What Funded Trading Plus does

Funded Trading Plus (legal entity Acello Ltd, UK; international operating entity IF Pro Ltd, Saint Lucia) is a simulated proprietary trading evaluation platform founded in 2021 as an extension of the earlier Trade Room Plus (2013). It serves retail and semi-professional traders who lack personal capital to scale strategies, offering them access to simulated funded accounts after passing evaluation challenges. The platform supports three core programs: Instant Funding (direct entry, no profit target), 1-Step Express (single 10% profit target), and 2-Step Classic (two 7% phases), with account sizes ranging from $5K to $200K and a scaling pathway up to $5M in simulated capital. Underlying technology is a simulated trading environment powered by MetaTrader 5 (via MetaQuotes), Match Trader, cTrader, and DX Trade, with mirrored CFD liquidity sourced from Eightcap and proprietary evaluation, risk management, and trailing drawdown infrastructure; the proprietary PropIQ data platform analyzes anonymized trading data to inform challenge design and education curriculum.

The business model is fundamentally transactional: traders pay non-refundable challenge fees ranging from $99 (1-Step $10K) to $4,499 (Instant Funding $100K) for evaluation access, then earn performance-based reward splits of 80%–100% on simulated profits paid from the firm's own capital reserves. A self-serve, product-led growth motion is supplemented by an affiliate program (15% commission on challenge referrals, 10% on Instant Funding) and a community-led model anchored by a 50,000+-member Discord. The company runs an Education Hub featuring a free 13-hour masterclass and 1-on-1 mentoring with 35-year veteran Andrew Lockwood, plus crypto payouts via Coinbase and fiat withdrawals. To date, the firm reports 211K+ accounts issued, 60,000+ active traders across 180+ countries, and $19.5M+ in cumulative trader rewards, and is bootstrapped with no disclosed institutional funding.

Primary customer segments are individual prop traders (retail to semi-professional), education-seeking traders, and trading content creators/affiliates; geographic restrictions include the US (MT5 unavailable), sanctioned jurisdictions, and a number of high-risk countries. Distribution is fully digital (self-serve website, affiliate portal, MT5/Match Trader/cTrader/DX Trade terminals) and the firm has secured multiple industry awards (Most Trusted Prop Firm 2025 and 2026; Best Instant Funding 2025).

Name

Funded Trading Plus

Legal name

Acello Ltd

Website

https://fundedtradingplus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Funded Trading Plus is a bootstrapped, UK-registered simulated prop trading evaluation platform founded in 2021, serving 60,000+ individual retail and semi-professional traders across 180+ countries through paid challenge programs, performance reward splits, and an affiliate network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Proprietary Trading Services

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (52321), Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage (5231), Commodity Contracts Intermediation (52316)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Multi-Asset Exchanges (FSAFAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

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

Keywords

• Proprietary trading firm
• Prop trading challenges
• Simulated funded accounts
• Trader evaluation
• Retail trader education

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Challenge Fees: One-time upfront fees for purchasing challenge programs across three pathways. Fees range from $99 (1-Step $10K) to $4,499 (Instant Funding $100K). Fee grants access to simulated trading environment and potential performance reward eligibility. Fees are non-refundable but fully credited against first payout upon successful evaluation completion.
2. Performance-Based Reward Splits: Traders earning simulated profits receive performance splits ranging from 80% (default) up to 100% (with enhanced scaling add-on). Payments are issued from Funded Trading Plus's own capital reserves as real-world currency. First reward withdrawal refunds the evaluation fee. Reward cycles every 7-10 days depending on program.
3. Affiliate Commissions: 15% commission on 1-Step/2-Step challenge first purchases and 10% on Instant Funding first purchases through affiliate program. Additional $2,000 cash bonus available for hitting sales milestones. Affiliate discount codes provide customers 10% savings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Funded Trading Plus is a proprietary trading firm that sells simulated trading challenges to retail traders. Customers purchase one of three challenge pathways (Instant Funding, 1-Step Express, or 2-Step Classic), demonstrate trading skill under defined rules, and gain access to simulated funded accounts where they trade the firm's capital and earn a performance-based share of the simulated profits. The firm also sells supporting trader education products and runs an affiliate program.

Product overview

Funded Trading Plus is a simulated prop trading platform operating since 2021 as an extension of Trade Room Plus (founded 2013). The company offers three core challenge programs: Instant Funding (direct access without evaluation), 1-Step Express Challenge (single-phase evaluation), and 2-Step Classic Challenge (two-phase evaluation). Traders who pass challenges access simulated funded accounts and earn performance-based reward splits up to 90%. The platform integrates MetaTrader 5, Match Trader, cTrader, and DX Trade, supporting forex, indices, commodities, and crypto markets. The company provides an Education Hub featuring a free 13-hour Masterclass, 1-on-1 mentoring with veteran traders, and a library of top 10 trading strategies. The affiliate program enables partners to earn commissions on referred traders. Total trader rewards have exceeded $19.5 million across 60,000+ traders from 180 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Instant Funding Simulated proprietary trading challenge pathway that grants immediate access to a simulated funded account for retail traders who want to trade firm capital without a multi-step evaluation.
• 1-Step Express Challenge Single-phase simulated trading challenge with defined profit target, drawdown, and risk rules; on passing, the trader receives a simulated funded account and a share of simulated profits.
• 2-Step Classic Challenge Two-phase simulated trading challenge designed for traders who prefer a staged evaluation; successful completion unlocks a simulated funded account with profit-share payouts.
• FT+ Prop Trader Masterclass Structured online masterclass teaching traders how to pass Funded Trading Plus challenges and manage funded accounts, targeted at novice and intermediate retail traders.
• Elite 1-on-1 Mentoring Premium one-on-one mentoring service for retail traders seeking personalized coaching on challenge rules, strategy, and funded-account management.
• Open Vault - Top 10 Prop Trading Strategies Strategy library of documented top prop trading approaches, used as an educational and reference product for retail traders.
• Affiliate Program Partnership program that lets approved promoters earn commissions on Funded Trading Plus challenge sales via referral codes, with payouts available in USDT.

