Public is a New York City-based investing platform with a mission to make the public markets work for all people. The platform allows users to build and diversify portfolios using stocks, Treasuries, ETFs, crypto, and alternative assets, with more investment opportunities planned. It is led by co-founders and co-CEOs Jannick Malling and Leif Abraham. Public recently completed a Series D-2 financing, strengthening its financial position. The company intends to use the proceeds to expand operations and broaden its business reach. No operating metrics or prior funding details were provided in the article. Public.com is an investing social network where members can own fractional shares of stocks and ETFs, follow creators, and share ideas within a community. The platform reached one million members eighteen months after launching. Public positions itself as an inclusive, educational place to build financial literacy, with social features and safety labels to help members learn responsible investing. The company does not offer options or margin accounts, does not encourage day trading, and recently eliminated Payment for Order Flow from its business model. With new capital, Public plans to scale infrastructure to keep the platform stable as the community grows and to accelerate product development. Upcoming product features include crypto, pre- and post-market trading, and ways to set up recurring investments. Public is a social-focused free stock trading service that combines community discussion with commission-free trade execution. The company says its user base grew by a multiple of 10 in 2020 and expanded at about 30% month-over-month. Most users discover the service organically, which the founders say keeps marketing costs low. Public currently monetizes through payment for order flow, but trading-derived revenue appears modest given its long-term-holder user base. The founders emphasized they are focused on user growth rather than near-term revenue, and they plan to use new capital to invest in product work and sustain the platform's social flywheel. The team said it had plenty of cash from the preceding round but raised the Series C to double-down on the model. Public.com is a community-based social investing app that allows members to own fractional shares of stocks and ETFs, follow popular creators, and share ideas within a public forum. The platform emphasizes education and responsible design, incorporating features such as Safety Labels for potentially risky stocks and other guardrails to guide new investors. Public has demonstrated active risk controls—for example, it temporarily removed the ability to buy Hertz in June 2020 after the issuer’s actions. Since launching in September 2019, Public has grown its user base at a consistent pace of 160 percent quarter-over-quarter and has raised $30 million in funding to date. The company aims to change the culture of investing by making markets more inclusive, educational, and approachable as access expands. Public is headquartered in New York and is a member of FINRA and SIPC. Public.com operates a commission-free investing app that lets users buy and sell fractional shares and follow other users’ activity via social features. The platform adds a social layer to investing, allowing users to see what friends and public profiles are buying and selling. Public.com generates revenue from interest on cash in user accounts, fees earned by lending stock to short-sellers, and rebates on transactions; it may offer premium features in the future. The company is led by co-CEOs Jannick Malling and Leif Abraham, both founders with prior exits and startups. As of the article, Public.com has 35 employees and has raised $24 million in total funding. The latest funding will be used to grow its community of investors.

Total raised

$435M

Funding rounds

6

Latest round

Series D

Latest activity

Dec 2024