Shares

High-Level Overview

Shares is a French fintech company building investing technology as a neobroker and social investing app, authorized as an Investment Firm and Digital Asset Service Provider.[1] Its mission is to help everyone build better finances through accessible stocks, ETFs, crypto-assets, and wealth management tools, starting with a social investing app and expanding to B2B platforms like Shares Pro for financial advisors.[1]

The company serves retail investors across Europe and businesses in wealth management, solving barriers to investing via user-friendly apps, social features, and white-label solutions; key growth includes $90 million in funding (seed, Series A, Series B) and partnerships like AXA France.[1]

Origin Story

Shares was founded by Benjamin Chemla, Harjas Singh, and Francois Ruty, who launched the company with a $10 million pre-product seed round—one of Europe’s largest—positioning it as a neobroker from day one.[1] The idea emerged to democratize investing through social and tech-driven tools, officially launching amid rapid funding: $40 million Series A for Europe's first social investing app, followed by another $40 million Series B for expansion.[1]

Pivotal moments include securing regulatory approvals in France (ACPR and AMF), appointing Venus and Serena Williams as global ambassadors, launching in France, and entering wealth management with Shares Pro; recognitions like FrenchTech 120 underscore early traction.[1]

Core Differentiators

• Social and Accessible Investing Model: Pioneered Europe’s first social investing app, blending stocks, ETFs, and crypto with community features like “Invest Together” campaigns.[1]
• Regulatory Strength and Product Breadth: Fully authorized for investment services and digital assets, offering end-to-end platforms including white-label Shares Pro for advisors and branded experiences.[1]
• B2B Expansion and Partnerships: Powers platforms for enterprises like AXA France’s employee savings tool, targeting wealth managers with scalable tech.[1]
• High-Profile Branding and Momentum: Backed by celebrity ambassadors (Venus and Serena Williams) and massive funding, enabling rapid European rollout and ecosystem integration.[1]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Shares rides the neobroker and fintech democratization wave, capitalizing on retail investing booms post-pandemic and crypto mainstreaming, with social features echoing Robinhood's U.S. success but tailored for Europe's regulated markets.[1] Timing aligns with rising demand for accessible assets amid economic uncertainty, bolstered by EU regulatory clarity that favors compliant innovators like Shares over pure U.S. players.[1]

It influences the ecosystem by bridging retail and professional tools—e.g., empowering advisors via Shares Pro—while partnerships like AXA amplify B2B adoption, contributing to France's fintech hub status (e.g., FrenchTech 120) and broader European wealth tech growth.[1]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Shares is poised for pan-European dominance in social investing and wealth tech, with next steps likely including more country launches, AI-enhanced features, and deeper B2B penetration beyond France.[1] Trends like embedded finance, regulatory harmonization, and Gen Z's social trading preferences will propel growth, potentially evolving its influence from neobroker to full-stack fintech platform amid sustained funding momentum.[1]

This positions Shares to deliver on its core mission—better finances for all—scaling from retail origins to ecosystem enabler.[1]