In November 2025, Model ML, a fresh contender in the AI workflow automation space, successfully secured $75 million during its Series A funding round. While funding stories frequently appear in headlines, this one stands out, not just because of the amount, but because of what it signals for the financial services sector and startups aiming to navigate similar paths.
The Reality of Raising $75 Million, and Why It Matters
When I began my journey as an entrepreneur, navigating funding rounds was akin to solving a complex puzzle with missing pieces. It’s not about the money alone; it’s about aligning the investors, market timing, and a clear value proposition. Model ML exemplifies this. The startup raised such a substantial amount only a year after its inception and just six months after its seed round. Achieving this kind of growth in such a competitive space is rare. Many startups aim for rapid funding, but the Model ML case provides lessons beyond just numbers.
What Makes Model ML's Strategy Work?
Let’s break this down for anyone looking to learn from their approach:
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Targeting a Clear Market Need
Model ML stepped into a space crammed with inefficiencies: the repetitive and manual workflows that consume financial professionals' time. These tasks, such as creating client-ready financial reports or pitch decks, demand balance between accuracy and speed, yet tend to overwhelm teams. Model ML's AI-driven software addresses this, simplifying the process while preserving the required precision and branding. -
Building Trust Early On
Financial services firms are notoriously cautious when adopting new tools, but trust changes the game. Model ML leveraged a board packed with respected leaders. Advisors such as UBS chair Axel Weber and former HSBC CEO Noel Quinn instantly gave the startup credibility among financial institutions. Collaborators like this show startups how vital it is to build a strong network of trusted ambassadors. -
Timing Funding Wisely
While many startups get caught in the allure of series funding, Model ML appears strategic with its timing. The company launched its product, quickly proved demand, raised a seed round six months later, and escalated to a Series A in another six months. This pace is in stark contrast to the slow funding rounds some startups face when they lack clarity or validation.
What Can Early-Stage Entrepreneurs Learn?
If you’re an early-stage founder, there are tangible takeaways from Model ML’s trajectory:
- Solve Costly Problems: Focusing on financial services was not just a random decision. This sector handles trillions in assets yet relies on outdated processes, especially in non-revenue-generating operations. Big markets with high pain points are ripe for disruption.
- Establish Authority with Partners: Early strategic partnerships or endorsements position your startup as a serious contender. A board of influential advisors can make all the difference when approaching investors or enterprise clients.
How Did Model ML Structure Its Funding?
VC-backed ventures are common in tech, but securing funding from prominent investors takes more than just pitching. FT Partners led the round and wasn’t alone, Y Combinator, QED Investors, and others participated. This reflects not only monetary investment but deep confidence in Model ML’s ability to define financial service standards. Investors in fintech typically look for three factors: scalability, unique product-market fit, and a global expansion plan. Model ML ticked all those boxes.
Mistakes to Dodge for Your Startup Journey
Taking a page from my experience and Model ML’s roadmap, here are mistakes to avoid:
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Expanding Too Slowly or Too Fast
You don’t need to move fast just for the sake of it. Model ML balanced rapid funding with calculated moves, such as targeting financial hubs like London, New York, and Hong Kong. -
Ignoring Client Input
Many startups shy away from customer feedback in the early stages, fearing it might derail their vision. But Model ML reportedly integrated real-world testing with financial firms early. -
Overcomplicating the Offering
Overloading features rarely works. Instead, their AI focuses on a streamlined, impactful solution rooted in automating reports and outputs financial teams need most.
Practical Steps for Your Startup to Raise Funds
If you're trying to emulate success stories like this, here’s a simple approach:
- Define Your Market Fit: Can you identify a clear problem that your product actively addresses?
- Validate Quickly: Don’t just build; actively test your product with potential customers to demonstrate demand.
- Select Investors Wisely: Not all funds are equal. The quality of your investors matters as much as, if not more than, the amount of capital they bring.
- Prepare for Scaling: Global markets aren’t just opportunities; they’re challenges. Ensure your team and systems can scale before aiming for global expansion.
Not Just Another Funding Story
Some might think, “Great, another startup with funding.” But Model ML’s funding round highlights an important trend for entrepreneurs: how the demand for functional AI is evolving beyond generic automation into workflows that require sophistication, compliance, and insight. What makes this interesting is not just their solution, there are many AI tools on the market, but their execution.
As someone who has built startups in multiple industries, I can confidently say that success stories like Model ML’s are a combination of rigorous testing, precise market fit, and the ability to convey a strong narrative. While we won’t all raise $75 million within our first year, there’s plenty to learn here about building startups that matter in competitive industries.
This funding isn’t just about numbers. It’s a sign that when you get the basics right, the right doors will open, and impact will follow. With the right focus, you can turn your own startup into an essential solution for your chosen market, just like Model ML is doing for financial services.
