Tony Petrilli Bootstraps ViewTrade to Serve Financial Services Firms Globally - The SaaS CFO Recap

Podcast: The SaaS CFO

Published: 2026-01-29

Duration: 27 min

Summary

Tony Petrilli discusses his extensive background in financial services and how ViewTrade provides a comprehensive technology solution for global financial firms facing complex regulatory environments.

What Happened

In this episode, Tony Petrilli, CEO of ViewTrade, shares his unique journey in the financial services industry, starting from his early days at Accenture to his roles at Citibank and Morgan Stanley, where he became the CFO of the global equity business. Tony underscores the importance of technology in transforming financial services, noting that he began coding when PCs were first introduced in the early 1980s. His experience has given him a deep understanding of the complexities involved in providing financial services, particularly on a cross-border basis.

Tony explains that ViewTrade serves as a turnkey solution for financial services firms, focusing on cross-border operations that require navigating complex regulations and banking systems. He emphasizes that while many view the task of providing financial services as straightforward, the intricacies of integrating technology with compliance and operational needs make it a challenging endeavor. ViewTrade offers a full tech stack, allowing clients to customize their services from trading platforms to risk management tools. This approach aims to simplify the notoriously complicated plumbing of financial services, ensuring that clients can focus on their core business while ViewTrade handles the complexities behind the scenes.

Key Insights

Key Questions Answered

What inspired Tony Petrilli to start coding?

Tony shares that he graduated in 1982, the same year the personal computer was introduced. He was handed a PC at Accenture and tasked with figuring out how to use it, which led him to write code and automate manual processes for clients. This experience catalyzed his long career in financial services and technology.

What services does ViewTrade offer to financial firms?

ViewTrade provides a comprehensive tech stack for financial services firms focusing on cross-border operations. Their offerings include everything from trading platforms and market data to risk management and compliance tools, all integrated with custodians, banks, and market makers. This allows clients to choose the elements they need while simplifying the complex processes involved in financial services.

Who are ViewTrade's ideal customers?

Tony mentions that ViewTrade works with around 300 firms globally, primarily targeting incumbent brokers looking to modernize their legacy systems and fintech startups seeking embedded investing solutions. These firms span various regions, including Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, highlighting the global reach of their services.

How has the company evolved since its inception?

Initially, ViewTrade started as a broker providing cross-border execution services. Over time, Tony recognized the complexities of the technology involved and pivoted the business model to offer technology as a service, making it easier for firms to handle the intricate aspects of financial services.

What is the significance of embedded investing in financial services?

Tony discusses the vast potential of embedded investing, which integrates investment opportunities into non-financial services. This approach allows businesses to offer investment options seamlessly as part of their existing processes, tapping into an extensive market of companies that could benefit from investing capabilities.