Startup targets long-term investors with AI-powered tools and crypto expansion plans

LONDON, July 25 — Estonian tech leaders are throwing their weight behind Lightyear, a London-based investment app aiming to become Europe’s commission-free trading answer to Robinhood. Co-founded in 2021 by ex-Wise employees Martin Sokk and Mihkel Aamer, Lightyear lets users invest in over 5,000 stocks, ETFs, and money market funds.

The company announced a $23 million funding round led by Japanese-European VC firm NordicNinja, with major support from Estonia’s startup elite — including Bolt co-founder Markus Villig, Wise co-founder Taavet Hinrikus, and Skype founding engineer Jaan Tallinn. The new round reportedly values Lightyear at $200–300 million, up significantly from its 2022 valuation.

Lightyear currently operates in 25 countries and plans rapid expansion into five more with help from its new backers. Villig acknowledged the regulatory complexity of scaling across Europe but emphasized the untapped potential in retail investing.

Alongside the funding, Lightyear is launching AI-driven features such as:

• “Why Did It Move”: Explains market moves on stock charts.
• AI-generated bull/bear theses on stocks.
• Smart portfolio updates tailored to user positions.

CEO Martin Sokk envisions two future investing models: “self-driving money” guided by AI, and traditional hands-on strategies. While competitors like Robinhood and Revolut profit from high-risk products, Lightyear aims to prioritize long-term, responsible investing — though a crypto product is on the horizon, designed with sustainability in mind.

Estonia continues to punch above its weight in tech. With the highest unicorn count per capita in Europe, the country’s startup ecosystem — and now its diaspora — are backing what could be the next major fintech disruptor.