FAQ
1. How much funding did Model ML secure in their Series A round?
Model ML successfully raised $75 million in their Series A funding round in November 2025. Learn more about Model ML’s Series A funding
2. Who were the lead investors in Model ML's Series A funding?
FT Partners led the funding round, with additional participation from Y Combinator, QED Investors, 13Books, Latitude, and LocalGlobe. Discover more about Model ML’s investors
3. What is Model ML’s main product offering?
Model ML provides AI-powered tools to automate workflow tasks, such as creating client-ready Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files for financial services. Learn more about Model ML’s AI tools
4. Which industries does Model ML primarily target?
Model ML focuses on the financial services sector, catering to investment banks, asset managers, and consultants. Explore Model ML’s industry focus
5. How quickly did Model ML raise its Series A funding after launching?
Model ML raised its Series A funding just one year after its launch and six months after its seed round. Read about the rapid growth of Model ML
6. Which notable experts are part of Model ML’s advisory board?
Model ML’s board includes prominent leaders like Noel Quinn (former HSBC CEO) and Axel Weber (UBS chair). Learn about Model ML’s advisors
7. How does Model ML’s AI improve workflows for financial professionals?
Model ML’s AI automates repetitive tasks like creating pitch decks, investment memos, and diligence reports, saving time while maintaining accuracy and compliance. Discover Model ML’s workflow automation benefits
8. What geographic areas does Model ML aim to expand into with the new funding?
The company plans to expand to financial hubs like London, New York, and Hong Kong using the newly raised funds. Check out Model ML’s global expansion plans
9. How did Model ML build trust among financial service firms?
Model ML gained credibility by assembling an advisory board of respected industry leaders and demonstrating strong market demand early on. Learn how Model ML established trust in the industry
10. Why is Model ML’s funding significant in the fintech industry?
The $75 million Series A is one of the largest early-stage fintech fundraisers, reflecting the growing importance of AI-driven workflow automation in financial services. Find out more about the impact of Model ML’s funding
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur. Throughout her startup experience she has applied for multiple startup grants at the EU level, in the Netherlands and Malta, and her startups received quite a few of those. She’s been living, studying and working in many countries around the globe and her extensive multicultural experience has influenced her immensely.
Violetta Bonenkamp's expertise in CAD sector, IP protection and blockchain
Violetta Bonenkamp is recognized as a multidisciplinary expert with significant achievements in the CAD sector, intellectual property (IP) protection, and blockchain technology.
CAD Sector:
- Violetta is the CEO and co-founder of CADChain, a deep tech startup focused on developing IP management software specifically for CAD (Computer-Aided Design) data. CADChain addresses the lack of industry standards for CAD data protection and sharing, using innovative technology to secure and manage design data.
- She has led the company since its inception in 2018, overseeing R&D, PR, and business development, and driving the creation of products for platforms such as Autodesk Inventor, Blender, and SolidWorks.
- Her leadership has been instrumental in scaling CADChain from a small team to a significant player in the deeptech space, with a diverse, international team.
IP Protection:
- Violetta has built deep expertise in intellectual property, combining academic training with practical startup experience. She has taken specialized courses in IP from institutions like WIPO and the EU IPO.
- She is known for sharing actionable strategies for startup IP protection, leveraging both legal and technological approaches, and has published guides and content on this topic for the entrepreneurial community.
- Her work at CADChain directly addresses the need for robust IP protection in the engineering and design industries, integrating cybersecurity and compliance measures to safeguard digital assets.
Blockchain:
- Violetta’s entry into the blockchain sector began with the founding of CADChain, which uses blockchain as a core technology for securing and managing CAD data.
- She holds several certifications in blockchain and has participated in major hackathons and policy forums, such as the OECD Global Blockchain Policy Forum.
- Her expertise extends to applying blockchain for IP management, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and secure sharing in the CAD industry.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond, launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks and is building MELA AI to help local restaurants in Malta get more visibility online.
For the past several years Violetta has been living between the Netherlands and Malta, while also regularly traveling to different destinations around the globe, usually due to her entrepreneurial activities. This has led her to start writing about different locations and amenities from the POV of an entrepreneur. Here’s her recent article about the best hotels in Italy to work from.
About the Publication
Fe/male Switch is an innovative startup platform designed to empower women entrepreneurs through an immersive, game-like experience. Founded in 2020 during the pandemic "without any funding and without any code," this non-profit initiative has evolved into a comprehensive educational tool for aspiring female entrepreneurs.The platform was co-founded by Violetta Shishkina-Bonenkamp, who serves as CEO and one of the lead authors of the Startup News branch.
Mission and Purpose
Fe/male Switch Foundation was created to address the gender gap in the tech and entrepreneurship space. The platform aims to skill-up future female tech leaders and empower them to create resilient and innovative tech startups through what they call "gamepreneurship". By putting players in a virtual startup village where they must survive and thrive, the startup game allows women to test their entrepreneurial abilities without financial risk.
Key Features
The platform offers a unique blend of news, resources,learning, networking, and practical application within a supportive, female-focused environment:
- Skill Lab: Micro-modules covering essential startup skills
- Virtual Startup Building: Create or join startups and tackle real-world challenges
- AI Co-founder (PlayPal): Guides users through the startup process
- SANDBOX: A testing environment for idea validation before launch
- Wellness Integration: Virtual activities to balance work and self-care
- Marketplace: Buy or sell expert sessions and tutorials
Impact and Growth
Since its inception, Fe/male Switch has shown impressive growth:
- 5,000+ female entrepreneurs in the community
- 100+ startup tools built
- 5,000+ pieces of articles and news written
- 1,000 unique business ideas for women created
Partnerships
Fe/male Switch has formed strategic partnerships to enhance its offerings. In January 2022, it teamed up with global website builder Tilda to provide free access to website building tools and mentorship services for Fe/male Switch participants.
Recognition
Fe/male Switch has received media attention for its innovative approach to closing the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. The platform has been featured in various publications highlighting its unique "play to learn and earn" model.
