Rapid Addition
Rapid Addition is a London-headquartered, bootstrapped software vendor founded in 2003 that provides the modular RA Platform — FIX engine, messaging middleware, FPGA accelerator, and adapters — to Tier-1 banks, exchanges, and asset managers for electronic trading workflow deployment and interoperability.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Rapid Addition does
Rapid Addition is a UK-based, privately held provider of electronic trading infrastructure software founded in 2003. The company's flagship offering is the RA Platform, a modular, middleware-based architecture that combines the RA Hub messaging platform, RA FIX Engine, RA Monitor (real-time forensic monitoring), RA FastLane (proprietary FPGA accelerator for sub-microsecond latency), and a portfolio of 30+ pre-built adapters with an Open API for trading venues, messaging middleware, databases, and OMS/EMS systems. The platform is protocol- and asset-class-agnostic, enabling Tier-1 sell-side banks, exchanges, and asset managers to deploy proprietary trading workflows, modernise legacy infrastructure, and achieve interoperability across fragmented trading ecosystems.
The business operates an enterprise field sales model targeting financial institutions globally, monetising through software platform licensing and subscription contracts complemented by professional services (consulting, implementation, performance tuning, custom adapter development, and premium support). Marquee customers include Citi (FX e-trading), LSEG (Autex Trade Route migration to Microsoft Azure), Wedbush Securities, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, and WOOD & Co. The company has offices in London (HQ), Prague, Toronto, and Auckland, and pursues geographic and vertical expansion through partnerships — most recently into institutional digital asset trading via Chainlink and TradingStack.io. Rapid Addition is bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, and is led by Founder and Executive Chairman Kevin Houstoun, CEO Mike Powell, CTO Deepak Dhayatker (ex-Commerzbank), and CFO Colin Gay. Strategic differentiators centre on proprietary FPGA IP (acquired via DET Tech in 2016 with Fraunhofer HHI), deep FIX protocol expertise, and a standards-body leadership position through Houstoun's directorship of FIX Protocol Limited.
Rapid Addition firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rapid Addition
- Legal name
- Rapid Addition Ltd.
- Website
- https://rapidaddition.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rapid Addition is a London-headquartered, bootstrapped software vendor founded in 2003 that provides the modular RA Platform — FIX engine, messaging middleware, FPGA accelerator, and adapters — to Tier-1 banks, exchanges, and asset managers for electronic trading workflow deployment and interoperability.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rapid Addition industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Electronic Trading Infrastructure Software
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (54151)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Multi-Asset Electronic Trading Platforms (FSAFANAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Low-Code/No-Code Application Platforms (HDAEAKAA)
Keywords
Where Rapid Addition is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Rapid Addition business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Platform Licensing and Subscription: Licensing of RA Platform components (RA Hub, RA FIX Engine, RA Monitor, RA FastLane) as enterprise software. Includes standard business hours support in product subscriptions. Flexible deployment options for cloud, on-premise, or hybrid environments.
- Professional Services: Value-added consulting services including requirement scoping, design input, Proof of Concept and MVP, implementation, testing, migration support from legacy solutions, performance tuning, developer support, and new adapter build. May be offered as projects or annual premium service contracts.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Rapid Addition product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rapid Addition develops and licenses the RA Platform, a modular middleware-based electronic trading architecture that enables financial institutions to design, deploy, and integrate electronic trading workflows, FIX connectivity, and interoperability across trading ecosystems. The platform is offered through enterprise software licensing/subscription of its components (RA Hub, RA FIX Engine, RA Monitor, RA Adapters and Open API, and RA FastLane FPGA accelerator), with optional professional services for implementation, migration, and tuning.
Product overview
Rapid Addition offers a platform-plus-modules architecture called the RA Platform, which combines core product components (RA Hub, RA Monitor, RA FIX Engine, RA Adapters and Open API) with an optional add-on module (RA FastLane for FPGA acceleration). The RA Platform provides electronic trading technology that helps financial enterprises design, automate and integrate electronic trading workflows. RA Hub serves as the high-performance messaging platform at the core, RA Monitor provides real-time operational monitoring, the RA FIX Engine handles FIX protocol connectivity, and the Open API with pre-built adapters enables interoperability across trading ecosystems.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RA Platform Modular middleware-based electronic trading architecture platform that combines Rapid Addition's core components (RA Hub, RA Monitor, RA FIX Engine, RA Adapters and Open API, and RA FastLane) to enable financial institutions to design, deploy, and integrate customer-defined electronic trading workflows with FIX connectivity and interoperability across trading ecosystems. Available for cloud, on-premise, or hybrid deployment.
