Trakinvest

TrakInvest's journey began in 2013, the brainchild of Bobby Bhatia, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in private equity and investment banking at giants like JP Morgan and AIG. Having witnessed firsthand the information asymmetry that often disadvantaged retail investors compared to institutional players, Bhatia was determined to level the playing field. He envisioned a platform that could demystify stock trading and empower individuals to make informed investment decisions. Thus, TrakInvest was born, initially conceived as the world's first social virtual investment trading platform for equities – a space where virtual stock market trading could meet the interactive nature of Facebook and Twitter, all gamified to enhance learning.

The core philosophy was built around a "learn-share-earn" model. Users were provided with virtual currency to trade in real-world stock market conditions, allowing them to hone their skills without actual financial risk. The platform integrated high-quality research and news feeds, partnering with entities like Reuters to provide users with institutional-grade information. A key innovation was the social component: users could follow and learn from successful traders, creating a community for sharing insights and strategies. TrakInvest also focused on talent identification, conducting competitions that offered cash prizes and, significantly, internships at leading financial institutions, effectively bridging the gap between virtual trading proficiency and real-world career opportunities. Over the years, TrakInvest expanded its reach, establishing operations in India, Thailand, and Hong Kong, in addition to its Singapore headquarters. The platform grew to a community of over 100,000 users, with a significant number of active daily participants. Recognizing the transformative potential of blockchain technology, TrakInvest later moved to a blockchain-based platform and launched its own cryptocurrency, TRAK tokens, aiming to create a decentralized ecosystem for equity trading and further enhance transparency and data monetization for its users. The company also ventured into creating physical academies and job-linked micro-certifications, solidifying its commitment to education and skill development in the financial and technological domains.