Zingeroo
5 known investors
Fintech creating social trading experiences that make stock trading social, educational, and accessible.
Also known as Zingeroo Inc.
Investors · 5
Also in the syndicate · 2
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Zingeroo is a Boston-based fintech company that operates a commission-free stock trading application built around social competition. The app groups users into private circles of friends called "bullpens" and runs a series of trading competitions called "zones," with a leaderboard that lets participants compare their performance against friends, peers and other top-performing traders on the platform.
The company's stated premise is that low U.S. stock-market participation stems from solo investing being difficult and isolating, in contrast to competitive and social activities such as fantasy sports and sports betting. By adding friendly competition and educational content, Zingeroo aims to make buying and selling stocks more approachable and to broaden the pool of Americans who own equities.
Zingeroo was founded in 2019 by Zoë Barry, who began her career on Wall Street at the hedge fund Dawson Capital and previously founded the digital health company ZappRx as a sole founder, raising more than $42 million before its acquisition by Allscripts in June 2019. Zingeroo is her second venture-backed startup.
Founding story
Founder Zoë Barry started her career on Wall Street at the hedge fund Dawson Capital and drew on that experience to build a platform that makes stock trading a social and enjoyable activity rather than only a transactional one. Observing that only about 14 percent of Americans had purchased stock directly while Americans spend heavily on sports betting and fantasy sports research, she concluded that solo investing is hard and lonely and that structuring trading as a competition between friends would encourage participation. Zingeroo was founded in 2019 as her second venture-backed company, after ZappRx.
Business model
Zingeroo operates a commission-free consumer brokerage/trading application. Its product structure centers on hosted trading competitions and social groups rather than per-trade commissions; the sources do not describe how the company charges users.
The app is described as commission-free; the available sources do not specify Zingeroo's revenue sources.
Traction
At the time of its stealth-mode profile the company had roughly 10 full-time employees, a workforce that was 50 percent women, and $3 million raised; it subsequently launched publicly with an $8.5 million investment.
Latest developments
In 2021 Zingeroo launched its app publicly with an $8.5 million investment from backers including serial entrepreneur Paul English and Howard Lindzon of Social Leverage, and outlined plans for new educational features, a campus ambassador program and engineering hiring in Boston.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Zingeroo entered the crowded U.S. retail trading app market alongside players such as Robinhood, SoFi and Acorns, differentiating on social competition among friends rather than solo trading.
The company positions friendly competition between friends as the element absent from other retail trading platforms, including those with social features, combining competitive "zones," private "bullpens" and leaderboards with educational content. The founder also notes she is not aware of another trading platform or brokerage launched in the prior five years led by a woman.
Technology
A commission-free mobile trading app with social features including private friend groups ("bullpens"), structured trading competitions ("zones"), leaderboards and educational content.
Go-to-market
The company markets a mobile app to retail users and planned a campus ambassador program to build awareness, alongside added educational features to attract and retain new traders.
U.S. retail consumers, particularly people who have not previously bought stocks, including younger and college-age users reached through a planned campus ambassador program.
Geography
Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with engineering hiring focused on Boston talent; the platform targets users in the United States.
History
The company was founded in 2019 by Zoë Barry and operated in stealth mode with approximately 10 employees and $3 million raised at an earlier stage. It emerged publicly in 2021, launching its commission-free trading app alongside an $8.5 million investment, and said it would expand educational features, launch a campus ambassador program and grow its Boston-based engineering team.
Risks & controversies
The company competes in an already crowded retail stock-trading app market dominated by established consumer brokerages. Reported funding figures differ across sources, with $3 million cited during the stealth period and an $8.5 million investment reported at launch.
Compiled by commissioned research from 3 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 2
launches, deals, and filingsFollowing launch, the company said it would use its funding to add educational features, build a campus ambassador program and grow its engineering team, recruiting primarily in Boston.
Zingeroo publicly launched its commission-free stock trading app, which organizes trading competitions called "zones" within private friend groups called "bullpens" and ranks users on a leaderboard. The launch coincided with an $8.5 million investment.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 3
primary sources listed
- Zingeroozingeroo.com · web
3 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Zingeroo do?
- Boston fintech running a commission-free trading app that turns stock investing into social competitions among friends.
- Who are Zingeroo's investors?
- Zingeroo's investors include Joint Effects, TBD Angels, Social Leverage.