On Tuesday, financial services firm Edward Jones announced a multi-year partnership with SixThirty, a St. Louis-based venture fund that invests in fintech startups. According to Edward Jones’ Chief Information Officer, Vinny Ferrari, the relationship with SixThirty is consistent with the company’s drive to provide investors an ideal client experience.
“At Edward Jones, we view technology as a way to enhance the relationship with our clients by making their experience outside our branch offices just as emotive and productive as it is when they visit a financial advisor for a face-to-face meeting in a branch. Our relationship with SixThirty gives us an opportunity to look outside the firm for the best ideas in financial technology to help us achieve our goals.”
Since its launch in 2013, SixThirty has invested in eight to ten fintech start-ups each year from a globally diverse group of more than 325 companies that are seeking investment. As part of the investment, the each of the startups notably participates in the business development program focusing on mentorship and networking opportunities with some of the leading financial services institutions in the region and across the country.
Atul Kamra, SixThirty’s managing partner, also commented:
“SixThirty is building on what makes us (our region) unique: the breadth and depth of our financial services, and a culture that notices and nurtures founders. Edward Jones is a leader in financial services and synonymous with nurturing talent, consistently being recognized as among the best places to work in the US. We look forward to working with them to attract and grow the most promising FinTech ideas and, in turn, sustain our competitiveness in an industry in which we have inherent strength.”
As part of the partnership with SixThirty, Frank LaQuinta, a general partner with Edward Jones, has joined the organization’s Investment Committee which evaluates the investment pipeline and selects FinTech startups that SixThirty invests in.
