SBA Financial Markets
Thesis Model Roadmap Exit Terms Request Investor Pack
Investment Opportunity  ·  £500,000 Raise  ·  London, UK

A High-Margin
Prop Trading Firm
Built to Scale

First, a high-margin prop trading firm. Then, a regulated fund deploying real capital to proven traders. £500,000 investment. £1,000,000 structured return. Full downside protection. This is the ground floor.

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$10–20B
Industry Size (Est.)
£500K
Raise Amount
£1M
Total Return
2x
Return Multiple
The Investment Thesis
A Broken Industry.
A Massive Opportunity.
A Clear Path to Scale.

The proprietary trading industry is estimated at $10–20 billion, with over 2,000 firms globally and demand growing at approximately 6.5% CAGR through 2030. Millions of retail traders pay evaluation fees to access funded accounts — yet almost every firm operates offshore, unregulated, using simulated capital. The business model is proven and highly profitable: FTMO generated $329M in revenue in 2024 alone. The industry is ripe for a credible, UK-based operator.

SBA Financial Markets is building that operator. Phase one is a high-margin prop trading firm generating revenue from day one through evaluation fees and funded trader profit-sharing. Phase two evolves the platform into a regulated fund deploying real capital to proven traders — creating a permanent competitive moat through FCA authorisation.

For investors, this is rare: a business that generates revenue from day one, scales into a regulated moat, and offers a structured 2x return with full downside protection. The opportunity exists because nobody else has built it yet.

$10-20B
Global Market
Why Now
The Market Is Shifting.
Regulation Is Coming.

The Problem

The prop trading industry is a Wild West:

  • Most firms trade simulated capital — traders never touch real money
  • Offshore jurisdictions, zero consumer protection
  • The FCA, CFTC, and global regulators are actively investigating
  • Major firms have been shut down or fined (MetaTrader restrictions, CFTC actions)
  • Investors cannot access this market through any legitimate, regulated vehicle

Our Solution

We are building the compliant infrastructure the industry needs:

  • Real capital deployed to proven traders — no simulated accounts
  • Clear roadmap from launch to scale to institutional regulation
  • Founder studying for CISI Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma
  • Hybrid revenue model: evaluation fees + funded desk + future investor fund
  • UK-incorporated, English law, path to FCA regulation
Business Model
Three Revenue Engines.
One Resilient Business.
01

Evaluation Programme — Revenue from Day 1

Traders pay £129–£849 for a chance to prove their skill and earn a funded account. Most fail and re-attempt. This engine generates cash flow before a single trade is placed — structurally similar to SaaS with high-margin, repeatable purchases.

Projected: £56K/month at 200 evaluations
02

Funded Trading Desk — Recurring Profit Share

Successful candidates enter a 6-month simulated verification period. Only after proving consistent, risk-controlled performance are they allocated live capital. SBA Financial Markets retains 20% of net monthly profits. After a further 6 months on live capital, top performers graduate to scalable allocations backed by investor funds. No trader touches real money without 6 months of audited results.

80/20 profit split · Institutional risk controls
03

Investor Fund — Management & Performance Fees

A regulated investment vehicle that deploys capital to the highest-performing traders. Revenue from a 1% annual management fee plus 20% performance fee — undercutting Darwinex's 1.2% management fee while matching their performance fee structure. The same proven hedge fund model, with better pricing for investors.

Target: £5M AUM → £530K annual fund revenue
Financial Projections
Conservative Numbers.
Compounding Returns.
Phase 1 — Launch
£134K
Year 1 revenue (incl. 6-month build)
Phase 2 — Scale
£1.08M
Annual run-rate revenue
Phase 3 — Institutionalise
£2.05M
Annual run-rate revenue

Year 1 includes a 6-month build phase with zero revenue — projections are deliberately conservative. All figures based on 4% monthly returns (below industry average of 5–8%), a blended evaluation fee of £280, and organic growth assumptions. The £500K raise funds Phase 1 in full. Phases 2 and 3 are self-funded from operating revenue.

Roadmap
Three Phases. One Vision.

