Early Funding Path
Angel + Accelerator
First Customers
Beta users
Founded (Year)
2017
Key Tactics
MVP, Social proof, radical simplicity
Type
Investment / Fintech
Vertical
D2C Tech
Website
Sharesies was helped along by the Kiwibank FinTech Accelerator (which provided funding and support), then raised seed and later venture capital from angel investors and firms to build out its investment platform.
Early users were retail investors in a closed beta group—but the product launched with a limited offering before expanding to the wider public.
Startup Rollercoaster: Sharesies
The Spark – Investing “for Everyone”
- Founders saw most Kiwis felt investing was “not for me.”
- Pitched the idea at a Kiwibank / Creative HQ accelerator event.
- Started with a very limited offering (initial capital via grant) before building a fuller beta service.
The Peak – First Validation
- Beta launched in mid-2017.
- Early orders and usage grew rapidly.
- Within weeks/months, users were investing noticeable sums and giving early feedback that validated the idea.
The Drop – Scaling Behind the Scenes
- Maintaining simplicity while meeting regulatory, compliance and financial systems (like NZX, financial services rules) was difficult.
- Customer support became a central input to product design; “every ticket was product research.”
- Scaling infrastructure, security, and trust demanded continuous work.
The Reset – Drop the Beta Tag
- Product matured over time; onboarding, UX, stability, and regulatory compliance improved.
- At some point, Sharesies felt confident to move out of beta and fully open to the wider public and broader investment options.
The Discipline – Stealable Habits
- Kept the MVP very focused at first.
- Treated early users (and support interactions) as essential signal for what to build next.
- Used public beta / storytelling for early credibility and word of mouth.
The Climb – From Beta to Beloved Brand
- Sharesies grew from a minimal initial offering to serving a large number of everyday investors.
- Expanded investing options beyond the early limited set.
- Evolved into a recognisable fintech brand in NZ and beyond.
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