London-based investment platform Lightyear has secured $23M (nearly €19.55M) in Series B funding led by NordicNinja, bringing its total funding to $58M (nearly €49.30M).
The round also saw participation from existing investors Lightspeed Venture Partners, Metaplanet and Skaala, alongside newcomers Superangel, SpecialistVC, and Bolt founder Markus Villig.
Other investors included Sir Richard Branson, Wise’s Taavet Hinrikus, Bolt’s Markus Villig and early Monzo backer and HM Treasury Special Envoy for Fintech Eileen Burbidge MBE.
Founded by ex-Wise executives Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer in 2021, Lightyear will use the funding to expand across every European country, starting with Denmark, Sweden, and Bulgaria.
The funding will also support Lightyear’s mission to serve all 750 million Europeans, building on its current presence across 25 countries in 10 languages. The company simultaneously announced reaching $1.0B (€849.87M) in customer assets and unveiled three new AI-powered market intelligence tools.
The platform has achieved explosive growth following recent launches, including business accounts in 18 countries, fractional European shares, and local tax wrapper products.
AI-powered tools democratise market intelligence
Lightyear’s new AI suite addresses the challenge of accessing high-quality market analysis traditionally locked behind expensive subscriptions.
The ‘Why Did It Move’ feature allows users to tap any point on historical charts to understand price movements, whilst ‘Bulls Say, Bears Say’ analyses hundreds of trusted sources to present balanced investment cases. ‘Lightning Updates’ delivers personalised, bite-sized market updates contextualised to individual portfolios and watchlists.
From Wise to wealth management
Co-founders Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer bring extensive fintech experience from their time at payments unicorn Wise (formerly TransferWise). The duo identified Europe’s fragmented investment landscape as ripe for disruption, with retail participation significantly lagging behind US markets despite a population of 750 million potential investors.
“This Series B round is a huge vote of confidence in the untapped potential of investing in Europe and Lightyear’s ability to make the difference,” says Martin Sokk, co-founder & CEO. “Europe is still a society of savers with completely independent tax systems, different regulations and complicated infrastructure – it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all solution.”
Nordic expansion accelerates European ambitions
Lead investor NordicNinja, the largest Japanese-backed VC in Europe with backing from JBIC, Honda, and Panasonic, brings strategic value beyond capital.
The firm’s portfolio includes mobility unicorn Bolt and micromobility leader Voi, reflecting its focus on digital society transformation. Lightyear’s expansion into Nordic markets aligns with NordicNinja’s regional expertise and network.
“Martin & Mihkel have an unparalleled vision for how AI will shape the future of retail investing in Europe, and we couldn’t wait to join in on that,” says Rainer Sternfeld, Partner at NordicNinja.
Lightyear operates under dual regulatory frameworks through Estonian Financial Supervision Authority authorisation across EU/EEA markets and UK Financial Conduct Authority regulation domestically.
