisions all private market participants confidently engaging with financial instruments. Its objective is to foster an expert-curated environment, transforming approaches to online trading and investing. It strives to be a premier destination for informed wealth management.
nextmarkets has raised $58.0M across 4 funding rounds.
nextmarkets has raised $58.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
nextmarkets has raised $58.0M across 4 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $11.0M Series U in April 2023.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 1, 2023 | $11M Series U | — | Baird Capital, Endeavor Venture Funds, Presight Capital, What IF Ventures, TIM Kendall | Announced |
| Feb 1, 2021 | $30M Series B | Christian Angermayer | Baird Capital, Endeavor Venture Funds, Presight Capital, What IF Ventures, TIM Kendall, Dewb | Announced |
| Jun 15, 2018 | $7M Series A | — | Alan Howard, Falk Strascheg, Peter Thiel, Axel Springer, Finlab, Samara Asset Group | Announced |
| Jul 1, 2016 | $10M Series A | — | Baird Capital, Endeavor Venture Funds, Presight Capital, What IF Ventures, TIM Kendall | Announced |
# nextmarkets: A FinTech Trading Platform
nextmarkets is a commission-free online brokerage and trading platform that democratizes access to financial markets for retail investors across Europe[1][3]. Rather than functioning as a traditional investment firm, nextmarkets operates as a technology-driven neobroker that combines a trading application with educational resources and market coaching[3]. The platform enables users to trade over 5,000 assets—including stocks, CFDs, forex, and cryptocurrencies—while providing a learning ecosystem designed to support both novice and experienced traders[1].
The company's core mission centers on removing barriers to entry for retail investors through transparent, commission-free trading and an intuitive mobile-first experience[1]. By integrating educational content with execution capabilities, nextmarkets positions itself at the intersection of fintech innovation and investor education, serving European markets including Germany, France, Spain, Belgium, and the United Kingdom[1].
nextmarkets was founded in 2014 by brothers Dom and Manuel Heyden, who brought complementary expertise from careers in finance and technology[1]. The parent company, nextmarkets AG, is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, while its regulated trading subsidiary, nextmarkets Trading Limited, was established in 2016 and is registered in Malta under the Malta Financial Services Authority[1][5].
The platform gained credibility through backing from prominent venture investors, including Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, signaling early validation of the neobroker model[1]. The company has raised over $41 million across multiple funding rounds, with a recent $30 million investment demonstrating sustained investor confidence[3]. Since launch, the platform has processed over 1 million trades annually, indicating meaningful traction in the competitive European fintech space[1].
The platform's limitations—including the absence of third-party integrations like MetaTrader 4 and restricted funding methods—reflect a deliberate focus on simplicity over feature breadth[1].
nextmarkets exemplifies the democratization of retail investing through fintech, riding the wave of mobile-first financial services and the shift toward commission-free trading models popularized by platforms like Robinhood. The company's emphasis on combining execution with education reflects a broader industry recognition that retail investors require guidance alongside access.
The timing has been favorable: European regulatory frameworks (MiFID II) have created compliance standards that protect consumers while enabling innovation, and the post-2020 surge in retail trading participation has expanded the addressable market. By positioning itself as both a trading platform and educational resource, nextmarkets addresses a gap between pure execution venues and traditional advisory services—capturing users who want autonomy but value guidance.
The company's influence extends to competitive pressure on legacy brokers to reduce fees and improve user experience, contributing to the broader fintech-driven transformation of European financial services.
nextmarkets has established itself as a credible player in the European neobroker space, with strong backing, regulatory standing, and a differentiated approach combining trading with education. The company's growth trajectory suggests continued expansion across European markets and potential deepening of its coaching and learning offerings.
Looking ahead, nextmarkets will likely face intensifying competition from larger fintech platforms and traditional brokers entering the commission-free space. Success will depend on whether its educational differentiation and community-building efforts can sustain user loyalty and engagement as the market matures. The expansion into physical share trading and structured products signals ambitions to broaden its product moat beyond CFDs, positioning the firm for sustained relevance in an increasingly crowded market.
nextmarkets has raised $58.0M in total across 4 funding rounds.
nextmarkets's investors include Baird Capital, Endeavor Venture Funds, Presight Capital, What If Ventures, Tim Kendall, Christian Angermayer, DEWB, Alan Howard, Falk Strascheg, Peter Thiel, Axel Springer, FinLab.