Berlin-based NAO, a wealthtech startup, has raised €3.4M in a seed round of funding with the goal of becoming a leading platform for private and alternative investments in Europe.
The investment was led by a Swiss private investor’s family office, with participation from additional family offices, private investors, and existing investor ZEITGEIST X.
Jakob Schreyer of VC ZEITGEIST X Ventures, says, “Alternative investments are the bread and butter of successful investors. NAO’s approach of combining private market investments with the functionality and user experience of leading neo-brokers is a brilliant and overdue idea.”
“I am convinced that NAO, with its ‘digital-first’ approach, will unleash entirely new potential in the generation of ‘financial self-deciders’. The NAO team’s track record to date is truly impressive.”
Schreyer adds, “I am proud to have supported this pioneering work with ZEITGEIST X from the very beginning and look forward to the next milestones.”
Democratising private market investments
Founded in 2022 by Robin Binder, Philipp Nowakowski, and Amel Hasanovic, NAO offers a co-investment platform aimed at democratising access to alternative investments.
Partnering with financial institutions such as Baader Bank, UniCredit, and UBS, NAO provides curated investment opportunities starting at €1,000.
The platform simplifies entry into asset classes like private equity, infrastructure, and hedge funds traditionally reserved for high-net-worth individuals.
NAO’s mission is to enable sustainable and diversified wealth building through a fully digital and accessible investment process.
European expansion
NAO plans to expand its product range and enter additional European markets. Active in Germany since mid-2023 and Austria since August 2024, NAO’s app has attracted several thousand users with an average investment of €10,000.
The company has recently introduced B2B solutions for venture capital investments in collaboration with Chartered Investment. The company aims to further develop its platform and grow its customer base.
NAO founder and CEO, Binder, says, “Everyone should be able to invest in alternative asset classes like private equity as easily as they do in stocks or ETFs. That’s why we’ve created the first broker for private and alternative investments. The trust of our investors is helping us realise our vision.”
“With the fresh capital, we want to attract even more top asset managers as partners, expand our customer base internationally, and use our technology to make a previously illiquid market liquid.”
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