Tech-Driven Trading Companies Emerge in Austin
In the bustling financial landscape of Austin, Texas, several key players stand out, offering a diverse range of services from proprietary trading to investment management and financial advisory services.
One such firm is PEAK6. Originally a proprietary options trading firm, PEAK6 provides liquidity to the U.S. options market. The company has expanded its investment horizons beyond trading, venturing into client businesses across industries such as esports, insurance, education, and finance. In January 2025, PEAK6 relocated its headquarters to East Austin, signaling a focus on technology-driven trading strategies and market-making capabilities in options.
Another notable firm is Fisher Investments. Though not exclusively headquartered in Austin, Fisher serves many clients across Texas. The firm specialises in individualised wealth planning, investment portfolio management, retirement planning, and tax planning services. Fisher customises portfolios according to client risk tolerance and investment goals, spanning stocks, bonds, and cash equivalents.
Austin is home to several registered broker-dealer firms, such as Austin Growth Capital, LLC, which offers a range of services from trade execution to potential advisory components.
InCommodities, a global energy tech company, is based in Denmark, Singapore, and Austin. The company claims to contribute to lower energy prices by matching supply with demand and ensuring supply security.
CAIS, headquartered in New York City with an office in downtown Austin, provides an alternative investment platform that supports the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade lifecycle. CAIS offers educational resources like the CAIS IQ learning system to help financial advisors improve.
Kershner Trading Group employs automation in its proprietary traders' workflow to potentially increase earnings. The location of Kershner Trading Group is undisclosed.
Financial services firms in Austin, like Piper Sandler, provide investment banking services including M&A advisory and public finance transactions, complementing the trading environment by offering capital market transaction support.
The top financial trading firms in Austin share several key characteristics:
- Proprietary trading, especially in options and equities
- Providing market liquidity
- Customized portfolio and wealth management services
- Involvement in client investment across diverse industries
- Investment banking and capital market transaction expertise
- Use of advanced technology and analytics for risk management and trading strategies
Their services typically encompass:
- Market making and liquidity provision
- Investment portfolio management and advisory
- Retirement and wealth planning
- Mergers & acquisitions advisory and public finance
- Corporate finance and capital raising
- Asset marketing and investment sales (for firms with real estate finance connections)
These firms leverage Austin's growing tech infrastructure and financial ecosystem to support innovative, client-centric financial solutions.
- PEAK6, a company originally from proprietary options trading, has expanded its investment horizons beyond trading, delving into clients' businesses across numerous industries such as technology, including esports, insurance, education, and now, technology-driven trading strategies and market-making capabilities in options.
- CAIS, based in New York City with an office in downtown Austin, provides an alternative investment platform that supports the pre-trade, trade, and post-trade lifecycle, offering educational resources like the CAIS IQ learning system to help financial advisors improve their skills in utilizing advanced technology and analytics for risk management and trading strategies.
