Podcast Interview | SaaS Infrastructure & Financial Technology
In this podcast conversation, Tony Petrilli, Chief Executive Officer of ViewTrade Holding Corporation, joins Ben Murray, journalist and host of the SaaS News Podcast, to discuss the evolution of financial services infrastructure, cross-border investing, and what it takes to build resilient fintech platforms at global scale.
Drawing on more than four decades of experience across financial services and technology, Tony shares how ViewTrade has grown from a cross-border brokerage into a global provider of institutional trading and investment infrastructure — while remaining self-funded and focused on long-term sustainability.
Featuring: Tony Petrilli, CEO of ViewTrade Holding Corporation
Host: Ben Murray, The SaaS CFO
From Early Computing to Global Financial Infrastructure
Tony’s career in financial services began at the very start of the personal computing era. After graduating in the early 1980s, he worked with firms such as Accenture, Citibank, Morgan Stanley, and State Street, where technology was increasingly used to automate complex, manual financial processes.
This early exposure to both finance and systems engineering shaped his long-term view: financial services would become increasingly dependent on robust, scalable technology — especially as markets globalized.
That perspective ultimately led him to ViewTrade, where technology became the foundation of the business rather than a supporting function.
What ViewTrade Does: Simplifying Cross-Border Complexity
ViewTrade focuses on providing end-to-end trading and investment infrastructure for financial institutions operating across borders.
As discussed in the podcast, cross-border investing introduces layers of complexity beyond domestic markets — including regulatory requirements, custody, banking integrations, market access, and operational risk. ViewTrade’s approach is to manage this complexity through a fully integrated technology stack that can support:
- Front-end trading platforms (including white-label solutions)
- Market data and content delivery
- Order and risk management systems
- Compliance and regulatory tools
- Custody, clearing, and post-trade operations
Clients can adopt individual components or the full platform, depending on their business needs.
Who ViewTrade Serves
ViewTrade works with approximately 300 financial institutions globally, including:
- Established broker-dealers modernizing legacy systems
- Fintech firms building new investing products
- Companies embedding investing capabilities into non-financial platforms
The conversation highlights embedded investing as a growing opportunity — where investing functionality becomes part of broader digital experiences, rather than a standalone financial product.
From Internal Systems to a Market-Ready Platform
Originally, ViewTrade’s technology was built to support its own brokerage operations. In 2013, the company made a strategic decision to redesign this internal infrastructure into a multi-tenant platform that could be offered externally.
After several years of development, ViewTrade launched its technology platform commercially in 2020, separate from its brokerage services. This allowed institutions to license the technology while operating their own regulated businesses.
A Self-Funded Growth Philosophy
A central theme of the discussion is ViewTrade’s decision to remain self-funded.
Rather than pursuing venture capital, the company reinvested operating revenues into technology development. Tony explains that this approach was driven by a desire to maintain long-term control, profitability, and continuity for clients — particularly in an industry where institutions depend on stable infrastructure partners.
This philosophy also informs how the company evaluates performance, including a focus on sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and margin discipline.
Technology, AI, and the Future of Investing Platforms
Looking ahead, Tony discusses how ViewTrade is evaluating artificial intelligence in two primary areas:
- Internal productivity, including development efficiency and operational processes
- Client tools, designed to help users access information and make self-directed decisions
He emphasizes that ViewTrade does not provide investment advice, but instead focuses on enabling institutions with tools and infrastructure that support informed decision-making.
A Global Operating Model
ViewTrade operates across multiple regions, with teams in the United States, India (GIFT City), Australia, and several countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The company’s approach is to remain close to local markets while supporting clients through a shared global infrastructure.
Looking Ahead
In the conversation, Tony outlines several areas of focus for the future, including:
- Expansion into new regional markets
- Launch of additional regulated operations
- Continued investment in technology and talent
- Exploring opportunities in the global wealth ecosystem
Compliance Disclaimer
This content is provided for informational purposes only and reflects the personal views and experiences shared during a recorded podcast conversation. It does not constitute investment advice, a solicitation, or a recommendation to engage in any financial transaction or service. Any references to products, services, or business models are descriptive in nature and subject to applicable regulatory requirements.
The podcast was originally published in The SaaS CFO channel.
