London-Based Lightyear Raises €19.5M In Series B Round

The round saw continued support from Lightspeed Venture Partners, Metaplanet, and Skaala, along with new investors Superangel, SpecialistVC, and Bolt founder Markus Villig.

Notable backers also include Sir Richard Branson, Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus, and Eileen Burbidge MBE, an early Monzo investor and UK fintech envoy.

The goal is to reach all 750 million Europeans, building on its presence in 25 countries and 10 languages. The company also announced it has surpassed $1B (€849.87M) in customer assets and introduced three new AI-powered market insights tools.

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Lightyear’s rapid growth includes launching business accounts in 18 countries, fractional European shares, and local tax wrapper products.

Lightyear has launched a new AI-powered suite to make market analysis more accessible, removing the need for costly subscriptions. The tools include ‘Why Did It Move,’ which lets users tap any point on a stock chart to instantly see what caused the price shift. ‘Bulls Say, Bears Say’ compiles insights from hundreds of reliable sources to show both sides of an investment story. Meanwhile, ‘Lightning Updates’ offers personalised, bite-sized news tailored to each user’s portfolio and watchlist.

Co-founders Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer, both former Wise (TransferWise) executives, bring deep fintech expertise to Lightyear. They saw a major opportunity in Europe’s fragmented investment market, where retail investor participation lags far behind the U.S.—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.”

Lead investor NordicNinja, Europe’s largest Japanese-backed VC supported by JBIC, Honda, and Panasonic, offers more than just funding—it brings strong strategic value.

With past investments in companies like Bolt and Voi NordicNinja focuses on digital innovation and mobility. Its deep ties to the Nordic region make it a valuable partner as Lightyear expands into countries like Denmark and Sweden.

“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 two regulatory frameworks: it is authorised by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority for EU/EEA markets and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority for its operations in the UK.

About Lightyear

Founded in 2021 by former Wise executives Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer, Lightyear plans to use its latest funding to expand across all European countries—starting with Denmark, Sweden, and Bulgaria.