What Findependent does

Findependent AG is a Swiss fintech founded in June 2019 by Matthias Bryner in Aarau, operating a mobile-first digital investment platform that offers ETF-based wealth management to Swiss retail investors. The company is structured as a FINMA-licensed account-keeping securities house (kontoführendes Wertpapierhaus) since February 2026, enabling it to hold customer accounts and custody assets directly under the supervision of the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. Its core product is a mobile application distributed via the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, offering five pre-built sustainable investment solutions (Vorsichtig, Bedacht, Ausgeglichen, Mutig, Risikofreudig) as well as a custom ETF portfolio builder drawing from approximately 40 ETFs. The app supports digital onboarding in approximately 10 minutes, automated weekly portfolio rebalancing triggered when allocation deviates more than 5% from target, goal-based investing, and children's investment accounts with third-party contributions.

The underlying technology stack is built and operated entirely in Switzerland, using physically replicated ETFs (no synthetic replication) and avoiding currency hedging to minimize costs. An Investment Committee chaired by Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hens (University of Zurich) reviews ETF selections biannually, lending academic rigor to portfolio construction. The platform supports German, French, and English languages and serves a customer base that has grown from 10,000 in April 2024 to 25,000+ by mid-2026, with assets under management expanding from CHF 100 million to over CHF 500 million in the same period.

Findependent monetizes through a combined management and custody fee structure totaling approximately 0.35% annually for standard portfolios, with the first CHF 2,000 managed free for life and reduced rates above CHF 50,000. The company employs a product-led go-to-market motion supported by content marketing, webinars, referral programs, and in-person events, with no physical sales team. Customer segments span investment beginners, experienced self-directed investors, affluent clients (50K+), and parents investing for children. A distinctive feature is the equity ownership structure: following a July 2024 crowdfunding campaign, 1,500 existing customers collectively own 29% of the company. Distribution is exclusively digital through self-serve channels within Switzerland.

Name

Findependent

Legal name

Findependent AG

Website

https://findependent.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Findependent AG is a Swiss FINMA-licensed digital wealth manager that offers a mobile ETF investment app serving 25,000+ Swiss retail investors with low-cost automated portfolios and CHF 500M+ in assets under management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Wealth Management

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Brokerage & Self-Directed Investing Platforms (FSAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Execution-Only / Self-Directed Investing Platforms (FSAAAAAI)

Keywords

• Digital wealth management
• ETF investment platform
• Robo-advisor services
• Retail investment solutions
• Automated portfolio management

Headquarters

HQ city

Lenzburg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management and Custody Fees: Findependent charges a combined management fee (0.09-0.2% annually depending on investment amount) and custody fee (0.2% annually), totaling 0.35% or less for portfolios above 50,000 CHF. Fees are calculated on the average market value of the total investment amount including cash balance, charged quarterly. The first 2,000 CHF is managed free for life (can be increased via referral program).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Findependent operates a Swiss digital ETF investment platform that lets retail investors choose from five pre-built sustainable investment solutions or build custom ETF portfolios (from ~40 ETFs). The platform provides automated investing, weekly portfolio rebalancing, goal-based tracking, and direct asset custody as a FINMA-licensed securities house, with combined management and custody fees of 0.35% or less annually and the first CHF 2,000 managed free for life.

Product overview

Findependent is a Swiss fintech company offering a digital ETF investment app and wealth management platform. The core offering consists of the Findependent App through which users access five pre-built sustainable investment solutions (Vorsichtig, Bedacht, Ausgeglichen, Mutig, Risikofreudig) or build custom portfolios from approximately 40 ETFs. Additional modules include investing for children and an announced pillar 3a retirement savings product (H2 2026). As a FINMA-licensed account-keeping securities firm, Findependent manages customer accounts and custody directly. The company differentiates through low fees, no transaction costs, fee-free investing up to CHF 2,000, and personal customer support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Findependent App A Swiss ETF investment app providing digital wealth management. Users can invest in pre-built sustainable portfolios or custom ETF portfolios, with features including automated investing, rebalancing, and personal customer support. Available on iOS, Android, and web.
• Anlagelösungen (Investment Solutions)

Quantifiable outcome

• Past investment solution returns of 3-6% annually (average over multi-year period, net of all costs)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hens (Uni Zürich)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2023Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hens, Deputy Director of Banking and Finance at University of Zurich and expert in behavioral finance, fintech, and blockchain, serves on Findependent's Investment Committee. He provides strategic guidance on investment decisions and helps review ETF selections biannually. His academic credentials lend scientific credibility to the investment approach.
• iShares/BlackRockminorOthersETF provider for Findependent's investment solutions. iShares is a major global ETF provider. Findependent uses iShares ETFs as part of its core investment products.
• UBSminorOthersETF provider for Findependent's investment solutions. UBS provides ETFs used in Findependent's portfolio allocations.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• True Wealth: True Wealth is Switzerland's largest digital wealth manager, offering automated ETF-based portfolio management with low fees. Directly comparable to Findependent as a Swiss robo-advisor targeting retail investors with similar ETF-based, automated rebalancing proposition.
• Selma Finance: Selma is a Swiss digital investment app offering automated ETF portfolios with a focus on simplicity and low fees. Directly competes with Findependent in the Swiss retail market with similar product positioning and target customer segments.
• VIAC (Pension & Investment Platform): VIAC is a Swiss digital platform focused on Pillar 3a and Pillar BVG retirement savings with low-cost ETF investing. Most relevant peer for Findependent's planned Säule 3a launch — directly comparable retirement-focused Swiss robo offering.

Emerging players

• Pinvest (Piller 3a): Pinvest is a newer Swiss Pillar 3a-focused digital investment platform. Comparable to Findependent's planned retirement offering and a potential competitor for the Säule 3a customer base Findependent is targeting.
• Wealthfront: Wealthfront is a leading US automated investing platform offering low-fee ETF portfolio management with automated rebalancing. Comparable product proposition to Findependent, though operating in a different (US) market and at much larger scale.
• Betterment: Betterment is one of the largest US robo-advisors offering automated ETF portfolios with similar fee structure and rebalancing capabilities. Closest US analog to Findependent's automated digital wealth proposition.
• Moneyfarm: Moneyfarm is a European digital wealth manager offering automated ETF portfolios across UK/Italy. Comparable robo-advisory model to Findependent, operating in adjacent European geographies.
• Scalable Capital: Scalable Capital is a large European digital wealth manager and broker offering automated ETF investing with low fees. Comparable automated ETF investing model, primarily serving German-speaking customers similar to Findependent's Swiss market.

Broad incumbents

• Swissquote: Swissquote is Switzerland's leading online bank with a digital investment platform offering self-directed trading and robo-advisory services. Provides overlapping ETF investing capabilities but as part of a broader banking and trading platform.
• Cornèrcrozer (Cornèr Bank): Cornèr Bank (parent of Neon and other fintech brands) is a Swiss private bank with growing digital banking offerings. Provides broader financial services comparison context as Findependent competes for Swiss retail banking customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmuJmkb6XXqC3wo8Fx7Eheg
• Facebookfacebook.com/app.findependent
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/findependent
• Instagraminstagram.com/findependent.app

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Findependent