Marco Polo Securities

What Marco Polo Securities does

Marco Polo Securities Inc. is a New York-based, FINRA/SEC/NFA/SIPC-regulated broker-dealer founded in 2001 that specializes in cross-border securities distribution. Its core function is providing SEC Rule 15a-6 chaperoning services, which allow foreign financial firms — broker-dealers, fund managers, placement agents and M&A advisors from 40+ countries — to lawfully market research, private placements, funds, and locally listed securities to US institutional investors without holding their own US broker-dealer license. The firm operates as the regulated securities arm of parent Marco Polo Exchange (MPX).

The technology stack is organized as three integrated modules: Ronin for AI-enabled supervision and compliance monitoring, Passport as the regulatory reporting and marketplace-access web portal, and Bridge as a branded digital storefront where registered representatives can post deals and track investor engagement. Distribution is reinforced through partnerships with Rosenblatt Securities (institutional execution), MTS Markets International / LSEG (BondsPro electronic corporate bond trading), and NetRoadshow (electronic roadshows), creating a layered workflow that bundles regulatory chaperoning, execution, and investor communications.

The revenue model combines transaction-based commissions on chaperoned deals (a disclosed example implies ~6% take rate), managed-service fees for ongoing chaperoning, and recurring platform subscriptions for Ronin/Passport/Bridge access. GTM is sales-led enterprise engagement with two distinct customer segments: foreign financial institutions needing US market access, and US registered representatives seeking cross-border deal flow. The company is privately held, has 11–50 employees, has not raised disclosed outside capital, and is extending licensing to UK/Europe and Hong Kong/China to access the three largest global institutional investor bases.

Name

Marco Polo Securities

Legal name

Marco Polo Securities Inc.

Website

https://mpsecurities.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Marco Polo Securities is a US-regulated broker-dealer that provides SEC Rule 15a-6 chaperoning services and a Ronin/Passport/Bridge technology platform, enabling foreign financial firms from 40+ countries and US registered representatives to distribute investment products across borders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sales Commissions: Broker-dealer commissions on securities transactions - received $179,802 in sales commissions from a $2.99 million offering as one example of transaction-based revenue
2. Chaperoning Services: Regulatory visa services enabling foreign financial firms to access US markets under SEC Rule 15a-6 - provides compliance, supervision, and distribution infrastructure
3. Platform Subscription: Technology platform access including Passport portal, Bridge storefront, and Ronin supervision - offered to registered representatives and foreign broker-dealers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Marco Polo Securities is a FINRA, SEC and NFA regulated broker-dealer that provides SEC Rule 15a-6 chaperoning services enabling foreign financial firms to enter the US market cost-effectively. Its core deliverables combine regulatory licensing with the proprietary MPX technology platform — Passport for regulatory registration, Ronin for AI-enabled supervision, and Bridge for branded digital deal distribution — serving broker-dealers, fund managers, placement agents, and M&A advisors from more than 40 countries.

Product overview

Marco Polo Securities operates as a multi-module platform for cross-border securities investing, combining regulatory licensing with technology solutions. The core offering consists of three integrated modules—Ronin (AI-enabled supervision and compliance), Passport (regulatory reporting and marketplace access portal), and Bridge (branded digital storefront and deal marketplace)—all built on the Marco Polo Exchange (MPX) parent platform. The company specializes in SEC Rule 15a-6 chaperoning services that enable foreign financial firms to access US institutional markets. Services span broker-dealers, fund managers, placement agents, and M&A advisors from over 40 countries. MPS is expanding licensing footprint to UK/Europe and Hong Kong/China to access the three largest institutional investor bases worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MPX (Marco Polo Exchange): Parent technology and regulatory platform of Marco Polo Securities, providing cutting-edge technology for cross-border investing and distribution of financial products.
• Ronin
• Passport
• Bridge

