Vestd is a leading UK-based 'sharetech' company that provides a comprehensive digital platform for equity management, share schemes, and corporate governance. Since its market entry, the company has positioned itself as a critical infrastructure provider for the UK startup and SME ecosystem. Its core mission is to promote the 'ownership effect'—the idea that sharing equity leads to better-aligned teams, faster growth, and more resilient businesses. Vestd is notable for being the first and only equity management platform to be directly authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This regulatory status, combined with its B Corp and ISO 27001 certifications, underscores a deep commitment to compliance, ethical operations, and data security. The company serves a diverse range of clients, from pre-seed startups needing simple cap tables to large scaleups with thousands of stakeholders. By replacing fragmented spreadsheets and manual paperwork with an automated, real-time 'single source of truth,' Vestd has significantly lowered the barriers to entry for companies wanting to implement complex, tax-efficient reward structures.
Vestd was founded in 2014 by Ifty Nasir and Naveed Akram. Ifty Nasir, a Stanford graduate with an extensive executive background in the energy sector (notably at BP), conceived the idea for Vestd after observing that poor equity management was a primary cause of startup failure and co-founder disputes. Initially launched as 'Vestd 1.0' in 2014 with a broader remit to facilitate startup investment through equity exchange, the founders realized by 2017 that the most significant market need was specifically in the administration and governance of share schemes. This led to a pivotal strategic shift where the company focused exclusively on becoming a technology-first equity management platform. Based in London, the company has grown from a visionary concept into a robust scaleup that has pioneered the 'sharetech' category in the UK, helping thousands of founders 'slice their pie' fairly and compliantly.
Vestd has navigated its growth through a combination of traditional venture rounds, strategic grants, and angel investment. In its early stages (2016-2017), the company secured 'Friends and Family' funding alongside significant support from international bodies. It notably received grants totaling approximately $115,000 from the European Union and the EIC Fund (European Innovation Council) in 2017 to develop its innovative technology. Over the years, the company has attracted a diverse group of over 40 investors, including institutional players like Brand Capital, London & Partners, and Entrepreneurs First. In January 2025, Vestd successfully raised £2 million ($2.6M approx.) in a pre-seed extension round to further innovate its platform and accelerate its mission of promoting workplace equity. This recent injection of capital is aimed at enhancing shareholder communication tools and expanding the platform's reach as a B Corp-certified leader in the industry.
Vestd's product portfolio is built around three core pillars: Equity Management, Share Schemes, and Fundraising. The Equity Management suite includes real-time cap table software, digital share certificates, and a unique two-way Companies House sync that automates statutory filings (such as SH01 forms). The Share Scheme pillar is perhaps their most well-known offering, providing guided setups for EMI (the UK's most tax-efficient scheme), CSOP, Growth Shares, and Unapproved Options. This include full legal documentation, vesting tracking, and HMRC notification assistance. The third pillar, 'InVestd Raise,' provides a fixed-fee fundraising solution that includes S/EIS advance assurance support, secure data rooms, and investor modeling tools. Additionally, Vestd offers high-level professional services such as in-house HMRC and 409A valuations, and IFRS 2 share-based payment accounting support to help finance teams manage the impact of equity on their financial statements.
While Vestd began with a singular focus on the UK market, it has recently embarked on a significant international expansion strategy. In March 2025, Vestd announced a merger and acquisition of Trica Equity, a prominent Mumbai-based equity management firm. This move established Trica as a subsidiary of Vestd, providing a strategic foothold in the Indian market and the wider South Asian region. This expansion allows Vestd to serve UK companies with international teams and vice versa, bridging the gap between Western governance standards and the rapidly growing tech ecosystems in Asia. Within the UK, the company moved to a 'fully remote' model in 2019, allowing it to tap into talent across the entire country while maintaining its headquarters in London. The company's vision is global, with a public 'moonshot' goal of seeing one billion people worldwide invested in the companies they work for, indicating future moves into other major jurisdictions.
In the last 18 months, Vestd has significantly enhanced its platform's enterprise and compliance capabilities. A major addition is the 'IFRS 2' support module, which automates the complex accounting and valuation requirements for share-based payments, a critical feature for companies moving toward audit-readiness and scale. The platform also launched 'Vestd Lite,' a simplified version of its tool for smaller startups needing immediate cap table clarity and basic share issuance. Integration capabilities have also seen a massive overhaul, with over 50 new HRIS integrations now live, including major platforms like HiBob, BambooHR, and Rippling. This ensures that when an employee joins or leaves a company, the equity records in Vestd update automatically. Recent updates also include enhanced modeling tools for investors, allowing for sophisticated waterfall analysis and exit simulations directly within the dashboard.
Vestd's culture is rooted in its founding philosophy of the 'ownership effect.' The company practices what it preaches; all employees (internally called 'Vestd folk') are shareholders in the business, ensuring they have a personal stake in its long-term success. In February 2025, the company officially became a Certified B Corporation, meeting rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Vestd is a remote-first organization, a decision made in 2019 to prioritize work-life balance and access a diverse, nationwide talent pool. The internal culture emphasizes 'transparency over perks,' with a focus on autonomy, clear role expectations, and ethical decision-making. The company's mission—to make sharing the norm and effortless—is reflected in its collaborative environment and its commitment to 'using business as a force for good,' as validated by its high B Impact scores.
Vestd has built a thriving community ecosystem around founders and investors. It recently partnered with HelpBnk to launch a dedicated community space where UK entrepreneurs can connect with investors, share insights, and access exclusive growth resources. The company is a prolific content producer, offering a 'Resource Library' filled with calculators, guides on EMI/CSOP, and 'The Co-Founder Files'—a series of webinars and panels focused on building healthy co-founder partnerships and avoiding common equity pitfalls. Vestd also maintains an active presence in the 'ShareTech' space, with CEO Ifty Nasir frequently sought after for his expertise in media and industry conferences. The platform's 'Founder's Guide to Fundraising' and regular 'Employee Benefits Index' reports provide valuable data-driven insights that help its users navigate the broader business landscape beyond just equity administration.
Vestd
By Vestd Ltd
