Flink

Flink, operating as miflink.com, is a Mexican financial technology company established to democratize access to financial markets for the Latin American population. Founded in 2017 by Sergio Jiménez Amozurrutia and Ricardo Rafael Bueno, the company identified a significant gap in the market where a vast majority of the population was excluded from investment opportunities due to high entry barriers. The founders' journey began after they met at a hackathon in 2015 and subsequently sold a previous venture, a consumer lending platform named Easy Credit. This experience solidified their mission to build a more inclusive financial infrastructure.

The company's primary offering is a mobile-first investment platform that enables users to buy and sell fractional shares of companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) with no commission fees and with investments starting as low as 30 pesos (approximately $1.40 USD). This model targets a broad consumer base, particularly first-time investors, who were previously unable to meet the high minimum deposit requirements of traditional brokerage houses in Mexico. Initially launched in 2018 with a digital wallet service and a Mastercard-backed debit card, Flink pivoted to include its trading services in June 2020, which spurred exponential growth, attracting over a million users within its first year of operation. The platform's business model centers on providing these accessible investment services, aiming to generate revenue through other financial products and future enhancements rather than trading commissions.

Flink's trajectory includes significant financial milestones, such as a $12 million Series A round in February 2021 and a substantial $57 million Series B round in August 2021, with backing from prominent investors like Accel, Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Mantis Venture Capital, co-founded by The Chainsmokers. This funding was earmarked for product improvement, infrastructure scaling, and expansion. In a strategic move to further solidify its market position, Flink was acquired by the U.S.-based trading app Webull in November 2023. This acquisition included Vifaru Casa de Bolsa, a Mexican brokerage firm Flink had purchased, streamlining regulatory compliance and enhancing its service offerings under the Webull umbrella. The company now operates as a regulated entity in Mexico and continues to serve its client base by providing access to U.S. equities, with plans to integrate Webull's technology and introduce local investment products.

Keywords: fractional shares, stock trading app, fintech, investment platform, Mexico, Latin America, neobroker, financial inclusion, commission-free trading, retail investing, NYSE access, mobile banking, wealth management, Sergio Jiménez Amozurrutia, Ricardo Rafael Bueno, Webull, Accel, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Vifaru Casa de Bolsa, democratize finance