The world of investment banking isn’t what it used to be — closed rooms, heavy suits, and handshakes. The new generation of fintechs is rewriting how deals are sourced, valuations are built, and capital flows move across borders.
From AI-driven advisory to blockchain-powered equity issuance, these startups aren’t just digitizing banking — they’re reprogramming the financial fabric itself. The last few years have seen billions pour into firms that promise faster deal-making, transparent risk management, and automation-first investment operations.
Here are 10 investment banking startups in 2025 leading this global reinvention — from New York to London, Dubai to Mumbai.
1. Dealogic (UK/USA) — “Where capital markets meet data intelligence”
What they do: A digital platform that connects investment banks, investors, and corporates, streamlining origination, execution, and analytics.
Founder(s): Tom Fleming, Simon Trewin.
Funding & investors: Originally backed by Carlyle Group; continues to attract institutional investment as it expands into data-as-a-service for banks.
Why they stand out: Combines deep financial analytics with deal pipeline automation used by 90% of top-tier investment banks globally.
Next moves: Scaling its AI analytics engine for real-time market intelligence and expanding its coverage into private markets.
2. Arta Finance (USA/Global) — “The digital family office for everyone”
What they do: Founded by ex-Googlers, Arta offers AI-powered wealth and investment management for affluent professionals, effectively democratizing what private banks do.
Founder(s): Caesar Sengupta (former VP at Google).
Funding & investors: Raised $90M+ in 2023, backed by Sequoia Capital India, Ribbit Capital, Coatue, and global angels.
Why they stand out: Merges quant-style investing, private deals, and institutional-grade analytics into a consumer-first platform.
Next moves: Expansion into Asia and Middle East markets, launching institutional-grade alternative investment access for mass affluent investors.
3. iCapital (USA) — “Private markets for the masses”
What they do: A platform connecting wealth managers and advisors to private equity, hedge funds, and alternative investments — digitizing a traditionally manual segment.
Founder(s): Lawrence Calcano.
Funding & investors: Backed by BlackRock, Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, and Temasek; raised over $800M to date.
Why they stand out: Serves as the bridge between institutional capital and private client wealth platforms.
Next moves: Deepen integration with private banks, automate reporting, and expand global alternative fund access.
4. InvestCloud (USA/UK) — “Digital core for private banking”
What they do: Cloud-based wealth management and digital engagement platform used by private banks, asset managers, and advisors globally.
Founder(s): John Wise, Yaela Shamberg, and Cheryl Nash.
Funding & investors: Backed by Motive Partners, Clearlake Capital, and JMI Equity; valued over $1B.
Why they stand out: The platform powers digital transformation for traditional investment banks, enabling faster onboarding, reporting, and digital advisory.
Next moves: Launch modular AI tools for compliance, client onboarding, and digital product structuring.
5. Addem Capital (UAE/Europe) — “Investment banking meets blockchain”
What they do: A digital investment bank that tokenizes equity and debt instruments for private placements, allowing global investors to access curated deal flows.
Founder(s): Omar Haddad and Leila Khoury.
Funding & investors: Secured $45M in Series A funding from Gulf Ventures and Mubadala-linked funds.
Why they stand out: Among the first regulated hybrid investment banking firms combining asset tokenization with traditional underwriting.
Next moves: Expansion into Europe and Asia with a focus on digital securities and private debt markets.
6. PrimaryBid (UK) — “Retail meets institutional investing”
What they do: Enables retail investors to participate in IPOs, placements, and secondary offerings alongside institutional investors.
Founder(s): Anand Sambasivan and James Deal.
Funding & investors: Raised $190M+ from SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Molten Ventures, and ABN AMRO Ventures.
Why they stand out: Democratizes access to equity raises that were once reserved for large funds.
Next moves: Expanding listings across Europe, and soon into Asia-Pacific markets with bank partnerships.
7. Valocity (India/NZ) — “Digital valuations for mortgage & lending markets”
What they do: AI-powered valuation and risk intelligence platform used by major banks and investment firms to assess property and asset-backed securities faster.
Founder(s): Carmen Vicelich.
Funding & investors: Series B round backed by ANZ Bank and private investors; strong footprint across India, Australia, and NZ.
Why they stand out: Bridges valuation data, regulatory compliance, and financial modeling through one API.
Next moves: Expand into UAE and Singapore for institutional valuation and ESG-linked lending analytics.
8. Raistone (USA) — “Supply chain finance goes institutional”
What they do: A fintech-backed investment banking platform connecting institutional investors with working capital assets (invoices, payables, etc.).
Founder(s): Dave Skirzenski (CEO).
Funding & investors: Jointly funded by Greyrock Partners, Arena Investors, and Equitable Holdings.
Why they stand out: Converts trade receivables into investable asset classes for institutional portfolios.
Next moves: Build secondary market for trade-finance assets and expand in Europe and LATAM.
9. 10X Banking (UK) — “Core banking reinvented for investment institutions”
What they do: Cloud-native core banking platform built by a former Barclays CEO, designed for investment and private banks.
Founder(s): Antony Jenkins (former CEO of Barclays).
Funding & investors: Raised $187M from BlackRock, JP Morgan Chase, and Accel.
Why they stand out: Provides flexible architecture to launch new investment banking products and manage complex regulatory workflows.
Next moves: Rolling out next-gen modules for securities processing, risk analytics, and sustainable finance.
10. Tifin (USA/India) — “AI meets wealth intelligence”
What they do: AI-driven investment intelligence platform that personalizes portfolio management, risk analytics, and distribution for banks and advisors.
Founder(s): Dr. Vinay Nair.
Funding & investors: Raised $204M from JP Morgan Asset Management, Hamilton Lane, and Motive Partners.
Why they stand out: One of the few platforms blending asset management distribution and banking intelligence.
Next moves: Scaling into APAC, adding real-time investor behavior tracking for bank-led portfolio products.
How These Firms Are Shifting the Banking Model
- Automation first: AI-led risk modeling and client advisory reduce deal cycle times.
- Access equality: Platforms like PrimaryBid and Arta make IPOs and private markets accessible to smaller investors.
- Tokenization: Addem and Valocity are bridging traditional securities with blockchain for faster settlements.
- Client experience: Digital-first UX is replacing outdated relationship banking models.
- Hybrid value chains: Modern firms mix traditional capital structuring with embedded fintech capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Every wave of finance reform starts with technology. These ten firms are not just digitizing the deal room — they’re rewriting who gets invited in.
When investment banking platforms evolve, the gap isn’t capital — it’s narrative and execution. Founders are often deep in regulation, risk, or AI, but their go-to-market clarity is missing. That’s where teams like McArrows fit in — helping firms build growth messaging, product positioning, and digital narratives that translate complex products into market confidence.
If your firm is raising capital, expanding to new markets, or launching new investment tools, we help align the storytelling, go-to-market architecture, and partnership flow — so investors and institutions see exactly why your platform matters.
