SAN MATEO, CA--(Marketwired - May 8, 2014) - Motif Investing, a pioneer in low-cost, ideas-based investing, today announced that it has raised $35 million in funding from JPMorgan Chase & Co., Wicklow Capital, and Balderton Capital. Previous investors Goldman Sachs, Foundation Capital, Ignition Partners, and Norwest Venture Partners also participated in the round. At the same time, the company announced plans for international expansion as well as a roll out of new wealth management services for retail investors and advisors (see separate release for details).
"Our vision is to give individual investors and financial advisors a unique, transparent, low-cost method of portfolio creation," said Hardeep Walia, CEO and co-founder of Motif Investing. "With the financial support of JPMorgan Chase, Balderton, and Goldman Sachs, Motif is well-positioned to strengthen investor confidence and boost participation in public markets globally."
"We are pleased to be an investor in Motif Investing, a company which is driving powerful innovations in the wealth management segment," said Phil Di Iorio, CEO of J.P. Morgan Global Wealth Management.
Capitalizing on the rapid U.S. adoption of the Motif Investing platform, Balderton Capital, a prominent UK fund, will help drive Motif Investing's international expansion. Tim Bunting, general partner of Balderton Capital and Motif Investing board advisor, commented, "There is a huge demand in European markets for more accessible and transparent financial services like Motif Investing, and we are delighted to use our expertise to introduce Motif to an entirely new set of investors and customers, and to help the company scale globally."
Wicklow Capital and JPMorgan Chase will designate board observers. Wicklow Capital is a fund created by Daniel Tierney and Stephen Schuler, co-founders of GETCO and current board members of KCG, a leading market maker in both the securities and commodities markets. Current Motif Investing board members include former Wall Street executive Sallie Krawcheck and former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt.
About Motif Investing
Motif Investing is an online broker that lets you invest in a world of big ideas. The company, based in Silicon Valley, is changing the face of online investing through an innovative, transparent social platform that allows individuals and investment advisors to invest in stock and bond portfolios built around everyday ideas and broad economic trends -- and even create brand-new motifs from scratch. Motif Investing is a registered broker-dealer and a member of SIPC. The company's investors include Balderton Capital, Foundation Capital, Goldman Sachs, Ignition Partners, JPMorgan Chase, Norwest Venture Partners, and Wicklow Capital. Board members include former SEC Chairman Arthur Levitt and former Wall Street executive Sallie Krawcheck. Learn more at https://www.motifinvesting.com.
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