Motif Investing, a US-based online stockbroker for listed shares, has nearly doubled its venture backing by raising $25m in its series C round from a consortium including investment bank Goldman Sachs and retail bank Wells Fargo-backed venture firm Norwest Venture Partners that manages $3.7bn.
The other investors in the C round included venture capital firms Foundation Capital and Ignition Partners.
Motif raised $20m in its B round in July 2011 and $6m in its A round the same month.
Darren Cohen, managing director of principal strategic investments at Goldman Sachs, which is also a large asset manager, is joining Motif’s board as an observer and the portfolio company said “this, coupled with the investment, is expected to deepen the firm’s relationship with Motif”.
Founded in 2010, Motif lets people invest their money in themed groups of stocks, bonds and exchange-traded funds, which it calls motifs. Standard pricing is $9.95 per motif and $4.95 per individual stock transactions, while other fees may apply.