Snowball
getsnowball.xyz ↗73% of Gen Z want to start investing before 18, but existing options are adult-first, US/UK-only, or debit-card wrappers. Snowball is an investing-first app built for the TikTok generation: 12-18 year olds sign up with parent custodial approval, pick an ETF in plain English like 'The Whole World' or 'Clean Energy', and auto-invest every month through a regulated broker. The hook is a compound visualiser that shows what a monthly amount becomes at 40 in under five seconds. Launch is UAE-first via a DIFC Innovation Testing Licence, then Singapore, Hong Kong, EU, UK, and the Americas.
KEY STATS
BUSINESS MODEL
- 01Freemium base: ad-free, 1-2 core snowballs, educational tools
- 02Snowball+ subscription: USD $4.99 / month for full features
- 030.25% annual AUM fee on balances above USD $500
- 04Interchange revenue via branded Visa/Mastercard with parent controls
- 05Family tier: multi-child accounts, CSM, tax-efficient wrappers
WHY NOW
DIFC Innovation Testing Licence creates a 6-9 month regulatory path to launch in the UAE, where teen penetration of fintech is already world-leading. 73% of Gen Z want to invest before 18 (Charles Schwab 2024) but no product is built investing-first, globally, for the TikTok generation. Greenlight and GoHenry own debit cards; nobody owns the first investing account.
5-YEAR EXIT PLAN
Teen / next-gen investing is a regulated category with a narrow operator set. USD $42M Y5 ARR with sticky custodial AUM commands a premium vs. pure consumer fintech.
- 01Robinhood, eToro, Revolut, or Interactive Brokers strategic
- 02Regional bank / super-app buyout (Emirates NBD, DBS, GCash)
- 03Series C continuation at USD $400M+ if UAE → SEA → EU path executes
Figures above are forward-looking targets based on current assumptions and are not guaranteed. Actual performance may differ materially. See full disclosure.