Phase 1 — Launch (Now)

Build and deploy the prop firm evaluation platform. Acquire traders through the in-house community and marketing engine. Generate revenue from day one through evaluation fees. All passed traders are placed onto simulated accounts — no real capital is deployed. This phase proves the machine works and builds the foundation for scale.

Now · Build · Acquire · Revenue from Day 1

Phase 2 — Scale (6–12 Months)

Optimise the acquisition funnel. Identify and verify top-performing traders through 6 months of audited simulated results. Build internal data infrastructure, risk models, and compliance frameworks. This phase transforms raw evaluation revenue into a scalable, data-driven operation ready for institutional-grade capital deployment.

6–12 Months · Optimise · Verify · Build Risk Models

Phase 3 — Institutionalise (12–24 Months)

Pursue FCA authorisation. Launch a regulated investment fund. Allocate real capital to traders with 12+ months of verified performance — 6 months simulated, 6 months live. This phase unlocks institutional investor capital, international credibility, and positions SBA Financial Markets as the category-defining regulated prop trading platform.

Following successful scale, we plan to raise an additional ~£1M to support regulatory approval, compliance infrastructure, and fund launch.

12–24 Months · FCA · Regulated Fund · Real Capital

The Trader Journey — 12 Months to Scalable Capital

01
Months 0–1
Paid Evaluation
Trader pays £129–£849 to attempt the evaluation. Must hit profit target within risk parameters. Most fail and re-attempt — generating recurring fee revenue.
02
Months 1–6
6-Month Simulated Account
Passed traders are placed onto a simulated account — not real capital. They trade for a full 6 months under live market conditions with virtual funds. Performance, consistency, and risk discipline are audited. No investor capital is at risk. Only traders who demonstrate sustained edge progress to the next stage.
03
Months 7–12
Live Capital → Scalable Capital
Verified traders receive initial live capital allocation. After 6 months of live performance, top performers graduate to scalable capital — larger allocations backed by investor funds.

This 12-month pipeline protects investor capital by ensuring only traders with a full year of audited performance — 6 months simulated, 6 months live — ever manage scalable funds.

The Exit
Built to Scale.
Built to Exit.

SBA Financial Markets is being built with a clear exit trajectory. A profitable prop firm with recurring revenue, a growing trader base, and a scalable platform is highly attractive to acquirers — from financial services groups to private equity. Add FCA regulation in Phase 3, and the valuation multiplies. Investors benefit regardless: the revenue-share structure delivers a 2x return before any exit event.

Comparable exits in the prop trading and fintech space demonstrate the scale of opportunity for early investors.

ComparableContextValuation
FTMO (Czech Republic)Unregulated prop firm, $329M revenue (2024), 3.5M+ users$1B+ est.
Darwinex (UK/Spain)FCA-regulated (FRN 586466), $654M+ under managementPrivate
eToro (IPO May 2025)Social trading platform, FCA-regulated, Nasdaq: ETOR$4.2B IPO valuation
Revolut (UK)FCA-licensed fintech, £4.5B revenue (2025)$75B (Nov 2025)
SBA Financial Markets — Target ExitScalable prop firm + path to regulated fund£100M–£500M+
Competitive Moat
Why We Beat Darwinex
Darwinex Zero SBA Financial Markets
Profit Split to Trader 15% performance fee 80% profit split
Entry Cost €95 sign-up + €38/month ongoing £129–£849 one-time evaluation fee
Ongoing Cost €38–€45/month subscription (indefinite) £0 — no monthly fees after passing
Scaling Model Multi-stage (Calibration → Silver → Gold), months to scale Pass evaluation → 6 months simulated → live capital
Max Capital Access Up to €500K (DarwinIA Gold) + investor capital Up to £200K evaluation, scaling beyond
Payout Speed Quarterly (default), monthly opt-in costs €12/month extra Monthly payouts, no additional fee
Trustpilot Rating 3.8/5 (169 reviews) New entrant — clean slate
Investor Fund Fees 1.2% annual management + 20% performance 1.0% annual management + 20% performance
Instagram Presence ~6,900 followers (@darwinexzero) In-house marketing team + founder brand

Darwinex Zero data sourced from darwinexzero.com pricing page, Darwinex documentation, TradersUnion review (Jan 2026), and CleaRank verified review (Jul 2025). Darwinex investor fees (1.2% mgmt + 20% perf) per Darwinex Help Centre: Investment Conditions. Trustpilot score per TradingFinder (Aug 2025). Instagram follower count as of April 2026.

