Lightyear

The story of Lightyear begins with a shared frustration and a powerful idea between two early employees of the fintech giant, Wise. Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer, having been instrumental in building out the product and engineering functions during Wise's rapid growth, were no strangers to the world of finance. As seasoned personal investors, they frequently lamented the state of investment platforms available in Europe. Their discontent wasn't just a casual complaint; it was quantified. A deep dive into their own investment histories revealed a staggering £9,278 paid in hidden fees. This discovery was the catalyst. They saw a clear and immense opportunity to build something better: a transparent, low-fee, and user-friendly investment app designed specifically for the European market. Over three coffees, the vision for Lightyear was born – a platform that would demystify investing and make it accessible to everyone.

From this initial spark, Lightyear embarked on a mission to level the playing field for European investors. The founders recognized that while over 50% of people in the US invest, only a mere 10% do so in Europe. They attributed this disparity to the unnecessary complexity, high costs, and opaque nature of the existing financial systems. Lightyear was conceived to dismantle these barriers. The company's philosophy is rooted in the belief that wealth creation shouldn't be limited to a select few. By combining multi-currency accounts with unlimited access to global markets, they aimed to eliminate the sneaky fees and confusing jargon that intimidate so many potential investors. This vision resonated strongly, attracting support from top-tier institutional investors and prominent business leaders, including Sir Richard Branson. With a world-class team of veterans from Europe's most successful fintechs, Lightyear is not just building an app; they are fostering a community of empowered and successful investors, one transparent transaction at a time.