“I’m very happy to say Viktor will be stepping up to take over the helm as CEO. He’ll lead us to the next destination on our journey and beyond. I’ll be doing everything I can to support him and the company from the board.”
Adam Dodds, co-founder of Freetrade and the investment platform’s chief executive since its founding in September 2015 has decided to step down from the executive role.
Freetrade was founded in September 2015 by Adam Dodds and Davide Fioranelli. Three years later, the company welcomed venture capitalist Molten Ventures to complete a $15 million Series A financing. The company’s $69 million Series B round was announced in March 2021, led by Left Lane Capital, with participation from L Catterton and Molten Ventures.
However, the company struggled to find new backers at a higher valuation in 2022 and had to resort to a convertible loan note supplemented by a further crowdfunded round and a staff reduction of around 15%.
“Finally getting my pilot license”
“After eight years of leading Freetrade, I’m stepping down as CEO,” said Adam Dodds on LinkedIn. “When reflecting on the journey from idea to over a million users with billions in assets, it’s getting through the tough times you remember the most. We almost died so many times it’s hard to count.
“Now, after putting up our first profitable quarter and with the business on a strong sustainable footing, it’s time to hang up my skates. Freetrade is default alive and ready to take on the incumbent platforms in the UK with self-sustaining growth.
“Throughout the last eight years there have been two constants: our crowdfunding shareholders, and my cofounder Viktor Nebehaj. Without either, Freetrade would not exist today. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported the business over the years and got us to this point.
“I’m very happy to say Viktor will be stepping up to take over the helm as CEO. He’ll lead us to the next destination on our journey and beyond. I’ll be doing everything I can to support him and the company from the board.
“As for me, I’m looking forward to getting to know my kids better, annoying my wife on the farm, and finally getting my pilot license.”
Viktor Nebehaj steps in as CEO of Freetrade
Viktor Nebehaj, an early crowdfunding investor who joined the firm as chief marketing officer and became COO in 2022, was announced as the new CEO of Freetrade.
Before joining Freetrade in 2017, Viktor Nebehaj was Head of Growth at Notey, Head of Assessment at Clicz, and Head of SEO at Prospect.
He started his career at Google in 2005, based in Dublin, Ireland, where he was Search Quality Analyst for three years and Online Operations Manager, EMEA, for another three years.
Freetrade recently unveiled its latest offering: Cash Investments, a novel venture that introduces a series of GBP and USD exchange-traded funds (ETFs) designed to mirror or surpass overnight interbank interest rates. With this launch, Freetrade reaffirms its commitment to making high-value investing accessible to all. Rates go up to 5.33%.