Quantifiable outcome

• $19.5M+ total trader rewards paid to date, 2021-2026
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Propinder (FXStreet)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 April 2026Funded Trading Plus joined Propinder as a launch partner. Propinder is a free prop trading challenge finder powered by FXStreet. The partnership is described as a 'trust-first approach' giving traders access to find FT+ among curated prop firm listings.
• EightcapcoreTechnology or IntegrationEightcap is described as the 'internationally regulated broker' powering Funded Trading Plus's simulated-live environment. All simulated CFDs are mirrored from Eightcap's liquidity providers. Spreads and availability are dynamic and subject to real-market session hours. The disclaimer explicitly states slippage, spreads and commissions are not artificially manipulated outside of simulated real-market conditions provided by Eightcap.
• MetaQuotes (MT5)coreTechnology or IntegrationMetaTrader 5 (MT5) is licensed software provided by MetaQuotes. Note: MetaQuotes licensed software (MT5) is explicitly unavailable in the United States of America via IF Pro Ltd.
• Sum & Substance (Sumsub)coreTechnology or IntegrationKYC verification facilitated by Sum & Substance (Sumsub), requiring identity, liveness, and international sanctions/terrorism watch-list checks before any payment for services is issued to traders.
• Andrew LockwoodcoreOthers35-year trading veteran and former floor trader at the London Futures Exchange. Head of Trader Education at Funded Trading Plus. Provides the FT+ Prop Trader Masterclass (free), 1-on-1 mentoring programs, and prop trading strategy content. Professional trading history fully verified with documentation available upon request.
• CoinbaseminorOthersNamed as one of the payment methods for withdrawals (crypto withdrawals via Coinbase) alongside bank wire transfer, enabling traders to receive payouts in cryptocurrency.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• FTMO: FTMO is the largest and most established prop trading evaluation firm globally, offering similar challenge-based pathways (1-Step, 2-Step, Aggressive, Swing) with simulated funded accounts and reward splits. It is the primary direct competitor to Funded Trading Plus in the retail prop firm category, with comparable trader segments and product structure.
• FundedNext: FundedNext is a fast-growing prop trading firm offering Stellar (1-Step) and Evaluation (2-Step) challenges with similar simulated trading mechanics, reward splits up to 90%, and scaling plans. It directly competes with FT+ for retail traders across forex, indices, and crypto markets.
• The5ers: The5ers offers a unique low-risk instant funding model alongside traditional challenge pathways, with simulated capital scaling up to $4M. It serves the same retail and semi-professional trader segment as FT+ and competes directly on trading rules and payout reliability.
• Topstep: Topstep is a leading US-based prop trading evaluation firm focused on futures markets (rather than CFDs), offering combine challenges and funded accounts. It targets a similar retail trader demographic as FT+ and represents a comparable evaluation-and-fund business model, though with a narrower asset class focus.
• Maven Trading: Maven Trading is a prop firm offering simulated funded accounts via challenge programs with comparable reward splits and scaling opportunities. It targets the same individual retail/semi-pro trader segment as FT+ in the multi-asset CFD trading space.
• E8 Funding: E8 Funding is a prop trading firm offering simulated funded accounts with one-step and two-step evaluation challenges, targeting retail traders in forex and indices. It is a direct competitor to FT+ on similar challenge mechanics and trader experience.
• Surge Trading: Surge Trading offers prop firm challenges and simulated funded accounts focused on forex and indices, with comparable reward structures and trader segmentation. It is a smaller direct competitor operating in the same retail prop trading evaluation category as FT+.

Broad incumbents

• Interactive Brokers: Interactive Brokers is a large, established multi-asset brokerage offering self-directed trading across forex, futures, equities, and CFDs globally. While not a prop firm, it serves the same underlying retail/semi-professional trader base that FT+ targets, and offers an alternative path to professional-scale trading capital.

Others

• MetaQuotes (MT5): MetaQuotes provides the MetaTrader 5 trading platform that FT+ uses as one of its core simulated trading interfaces. As infrastructure provider, MetaQuotes is a critical enabling partner for FT+ and the broader prop firm category, and its platform policies (e.g., US restrictions) directly shape FT+'s addressable market.
• Eightcap: Eightcap is the regulated broker providing liquidity and execution infrastructure for FT+'s simulated trading environment. As the sole liquidity provider for FT+'s simulated CFDs, Eightcap is a critical operational dependency and sits in the broader ecosystem of retail-focused brokers powering the prop firm category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FundedTradingP
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@fundedtradingplus
• Facebookfacebook.com/fundedtradingplus
• Instagraminstagram.com/fundedtradingplus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/funded-trading-plus

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Funded Trading Plus