The Two Advantages
Better Numbers. Better Marketing.
A

Massively More Competitive Numbers

Darwinex pays traders just 15% of the profits they generate for investors. That's an asset management fee structure — not a prop firm payout. At SBA Financial Markets, traders keep 80% of their profits from day one, matching FTMO's industry-standard split. For a trader generating £10,000 in monthly profit, that's £8,000 with SBA Financial Markets versus £1,500 with Darwinex. The maths speaks for itself.

Darwinex also charges a recurring €38/month subscription — meaning traders pay indefinitely regardless of performance. SBA Financial Markets charges a one-time evaluation fee. Pass once, prove yourself on a simulated account for 6 months, then trade live. No monthly subscription draining the trader's wallet.

Darwinex's quarterly payout cycle (with a €12/month surcharge to upgrade to monthly) further alienates traders who want regular income. SBA Financial Markets pays monthly as standard. These aren't marginal differences — they fundamentally change the trader's economics and make SBA Financial Markets the obvious choice for anyone comparing the two.

80% vs 15% — Traders keep 5.3× more profit with SBA Financial Markets
B

Marketing That Actually Reaches Traders

Darwinex has approximately 164K monthly website visits and ~6,900 Instagram followers. Their primary traffic comes from Spain (69.5%), not the global English-speaking trading audience where the real volume lives. Their marketing is technical, institutional, and niche — it resonates with quant traders but misses the millions of retail traders who fuel the prop firm industry.

SBA Financial Markets has three structural marketing advantages Darwinex cannot replicate:

1. Built-In Trader Community — An existing trading education community with an engaged audience of aspiring funded traders. This is a zero-cost acquisition channel. Every community member is a warm lead for the evaluation programme — no paid ads required to fill the top of the funnel.

2. In-House Marketing Team — Paid media, content strategy, and social growth are all handled in-house — not outsourced at agency rates. Meta ads, Instagram growth, YouTube content, and SEO are core competencies within the team. This means faster iteration, lower customer acquisition costs, and complete control over brand messaging.

3. Founder-Led Personal Brand — The prop firm industry is built on personality-driven marketing. FTMO grew through trader testimonials and social proof. SBA Financial Markets' founder is 21, building in public, and speaks directly to the demographic that buys evaluations. Darwinex was founded by engineers; SBA Financial Markets is founded by a trader and marketer.

Built-in audience + in-house agency + founder brand = unfair advantage
Aryan Aggarwal — Founder, SBA Financial Markets
The Founder
Aryan Aggarwal

21-year-old entrepreneur and trader with deep roots in the financial markets. Former Data & AI Specialist at Microsoft. Currently studying for the CISI Level 4 Investment Advice Diploma — the professional qualification required to manage investor capital under FCA regulation.

Has spent years building within the trading industry — from education to execution — and brings in-house marketing, content, and paid media capabilities that most early-stage firms outsource. SBA Financial Markets is the singular focus.

CISI L4
In Progress
Microsoft
Former AI & Data
In-House
Marketing Team
Investment Structure
A Structured 2x Return — With Every Downside Covered.

This is a revenue-based investment: you earn a fixed 2x return (£1,000,000 on £500,000 invested) through a direct share of monthly revenue. The structure is designed so that when the business wins, you win first. And if it doesn't hit targets, an equity conversion backstop ensures you still come out ahead.

Raise Amount
£500,000

A single, clean raise deployed directly into platform build, trader acquisition, and growth infrastructure. No tranches. No complexity.

Your Return
2.0x — £1,000,000

Double your capital. £1,000,000 total return delivered through 10% of monthly revenue — you earn as the business earns.

Revenue Share
10% Monthly

Repayments activate once revenue hits £10,000/month — so you start seeing returns almost immediately. As the business grows, your monthly payments grow with it.