Products and services

• Ronin AI-native supervision and compliance monitoring platform for US registered representatives. Provides automated compliance framework, real-time exception flagging, and seamless integration into the MPS ecosystem for registration management.
• Passport Web portal for registering products and services with US regulators and accessing the US marketplace directly. Facilitates reporting and distribution of research, trades, private placements, and funds, with consolidated client activity reporting, trade reporting, research distribution, and dashboard data access. Built for foreign broker-dealers and US registered representatives operating under SEC Rule 15a-6.
• Bridge Branded digital storefront and marketplace for registered representatives. Allows uploading deals, controlling visibility, and tracking investor engagement in real time. Provides access to global deal flow from 40+ countries across equity, fixed income, money markets, and structured products.
• SEC Rule 15a-6 Chaperoning Services Regulatory chaperoning service under SEC Rule 15a-6 enabling foreign financial firms not licensed in the US to distribute investment products to US institutional buyers and investors. Provides a tech-enabled registration environment for compliant market entry, with supervision, compliance framework, and access to US institutional marketplace.
• Marco Polo Exchange (MPX) Parent technology platform of Marco Polo Securities, providing the integrated regulatory licensing and technology backbone for cross-border investing and distribution of financial products. Combines the Ronin, Passport, and Bridge modules and serves as the umbrella entity for the MPS broker-dealer.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sales commissions of $179,802 on $2.99 million offering (approximately 6% take rate)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rosenblatt SecuritiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 November 2022MPX announced agreement with Rosenblatt Securities to expand distribution and execution services available to MPX's client base of foreign securities firms accessing US markets under SEC Exchange Act Rule 15a-6. MPX offers its chaperone and distribution automation solution to Rosenblatt's existing universe of chaperoned brokers. Rosenblatt offers MPX's customers privileged access to Rosenblatt's US and international equity trading services and extensive buy-side relationships.
• NetRoadshowcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 June 2021Partnership between NetRoadshow (market leading communication and distribution focused products provider) and Marco Polo Securities (leading chaperone of foreign financial firms into US capital markets). NetRoadshow's services complement Marco Polo's broader suite of technology solutions for bridging global divides in accessing and distributing local market financial products.
• Paradigm Capital InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 13 April 2021Paradigm Capital International signed agreement with Marco Polo Securities for handling its US domiciled capital raising initiatives. Partnership expands Paradigm's global reach directly into US markets and allows company to expand network and distribution channels for product providers.
• MTS Markets International / London Stock Exchange GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 9 May 2019Marketing agreement where Marco Polo introduces MTS BondsPro corporate bond electronic trading platform to institutional clients in frontier and emerging markets covering nearly 20 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East. MTS BondsPro allows more than 50 securities firms on Marco Polo's platform to secure direct access to US debt markets liquidity.
• East Value ResearchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 August 2018Berlin-headquartered research boutique with focus on Emerging Europe expanding access to US investors via Marco Polo regulatory platform. Enables approach to North American investors while ensuring US regulatory compliance.
• Coronation SecuritiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 July 2018Major Nigerian financial institution (subsidiary of Coronation Merchant Bank Group) expanding access to US investors via Marco Polo regulatory platform. Enables marketing of local exchange-listed securities and locally originated private placement and M&A investment opportunities to US investors.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Instinet: Institutional broker-dealer owned by Nomura providing global equities trading and cross-border execution services to institutional clients. Comparable to Marco Polo in serving institutional investors with cross-border securities access and agency execution.
• BIDS Trading: Institutional block-trading network providing anonymous all-to-all liquidity in US and global equities to broker-dealers and buy-side firms. Comparable as an alternative trading system connecting broker-dealers to institutional counterparties, similar in function to the BondsPro order book MPS distributes.
• Liquidnet: Institutional trading network that operates an agency execution platform and block-trading liquidity pools across global equities. Comparable as an institutional trading and distribution platform serving buy-side clients across borders.
• Rosenblatt Securities: Independent US broker-dealer specializing in SEC Rule 15a-6 chaperoning of foreign securities firms and US equity execution. Rosenblatt is both a direct competitor in 15a-6 chaperoning and a strategic partner of Marco Polo, making it the closest functional peer in the niche.
• Dash Financial Technologies: Independent broker-dealer providing options and equities execution technology and routing services to institutional clients. Comparable as a smaller, technology-forward independent broker-dealer serving institutional and registered-rep segments.

Broad incumbents

• Virtu Financial: Global electronic market maker and execution services provider with presence across multiple asset classes and geographies. Comparable as a much larger incumbent in electronic institutional execution and cross-border market access.
• ION Group: Large financial technology provider (parent of Fidessa) selling order management, execution, and post-trade infrastructure to broker-dealers globally. Comparable as a much larger incumbent supplying the underlying technology layer for broker-dealer operations similar to MPS's Passport/Ronin platform.
• TP ICAP: Large global interdealer broker with deep institutional voice and electronic execution across rates, credit, equities, and commodities. Comparable as a much larger incumbent in cross-border institutional distribution and execution infrastructure.
• FIS (Fidelity National Information Services): Large financial technology vendor providing trading, processing, and compliance solutions to broker-dealers, asset managers, and capital-markets participants globally. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering institutional-grade technology infrastructure to the same client ecosystem.
• Bloomberg Tradebook: Institutional execution and order-routing venue operated by Bloomberg, providing agency trading and analytics across global asset classes. Comparable as a much larger incumbent distributing institutional execution and cross-border access to the same buy-side audience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MarcoPoloMPX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marco-polo-securities-inc-

Compliance4 records

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 Marco Polo Securities