Pillar has raised $20 million in a seed funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz, as it looks to modernise how commodity-driven businesses manage financial risk.
Additional investors in the round include Crucible Capital, Gallery Ventures, and Dara Khosrowshahi. With this raise, the company has secured a total of $23 million to date.
Bringing Automation To Hedging
Founded in 2023 by CEO Harsha Ramesh and CTO Chinmay Deshpande, Pillar is building a platform that automates hedging—a core financial strategy used to offset potential losses in volatile markets.
The company targets industries heavily exposed to price fluctuations, including metals, food, and aviation, where managing risk across commodities, foreign exchange, and freight is critical.
Using AI, the platform aggregates and analyses data from contracts, cash flows, inventory systems, ERP tools, spreadsheets, and even messaging platforms to provide a real-time view of risk exposure.
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From Static Decisions To Continuous Risk Management
Pillar’s system doesn’t just analyse risk—it actively manages it. The platform constructs and adjusts hedge portfolios automatically, responding to market conditions, volatility, and predefined risk parameters.
This transforms hedging from a periodic, manual process into a continuous, data-driven operation, enabling businesses to react faster and more effectively to market changes.
Democratizing Institutional-Grade Tools
Ramesh, who previously worked as a macro trader, identified a significant gap in the market: while large financial institutions have access to advanced risk management tools, many smaller operators do not.
Pillar aims to bridge this gap by delivering institutional-grade capabilities to small and mid-sized businesses involved in global trade, making risk management more accessible and scalable.
The platform is already being used by companies such as Shibuya Sakura Industries, Sigma Recycling, and United Metal Solutions Group.
Human Oversight Remains Key
While much of the process is automated, Pillar maintains a human-in-the-loop approach for approvals, strategic decisions, and complex transactions, combining algorithmic efficiency with expert judgment.
A Growing Market Opportunity
With increasing geopolitical uncertainty driving volatility in global commodity markets, demand for advanced risk management solutions is rising. Pillar is positioning itself alongside traditional bank trading desks and specialised platforms to offer a more automated and accessible alternative.
About Pillar
Pillar is a fintech company developing AI-powered tools for financial risk management. Its platform enables commodity-driven businesses to analyse, hedge, and manage exposure in real time, helping organisations navigate market volatility with greater efficiency and control.
