Hapi: An Easy Way to Invest in the U.S. Stock Market
Hapi is a mobile application that allows anyone over 18 years old to invest in the U.S. stock market starting with just $1. Created by Peruvians Dusko Kelez, Piero Sifuentes, and Billy Caballero in 2020, the app aims to simplify access to stock and cryptocurrency investments for Latin Americans.
Key Features
Accessible Investing: Hapi enables users to sign up in under five minutes and start buying or selling stocks from $5 or cryptocurrencies from $1. The app does not charge brokerage commissions for transactions but operates through membership fees for additional services and payments received from the stock market for sent trades. This makes it an affordable option for those looking to invest continuously.
Educational Resources: To promote financial literacy, Hapi offers free educational resources and a course platform developed by top financial content creators in Latin America. This approach helps users learn about investing while using the app.
Expansion and Recognition
In 2021, Hapi was selected to participate in Y Combinator, a renowned startup accelerator in San Francisco, United States. This opportunity allowed Hapi's founders to develop and expand their app with the support of industry experts.
Currently, Hapi has over 450,000 clients in 20 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Spain. The app offers the ability to invest in more than 12,000 assets available on major U.S. exchanges like NYSE and NASDAQ.
Plans for 2024
Hapi Prime: One of the most anticipated developments for 2024 is Hapi Prime, a premium subscription that provides sophisticated tools for demanding investors. With Hapi Prime, users can set price alerts and access priority support, enhancing their investment experience.
DRIP Program: Another important launch is the Dividend Reinvestment Program (DRIP). This program allows users to automatically reinvest cash dividend payments into more shares of the same stock or fund, facilitating the compound growth of their investments.
Funding and Future
Hapi has secured significant funding since its inception. Besides the initial investment from joining Y Combinator, the fintech closed a $1.6 million funding round last November, led by Utec Ventures, Unpopular Ventures, Softeq Ventures, and Mural Capital, bringing its total capital raised to $4.3 million.
Hapi represents an accessible and educational solution for those interested in investing in the U.S. stock market. With its new features and planned expansions for 2024, the app continues to position itself as an invaluable tool for Latin American investors.