The Hague-based fintech startup UpToMore has raised €3 million in funding to fuel the rollout of its radically simple investment app — a platform its founders boldly claim to be “the most boring investment app in the Netherlands.”
Founded by former bankers Karl de Bolster and Michael van Balen, UpToMore was created out of frustration with how traditional financial institutions complicate and gatekeep investing. “Investing has been made unnecessarily complicated and expensive by banks and other asset managers,” said de Bolster. “We believe investing should be accessible to everyone — even if you know nothing about it or simply don’t have the time.”
Designed for simplicity and accessibility
The app is built for the 95% of people who want to invest but are put off by complex platforms or steep fees. With a fixed monthly fee of €0.99 and an annual 0.1% fee on investments, UpToMore is one of the most affordable investing platforms in the Netherlands.
Its approach is deliberately minimal. The app has a single function: deposit money. That money is then automatically invested into a diversified ETF portfolio, eliminating the need for users to make decisions or manage individual stocks. “No choices, no risks, no hassle,” adds van Balen. “Just passive investing made simple.”
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Going beyond Dutch borders
Thanks to its UCITS license, which is held by only a select few firms in the Netherlands, UpToMore can operate across Europe without regulatory hurdles. The fresh funding will be used to strengthen its team and expand the app’s infrastructure ahead of a planned European launch by the end of 2025.
As the startup positions itself as a low-cost alternative to banks and brokers, it also plans to generate long-term value for investors through its own fund — eliminating the need for third-party intermediaries.
UpToMore’s founders hope to become the go-to European investing alternative within five years, starting with the Netherlands and expanding into underserved markets where passive investing remains underutilized.
