UAE Fintech Epic Markets Raises $10 Million Pre-Seed to Modernize Retail Trading

Kevin Kimmel, Epic Markets co-founder & CEO

UAE-based fintech startup Epic Markets has raised $10 million in a pre-Seed funding round led by Karatage, marking the company's first publicly disclosed investment.

The funding will accelerate development of a multi-asset brokerage platform designed to provide retail investors with execution quality traditionally available only to institutional trading firms. The investment also reflects growing venture capital interest in financial infrastructure startups across the Middle East, particularly in the UAE, where fintech has become a strategic pillar of economic diversification.

According to the company, the capital will primarily support:

• Platform development and engineering
• Expansion of multi-asset trading capabilities
• Technology infrastructure and execution systems
• Product readiness ahead of commercial launch

What Is Epic Markets Building?

Founded in 2026 by Kevin Kimmel and Brian Seegers, Epic Markets is developing a next-generation brokerage platform that enables retail investors to trade using institutional-grade execution technology.

Unlike many retail brokerage platforms that primarily focus on accessibility, Epic Markets aims to improve the quality of trade execution itself—an area typically dominated by banks, hedge funds, and professional trading firms.

The platform is expected to support multiple asset classes through a unified interface while emphasizing speed, pricing efficiency, and execution quality.

Feature	Epic Markets' Approach	Traditional Retail Brokerages
Trade Execution	Institutional-grade execution standards	Standard retail execution
Asset Coverage	Multi-asset platform	Often limited to selected asset classes
Target Users	Retail investors seeking professional tools	General retail traders
Core Focus	Execution quality and trading infrastructure	Ease of investing and accessibility

Why Does This Investment Matter?

The funding establishes Karatage as Epic Markets' first institutional investor and highlights growing investor confidence in fintech infrastructure rather than consumer-facing financial applications alone.

The UAE continues to strengthen its position as one of the Middle East's leading fintech hubs through supportive regulation and innovation initiatives. Ecosystems including ADGM, DIFC Innovation Hub, and Hub71 have attracted fintech founders, venture capital firms, and financial institutions seeking to build scalable financial technology businesses across the region.

With global retail investing continuing to expand and digital brokerage platforms becoming increasingly sophisticated, infrastructure-focused startups are attracting stronger investor interest.

How Does Epic Markets Fit into the UAE Fintech Ecosystem?

Epic Markets enters the market during a period of sustained fintech growth across the UAE.

According to multiple industry reports:

• The global fintech market is projected to exceed $1.1 trillion by 2032, driven by continued digital financial adoption.
• The UAE has positioned fintech as a strategic growth sector under its digital economy initiatives, with innovation supported through ecosystems such as ADGM, Hub71, and the DIFC Innovation Hub.
• Venture capital investment across Middle Eastern fintech companies has remained one of the region's most active investment categories in recent years.

By focusing on institutional-grade brokerage infrastructure rather than conventional consumer investing tools, Epic Markets is targeting a differentiated segment of the rapidly evolving digital trading market.

What Comes Next for Epic Markets?

The newly secured $10 million will enable Epic Markets to continue developing its brokerage technology ahead of its commercial launch.

As retail investors increasingly demand professional trading capabilities, the company aims to narrow the gap between institutional financial infrastructure and retail brokerage services, potentially contributing to the next generation of fintech innovation emerging from the UAE.

 

 

FAQs

1. What is Epic Markets?
Epic Markets is a UAE-based fintech startup founded in 2026 that is developing a multi-asset brokerage platform offering institutional-grade trade execution for retail investors.

2. How much funding did Epic Markets raise?
Epic Markets raised $10 million in a pre-Seed funding round led by Karatage, marking its first publicly disclosed investment.

3. What will the funding be used for?
The company will use the capital to accelerate platform development, expand its technology infrastructure, enhance execution capabilities, and prepare for market launch.

4. Who founded Epic Markets?
Epic Markets was founded in 2026 by Kevin Kimmel and Brian Seegers.

5. Why is this funding significant for the UAE fintech sector?
The investment highlights continued investor confidence in UAE fintech infrastructure startups and reinforces the country's position as a regional financial technology hub supported by ecosystems such as ADGM, DIFC Innovation Hub, and Hub71.