First Rate Ventures, the corporate venture capital arm of First Rate, Inc., has announced an investment and strategic partnership with Kapnative, a Berlin-based fintech platform that provides wealth managers, family offices, banks, and institutional investors with access to pre-vetted private market funds.
Founded in 2023, Kapnative specializes in AI-powered fund due diligence workflows, which are designed to reduce manual review time by up to 80%. The company also offers regulatory-compliant investment processes and white-label platforms tailored for high-net-worth allocations. Kapnative is currently expanding across German-speaking markets, with its clients collectively representing over €11 billion in assets under management (AUM).
The investment will facilitate the deployment of the Kapnative Alternatives Underwriting Agent in collaboration with First Rate’s Professional Services team. This partnership aims to accelerate Kapnative’s AI-powered product roadmap and create synergies across other WealthTech use cases for Kapnative’s customers in German-speaking regions of Europe.
Marshall Smith, Managing Director of First Rate Ventures, commented on the partnership, stating, “Kapnative is at the forefront of reshaping how wealth managers and family offices access private markets and alternative investments. Their AI-driven platform aligns with our mission to deliver intelligent WealthTech solutions globally. We are excited to partner with their team to expand into new markets with AI-powered WealthTech solutions.”
Philipp Hemmersbach, CEO and Co-Founder of Kapnative, added, “Partnering with First Rate Ventures is about more than capital. First Rate’s deep experience in AI and WealthTech, its global client base, and its commitment to collaboration make it an an ideal partner as we scale across Europe. Together, we will deliver transformative technology that empowers advisors and investors alike.”
Kapnative, headquartered in Berlin, provides a curated marketplace of pre-vetted private market funds. Its AI-powered due diligence process is guided by an Investment Committee with extensive allocation experience, ensuring regulatory compliance while streamlining reviews. The company’s customizable white-label marketplace integrates workflows for memos, training, custodian connectivity, and capital calls.
First Rate Ventures is the corporate venture capital division of First Rate, Inc., a financial solutions, services, and data partner that has been active in WealthTech for over 30 years. With its main offices in Arlington, Texas, and operations in seven countries, First Rate, Inc. serves global financial services firms, including wealth management, asset management, and bank and trust companies.
