Nextmarkets

Nextmarkets operates as a commission-free online broker, offering a platform for trading stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. The company was founded in Cologne, Germany, in 2014 by brothers Manuel and Dominic Heyden. Manuel Heyden, serving as CEO, brings a wealth of experience from the financial sector, having previously founded the social trading platform ayondo in 2009, which he successfully took public on the Singapore Stock Exchange. This prior entrepreneurial journey in the fintech space provided a strong foundation for establishing a brokerage firm focused on educating and empowering retail investors. Dominic Heyden, the co-founder, also shares a background in building and scaling technology ventures.

The core of Nextmarkets' business model is to provide a user-friendly trading application that eliminates brokerage fees for transactions in over 7,000 stocks and 1,000 ETFs. Revenue is generated primarily through a payment-for-order-flow model, where the company receives compensation from exchange partners for directing trades to them, and through spreads on cryptocurrency transactions. This structure allows them to offer a zero-commission service to their clients, who are typically retail investors looking for an accessible and affordable way to engage with the financial markets.

A key differentiator for the Nextmarkets platform is its integration of what it calls "curated investing." This feature provides users with in-depth market analysis from a team of more than a dozen professional coaches. These experts, with backgrounds at major financial institutions, provide up to 200 real-time analyses per month across various asset classes, which users can follow and implement directly within their own portfolios. This educational component aims to bridge the knowledge gap for less experienced traders, moving beyond a simple execution-only platform to a more guided investment experience.

The company has achieved several significant milestones, including securing a Maltese banking license, which allows it to operate across Europe. It has also raised substantial capital to fuel its growth. A notable funding event was the Series B round in late 2020, which raised $30 million and was led by Christian Angermayer's Apeiron Investment Group, with participation from DEWB and Alan Howard. This capital has been instrumental in expanding its product offerings and European footprint. Initially headquartered in Cologne, the company later established its headquarters in Malta.

Keywords: online brokerage, commission-free trading, fintech, retail investing, stock trading, ETF investing, curated investing, financial analysis, payment for order flow, wealthtech