Downside Protection
£2M Cap + 20% Discount

If revenue targets aren't met within 36 months, your investment converts into equity at a £2,000,000 valuation cap — with a 20% discount. You're covered either way.

Investor Protections
Built-In Safety. No Scenario Left Uncovered.
01

Equity Conversion Backstop

If SBA Financial Markets hasn't reached £10,000/month revenue within 36 months, your investment automatically converts into equity at a £2,000,000 valuation cap with a 20% discount. In other words: if the business takes longer to scale than planned, you become an owner — at a price that significantly rewards your early conviction.

02

Long-Stop Protection

If less than £500,000 has been repaid by month 36, the revenue share increases from 10% to 15% to accelerate your return. If the full £1,000,000 still hasn't been repaid by year 5, the remaining balance converts into equity at the same favourable terms. Multiple layers of protection, all working in your favour.

03

Early Repayment Incentive

If we repay the full amount within 36 months, the total return adjusts from 2.0x to 1.75x (£875,000). This is by design: it aligns both sides toward aggressive growth. The faster we scale, the faster you're repaid — and you still walk away with a 75% return on your capital in under three years.

Scenario What Happens Investor Outcome
Best case (repaid in ≤36 months) Revenue share repays full amount quickly 1.75x return (£875K)
Base case (repaid in 36–60 months) Revenue share repays full amount at standard rate 2.0x return (£1M)
Slow growth (not repaid by year 5) Revenue share bumps to 15% at month 36, then equity conversion at year 5 if needed Equity at £2M cap (20% discount) or accelerated cash
Revenue below £10K/month at month 36 Automatic equity conversion triggered Equity at £2M cap (20% discount)

Every outcome delivers a return. Cash via revenue share, or equity at a discounted valuation. This isn't a bet — it's a structured investment with multiple paths to profit.

Get Involved
This Is Phase 1.

£500,000. A high-margin prop trading firm designed to be profitable from day one. A structured 2x return with every downside covered. The business that becomes the regulated category leader starts here — and this is the only time the entry point will be this early.

Request Investor Pack →
Sources & References
Data Verification

[1] Industry Market Size ($10–20B est.)
Best Prop Firms: Prop Trading Statistics 2026 — $20B est., 2,000+ firms globally
Finance Magnates: Prop Trading Retail Landscape 2026 — $10B+ valuation in 2025

[2] Industry Growth Rate (6.5% CAGR)
Contentworks Agency: Prop Firm Marketing Trends 2026

[3] FTMO Revenue ($329M, 2024)
Finance Magnates: FTMO Parent Revenue Report — CZK 6.84B (~$329M), 53% YoY growth
CoinLaw: FTMO Statistics 2026 — 3.5M+ users, $450M+ cumulative payouts

[4] Darwinex FCA Regulation & Platform Data
Darwinex Help Centre: Regulatory Status — FCA (UK), CNMV (Spain), FSA (Seychelles)
Darwinex Help Centre: Investment Conditions — 1.2% annual management fee + 20% performance fee on investor capital
Darwinex Zero: Official Site — $654.87M under management, 10,000+ traders
Darwinex Zero Pricing: Subscription Costs — €95 sign-up, €38/month, €405/year
Darwinex Zero Fees: Performance Fee Structure — 15% performance fee, quarterly default
CleaRank Review: Darwinex Zero 2025 Review — $43/month, up to €500K at Gold
TradingFinder: Darwinex Zero 2026 Review — 3.8/5 Trustpilot
Semrush: Darwinex.com Traffic — 164K monthly visits (Feb 2026)
Instagram: @darwinexzero — ~6,900 followers

[5] eToro IPO ($4.2B Valuation, May 2025)
Fortune: eToro IPO Day Report — $52/share, $6.6B market cap at close
CNBC: eToro IPO Pricing — $620M raised, Nasdaq: ETOR

[6] Revolut Valuation ($75B, Nov 2025)
TechCrunch: Revolut $75B Capital Raise
CNBC: Revolut 2025 Record Profit — £4.5B revenue, £1.7B PBT
Sifted: Revolut Eyes $100B Valuation

[7] Industry Consolidation & Regulation
Investing.com: The Great Shake-Out: How 2025 Reshaped Prop Trading