nextmarkets
nextmarkets is a Cologne-based German neobroker founded in 2014 that operates a commission-free online trading platform serving retail traders across European markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersCologne, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What nextmarkets does
nextmarkets is a Cologne-based German neobroker founded in 2014 that operates a commission-free online trading platform serving retail investors across European markets. The company's core product is the nextmarkets Trading Platform, a digital-first brokerage that enables trading of financial instruments, with revenue generated through transaction-based fees including trading commissions, spreads, or subscription-based premium services. The platform targets retail traders and operates in a horizontal customer segment, although specific customer counts, assets under management, and pricing structures are not publicly disclosed.
The company has raised approximately $54.3 million cumulatively across four funding rounds from 2015 through April 2023. Initial capital came from FinLab in 2015, followed by a 2016 round that included Axel Springer and Founders Fund as strategic backers, a $30 million 2021 round led by Samara Asset Group, and a 2023 EUR 10 million recapitalization from Apeiron Investment Group. The 2023 funding followed reported prior shareholder concerns about potential liquidation, indicating the company has navigated material financial strain during its decade-long operating history.
Leadership is held by co-founders Manuel Heyden (CEO) and Dominic Heyden (CTO), supported by Dirk Emmers as Chief Sales Officer. Management stability among founders is a positive continuity signal, though the company operates with a lean headcount of 51–100 employees relative to its funding history and competitive set. Post-2023, the stated strategy centers on international expansion and strategic acquisitions, though specific target markets, deal pipeline, and execution milestones have not been disclosed.
nextmarkets firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- nextmarkets
- Website
- https://nextmarkets.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- nextmarkets is a Cologne-based German neobroker founded in 2014 that operates a commission-free online trading platform serving retail traders across European markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
nextmarkets industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Retail Brokerage
- NAICS
- Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231)
- SIC
- Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Lead Generation, Comparison & Marketplace Platforms (Financial Products) (FSAEAMAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Vertical/Specialty Marketplaces (BPAMAGAB)
Keywords
Where nextmarkets is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cologne
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
nextmarkets business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Brokerage Services: As a neobroker, nextmarkets likely generates revenue through trading commissions, spreads, or subscription-based premium services. The company was pursuing growth and acquisition strategies to expand its revenue base.
Go-to-market motion1 record
nextmarkets product offering
Product offeringCore offering
nextmarkets operates an online brokerage platform that enables retail investors to trade financial instruments digitally. Positioned as Europe's commission-free online broker, the company offers streamlined digital access to brokerage services. The platform is supported by ongoing investment to fund organic growth and international expansion.
Product overview
nextmarkets is a German neobroker offering an online trading platform for financial instruments. The company operates as a single core product focused on brokerage services, with plans to expand internationally and pursue strategic acquisitions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- nextmarkets Trading Platform
Companies that use nextmarkets
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles1 record
nextmarkets technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
nextmarkets partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
nextmarkets competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Robinhood: US-originated commission-free neobroker that has begun expanding into Europe and the UK. Comparable commission-free positioning and retail-investor demographic, though limited European footprint today.
Broad incumbents
- Interactive Brokers: Global incumbent online broker serving retail and institutional clients across Europe. Same brokerage business model but with vastly greater scale, product breadth, and geographic reach.
- flatexDEGIRO: Largest German online broker and parent of DEGIRO, offering full-service brokerage plus B2B services. Provides broader capabilities than nextmarkets but operates in the same European online brokerage category.
- Saxo Bank: Danish-established online broker serving retail and professional investors across Europe. Overlaps with nextmarkets in multi-asset brokerage for European retail clients, but with broader product range and institutional heritage.
Direct peers
- Trade Republic: German-headquartered commission-free neobroker offering trading in stocks, ETFs, derivatives, and savings products. Closest direct competitor to nextmarkets in the European retail neobroker category.
- BUX: European mobile-first neobroker offering commission-free stock and ETF trading across multiple EU markets. Comparable product, customer demographic, and mobile-led GTM motion.
- Scalable Capital: Munich-based neobroker and digital wealth manager offering commission-free trading plus managed portfolios. Directly comparable platform, customer segment, and German-rooted value proposition.
- eToro: Multi-asset social trading platform offering stocks, ETFs, crypto, and CFDs across Europe. Competes with nextmarkets for European retail traders, with overlapping commission-free positioning.
- Lightyear: European neobroker offering multi-currency, commission-free access to US and European stocks and ETFs. Directly comparable commission-free brokerage model targeting European retail investors.
- DEGIRO: Dutch-origin low-cost online broker acquired by flatexDEGIRO, serving European retail investors with multi-asset trading at competitive rates. Same customer base and brokerage business model as nextmarkets.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
nextmarkets financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
nextmarkets leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
nextmarkets funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
nextmarkets M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about nextmarkets
What does nextmarkets do?
nextmarkets operates an online brokerage platform that enables retail investors to trade financial instruments digitally. Positioned as Europe's commission-free online broker, the company offers streamlined digital access to brokerage services. The platform is supported by ongoing investment to fund organic growth and international expansion.
Is nextmarkets a public or private company?
nextmarkets is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was nextmarkets founded?
nextmarkets was founded in 2014. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is nextmarkets based?
nextmarkets is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does nextmarkets make money?
One revenue line is on record: brokerage Services.
Who are nextmarkets's main competitors?
Robinhood is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Interactive Brokers, flatexDEGIRO and Saxo Bank. Direct peers are Trade Republic, BUX, Scalable Capital, eToro, Lightyear and DEGIRO.
Does nextmarkets have an API?
No public API is recorded for nextmarkets.
What industry is nextmarkets in?
nextmarkets's product category is Retail Brokerage. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAMAM, Lead Generation, Comparison & Marketplace Platforms (Financial Products), with a secondary code of BPAMAGAB, Vertical/Specialty Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 5231 and its SIC code is 6211.