AI Business
1d ago
Christina Qi transitions from hedge fund to market data startup, raising $97 million
Jul 9, 2026
AI Summary
Christina Qi, former head of a high-frequency trading hedge fund, has launched Databento, a market data infrastructure company. The startup recently secured $97 million in funding to expand its services, which aim to provide affordable financial data to institutions and individuals.
- Christina Qi previously managed Domeyard LP, a hedge fund that traded up to $7.1 billion daily before closing it to start Databento.
- Databento raised $97 million in a Series B funding round led by NEA, with participation from other investors, bringing total funding to approximately $127 million.
- The startup is profitable with 24 employees and plans to expand its data center presence globally, increasing storage capacity significantly.
- Databento offers a user-friendly service for acquiring market data, contrasting with traditional high-cost options like Bloomberg Terminals.
- The company captures and cleans real-time price data from over 80 trading venues using specialized technology, attracting a diverse customer base including large financial institutions and tech companies like Nvidia and OpenAI.
- Qi aims to grow Databento into a major player in the market data industry, despite the risk of acquisition that has affected other startups in the sector.
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