As Europe’s financial institutions accelerate their push toward digital investment services, the limitations of legacy infrastructure are becoming increasingly apparent. Outdated systems, fragmented processes, and rising regulatory demands are forcing banks and fintechs to rethink how they build and scale investment products. Berlin based Upvest is positioning itself as a key enabler of this transformation, announcing a $125 million financing round to modernise securities infrastructure across Europe and the United Kingdom.
Major funding to power infrastructure shift
The financing includes a $90 million equity round led by Sapphire Ventures and Tencent, alongside participation from existing investors such as Bessemer Venture Partners and BlackRock. In addition, the company is finalising a $35 million debt facility to further strengthen its capital base.
This combined funding will support Upvest’s mission to replace legacy systems with modern, scalable infrastructure tailored to the needs of banks, brokers, and wealth managers. The investment also signals growing confidence in the demand for infrastructure that can support the next generation of retail investing services.
Building modern investment infrastructure
Founded in 2017, Upvest operates as both a technology provider and a regulated securities institution in Europe and the UK. The company offers API-based infrastructure that enables financial institutions to build and manage investment products more efficiently.
Its platform covers the full lifecycle of securities services, including trading, custody, and back office operations. By providing modular and programmable infrastructure, Upvest allows institutions to integrate investment capabilities directly into their existing products and services.
This approach eliminates the need for complex and costly in house system development, enabling faster deployment and greater flexibility.
Growing demand from banks and fintechs
The demand for modern investment infrastructure has grown significantly as financial institutions expand their retail investment offerings. Consumers increasingly expect seamless digital experiences, while regulatory requirements continue to evolve.
Upvest’s platform is used by a range of clients, including digital banks and fintech companies. These organisations rely on the company’s infrastructure to deliver investment services that are scalable, efficient, and compliant with regulatory standards.
As a result, Upvest has experienced rapid growth. The company now processes more than 100 million client orders annually across over 30 financial institutions. This scale reflects both the increasing adoption of its platform and the broader shift toward digital investment services.
Enabling efficiency and scalability
A key advantage of Upvest’s infrastructure lies in its ability to simplify complex processes. Legacy systems often require multiple integrations and manual interventions, leading to inefficiencies and higher operational costs.
By contrast, Upvest’s API first model enables automation and standardisation across the investment lifecycle. This allows financial institutions to reduce operational overhead while improving reliability and performance.
The platform also supports the management of local tax structures and regulatory requirements, which are critical for operating across multiple European markets. This capability is particularly important as firms seek to expand their offerings internationally.
Advancing AI driven investment services
As part of its next phase of development, Upvest is introducing AI supported investment capabilities. These features are designed to enable more personalised and automated investment experiences for retail users.
Through real time and programmable execution APIs, financial institutions can build services that adapt to user preferences and market conditions. This opens the door to more dynamic and accessible investment products, helping to broaden participation in financial markets.
The integration of AI also reflects a wider trend in the financial industry, where automation and data driven decision making are becoming central to product innovation.
Strengthening position in European fintech
With the new funding, Upvest plans to further enhance its platform and expand its capabilities for banking, wealth, and brokerage clients. The company is also focused on accelerating the deployment of new products, including pension solutions that can be launched more quickly and efficiently.
As the European financial ecosystem continues to evolve, infrastructure providers like Upvest are playing a critical role in enabling innovation. By modernising the underlying systems that power investment services, the company is helping institutions meet growing customer expectations while navigating complex regulatory environments.
With strong backing from global investors and a growing client base, Upvest is positioning itself as a central player in the transformation of Europe’s investment infrastructure landscape.