- RA Hub High-performance messaging platform and agile development framework that sits at the heart of the RA Platform. It is message-protocol and asset-class agnostic, providing seamless translation, enrichment, and integration of message flow with the wider trading ecosystem, handling millions of messages per second.
- RA FIX Engine
Quantifiable outcome
- Market Data tick to trade of < 13us at 99.9% of messages
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Rapid Addition
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Rapid Addition technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration25 records
Feature6 records
Rapid Addition partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group)coreLSEG leveraged Rapid Addition technology to modernise global trading connectivity on Microsoft Azure. Landmark migration of Autex Trade Route platform enabling seamless market access globally with improved performance and reduced hardware footprint.
- TradingStack.iocorePartnership to deliver institutional-grade connectivity to global digital asset markets. Combined solution enables banks and financial institutions to access digital asset markets through interoperability between traditional trading infrastructure and digital asset ecosystems.
- Wedbush SecuritiescoreWedbush Securities adopted Rapid Addition's messaging platform for trading infrastructure upgrade. Solution enhanced multi-asset trading and clearing capabilities through cloud transformation.
- JSE (Johannesburg Stock Exchange)coreCollaboration to launch order routing hub for Africa's largest stock exchange. New hub enables improved connectivity and trading capabilities for South African markets.
- Adaptive Financial ConsultingcorePartnership to deliver best-in-class FIX Engine capabilities to capital markets firms. Collaboration combines Adaptive's custom trading technology solutions expertise with Rapid Addition's FIX technology.
- ChainlinkstrategicJoint development of FIX-native blockchain adapter for institutional digital asset trading. Development allows banks and financial institutions to deliver messages and interact with blockchain networks using FIX protocol.
- OverbondminorStrategic alliance bringing interoperability and market connectivity to bond trading automation. Collaboration enables fixed income traders to access precision analytics and extensive market connectivity.
- FIX Trading CommunitystrategicActive participation and leadership in FIX Trading Community. Kevin Houstoun, Executive Chairman, elected as Director of FIX Protocol Limited following membership ballot.
- Microsoft AzurestrategicInfrastructure partnership for cloud deployments. RA Platform certified and optimized for Microsoft Azure enabling global cloud deployments for financial institutions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Rapid Addition competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rapid Addition social profiles
Digital presenceRapid Addition financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rapid Addition leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Rapid Addition funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rapid Addition M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rapid Addition
What does Rapid Addition do?
Rapid Addition develops and licenses the RA Platform, a modular middleware-based electronic trading architecture that enables financial institutions to design, deploy, and integrate electronic trading workflows, FIX connectivity, and interoperability across trading ecosystems. The platform is offered through enterprise software licensing/subscription of its components (RA Hub, RA FIX Engine, RA Monitor, RA Adapters and Open API, and RA FastLane FPGA accelerator), with optional professional services for implementation, migration, and tuning.
Is Rapid Addition a public or private company?
Rapid Addition is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Rapid Addition founded?
Rapid Addition was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rapid Addition based?
Rapid Addition is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Rapid Addition make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Platform Licensing and Subscription is the primary driver. The others are professional Services.
Does Rapid Addition have an API?
Yes. The RA Open API enables organisations to rapidly build new adapters and interoperability solutions, extending connectivity beyond off-the-shelf options. With its flexible and scalable architecture, firms can quickly integrate external systems, streamline workflows, and launch new services with speed and control. The platform also offers a Java API for designing custom workflows and routing rules, and a FIX Protocol API that enables advanced customisation and extended functionality. Developer documentation is at rapidaddition.com/platform/ra-adapters-and-open-api.
What industry is Rapid Addition in?
Rapid Addition's product category is Electronic Trading Infrastructure Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAFANAH, Multi-Asset Electronic Trading Platforms, with a secondary code of HDAEAKAA, Low-Code/No-Code Application Platforms. Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7370.