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New capital comes from existing investors Portage and Fidelity International Strategic Ventures with participation from BNY Mellon and RBC
WINNIPEG, Manitoba--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Conquest Planning Inc., (“Conquest”), a technology platform modernizing financial planning with customized and convenient advice, today announced it has raised $24 million (CAD) in Series A funding. The round, which was led by Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, was also joined by existing capital partners Portage as well as new investors BNY Mellon and Royal Bank of Canada (“RBC”). This fresh capital will support Conquest’s continued growth and investments in its platform user experience, as well as its ongoing expansion into key markets such as the United States and United Kingdom.
“Conquest shares in our mission to maximize advisors’ time and make quality financial advice available to all”
This latest capital raise brings Conquest’s total funding to date to almost $35 million (CAD). Having already forged relationships with tens of thousands of advisors in its native Canada, the company last year announced its expansions into the U.K. and the U.S., respectively. Founded in 2018 by purpose-driven financial industry veterans who identified an opportunity to bridge the gap between investor expectations and the technology experiences available to them, Conquest simplifies the financial planning process for advisors and makes personalized planning accessible for all consumers, adding tangible value for retail investors and high-net-worth families alike.
Dr. Mark Evans, CEO of Conquest Planning, and previously the architect of leading advisor software NaviPlan, believes the time is ripe for international expansion. He said: “Demand for tech-enabled financial experiences, whether consumer-initiated or advisor-led, is increasing exponentially. We are proud to work with reputable and forward-thinking firms that recognize the scope of this opportunity. Each of our partners brings far more than capital to the table – they offer key strategic benefits that will undoubtedly prove instrumental in our efforts to scale and make a difference in people’s financial lives.”
Fidelity International Strategic Ventures will help accelerate Conquest’s penetration of the U.K. market, while Portage—as well as its ecosystem and network—continues to drive strong relationships and growth locally and internationally. BNY Mellon’s involvement will help foster a stronger strategic foothold in the U.S., while the backing from RBC is a testament to Conquest’s market-leading position in Canada.
As recently as 2019, advisors were spending an average of 10 hours creating each financial plan, not inclusive of the time spent delivering and explaining it. Conquest is on a mission to reduce this number substantially, arming advisors with an AI-based strategic advice manager (SAM) that empowers them to build flexible plans quickly and with a high degree of accuracy. These adaptable plans can be readily tailored and modeled to evolve in line with end clients’ changing life circumstances, objectives, priorities and risk tolerances.
“Conquest shares in our mission to maximize advisors’ time and make quality financial advice available to all,” said Ainslie Simmonds, president of Pershing X, a BNY Mellon| Pershing start-up business unit, which announced a collaboration with Conquest in 2022. “Its platform helps address a pain point for advisors—the lack of interoperability between customer relationship management technology (CRM) and other critical elements of their tech stacks. Conquest’s integrated solution is designed to streamline advisors’ workflows, helping boost productivity, job satisfaction, and client service.”
Conquest’s platform helps advisors and consumers easily understand the impact of holistic financial decisions, while underscoring the true value of advice, further deepening their collaborative relationships. The easy-to-use platform enables advisors to provide advice at scale that’s built for the unique needs of individuals and families – a challenge at many wealth management firms with disparate client bases.
“Investors across the globe need help looking beyond numbers so that they can better see and understand their financial lives,” added Barrie Laver, managing director and head, venture capital & private equity at RBC. “We share Conquest’s view that the rapid innovation underway in the Canadian wealth management ecosystem will soon be embraced on a global scale. We’re thrilled to partner with this mission-driven team and help them bring engaging, hyper-personalized financial experiences to a broader audience.”
