KelAI, a company developing an autonomous, AI-driven research engine for institutional investors, has secured $5m in seed funding.
The round attracted backing from Frst, Y Combinator and Robinhood Ventures, alongside a collection of angel investors drawn from both the AI and finance sectors, according to a report from AlleyWatch.
The company was established by Jeremie Cohen, who previously worked as a systematic portfolio manager. Its technology is aimed at hedge funds, traders and institutional investment firms, addressing a persistent problem in the industry: despite having access to unprecedented volumes of data, tooling and computing power, research teams remain hampered by disconnected systems and cumbersome processes.
KelAI’s answer is a platform that converts this scattered workflow into a continuously compounding, AI-native system. The engine is designed to uncover, test and verify trading signals around the clock, operating at a speed that human analysts cannot replicate.
Speaking to AlleyWatch about the raise, Cohen described the fundraising journey and the firm’s plans. On the process itself, KelAI founder and CEO Jeremie Cohen said, “It was intense and highly focused. We chose investors who share our long-term view of AI’s role in institutional investing.”
Asked about the challenges of raising capital, he said, “We were fortunate to have a smooth process. Our focus was choosing partners who understood both AI and institutional investing and shared our long-term vision.”
On the company’s goals for the coming six months, Cohen said, “We will continue improving the product, grow our New York team selectively, and execute with focus.”
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