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Ann Arbor fintech start-up secures four investors, continues launch momentum
ANN ARBOR—Pocketnest, Inc., the Michigan-based and female-founded fintech company launching the first comprehensive financial planning platform that’s free to users, announces its first round of capital
from four investors, including Santa Monica, Calif.-based Cleo Capital.
The company will use the funds to fuel traction toward its anticipated Fall 2019 launch, hiring two new employees--a chief technology officer and a software engineer--to complete the build. Funds will also contribute to compliance, regulation, marketing and other technology needs.
“We believe in PocketNest’s mission and feel strongly it will be a large force in the financial industry’s revolution,” said Alisyn Malek, scout, Cleo Capital. “The financial industry is a competitive, but mature market, and with its solutions to empower both sides of the marketplace—consumers and institutions—Pocketnest is well-poised to bring much-needed disruption.”
Founded by metro-Detroit resident, Jessica Willis, CFP , CWPA, Pocketnest is the only financial planning resource that’s free and approachable to all users and covers all areas of personal financial health and education, from establishing a budget to investing in the future, in a DIY, step-by-step
approach. Unlike traditional financial advisors, PocketNest is a digital tool putting users in the driver’s seat of their plan. Willis aims to make financial wellness accessible, approachable and affordable for everyone.
“The personal finance industry is broken, as young people are being ignored and advisors don’t know how to serve them,” said Jessica Willis, founder, Pocketnest. “I created Pocketnest to bring financial freedom and understanding to the masses--not just the elite and the established--while helping banks, credit unions, advisors and employers connect with their next generation audience. We’re incredibly grateful to our investors for helping us democratize and revolutionize comprehensive financial planning.”
Pocketnest licenses its platform to financial and non-financial institutions, ranging from credit unions to university and large corporation wellness programs, to help them better understand and serve their next
generation audience. The company has approximately 100 institutional customer leads, to date.
Continuing its positive momentum toward launch, PocketNest has earned significant awards, grants and competition honors. In 2018 alone, the company earned first place in the Michigan Women Forward’s Women Up pitch competition (growth category), was a semi-finalist in Accelerate Michigan, a finalist in Michigan Women Forward’s EmpowerHER pitch competition, earned second place in the Detroit Fintech Challenge and was named a finalist in the Mother Honestly Women on the Rise competition; the company was also selected to be in Detroit’s Startup Boost Fall 2018 cohort and the gBETA Generator Winter 2018 cohort.
“Beyond a white space opportunity, I see a chance to change and enrich the lives of many, beginning with financial wellness,” said Willis.
Pocketnest, Inc. is registered with the SEC as a Registered Investment Advisor and is a fiduciary in name and deed. PocketNest is a Michigan-based company that closes the gap between young people and their financial institutions, with a mission of making financial wellness accessible to everyone. Providing users with comprehensive and approachable personal financial planning and education, the digital platform puts users in the driver’s seat of their financial plan, while also uncovering more insights and opportunities for financial and non-financial institutions. Unlike robo advisors, other apps on the market and traditional advisors, PocketNest is completely free to users and helps them build and adhere to a plan, from start to finish, in a DIY and step-by-step approach. The company licenses its platform to financial and non-financial institutions, ranging from credit unions to university and large corporation wellness programs, to help them better understand and serve their next generation audience.
Great news! The Pocketnest app is now available! Download Pocketnest and get your finances in order—in just 10 minutes a month! No jargony finance-speak, pricey fees or in-person meetings required.