Estonian-founded fintech Lightyear secures $23M Series B to fuel AI-powered growth across Europe
Lightyear, the Estonian-born investment platform, has raised $23 million in a Series B funding round as the company surpasses $1 billion in customer assets, marking a major milestone in its rapid growth.
The round was led by NordicNinja, with participation from Superangel’s Marko Oolo, Bolt CEO Markus Villig, and existing backers including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Metaplanet, Skaala, Veriff’s Kaarel Kotkas, and Wise’s Lars Trunin. The capital will accelerate Lightyear’s expansion into new markets, now including Denmark, Sweden, and Bulgaria, bringing its footprint to 25 European markets with services available in 10 languages.
Alongside the funding, Lightyear is launching a set of AI-powered tools designed to give retail investors deeper insights. These include features such as “Why Did It Move?” to explain recent stock price shifts, “Bulls Say / Bears Say” for balanced investment perspectives, and “Lightning Updates” to deliver quick, personalized portfolio insights.
CEO Martin Sokk highlighted that Lightyear is evolving from being a low-cost trading app to becoming “an intelligent companion” for modern investors, offering contextual insights and clarity to help them make smarter decisions.
The new investment was welcomed by backers, with NordicNinja’s Rainer Sternfeld praising Lightyear’s combination of ambitious product vision and strong execution. Marko Oolo from Superangel described the platform as a “gateway to financial literacy for millions,” while Markus Villig commended the team for scaling quickly despite complex regulations.
Sokk noted that retail investing in Europe has historically lagged not because of a lack of interest, but due to limited access to the right platforms. He added that surpassing $1 billion in customer assets is just the beginning, reflecting a strong demand among investors who simply needed the right tools to participate.
With AI-driven innovation and a growing European presence, Lightyear is positioning itself as Estonia’s next big fintech success, with ambitions to reshape how a new generation approaches investing.
