retirement-savings
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The Startup That Chases Down America's $2.1 Trillion in Forgotten 401(k)s
Americans leave 401(k)s behind every time they switch jobs. Capitalize built a business on the phone calls, notaries and paperwork nobody wants to deal with.
Basic Capital
Basic Capital is a New York fintech building a modernized 401(k) and IRA platform that lets everyday workers finance their retirement investments rather than only contribute out of pocket. For every dollar a saver puts in, the company supplies supplemental capital - roughly four additional dollars - so contributions are deployed into diversified portfolios of ETFs, bonds, and access to alternatives like private credit. Founded by former Goldman Sachs banker Abdul Al-Asaad, it positions itself as the first platform to bring financing and alternative assets into tax-advantaged retirement accounts, and raised a $25M Series A in August 2025 led by Forerunner and Lux Capital.
Vestwell
Vestwell is a New York-based fintech that operates as digital savings infrastructure for the American workplace. Founded in 2016 by Aaron Schumm, it provides an API-driven recordkeeping and administration platform that lets employers, financial advisors, payroll providers, and state governments offer 401(k), 403(b), IRA, 529 education, ABLE disability, and emergency savings accounts. By 2026 the company administered more than $50B in assets for over 2 million savers, powered the majority of state-facilitated retirement programs in the U.S., and raised a $385M Series E to expand the modern savings economy.
Candidly
Candidly is an AI-native financial wellness platform that helps employers, financial institutions, recordkeepers and banks deliver personalized guidance on student debt, savings and retirement. Formerly FutureFuel.io, the company optimizes income-driven repayment, powers student-loan-to-401(k) retirement matches under SECURE 2.0, and now runs a multi-agent AI system - the Candidly Intelligence Center, fronted by its conversational assistant Cait - that spans debt payoff, budgeting, college planning and tax-advantaged accounts. Founded in 2016 by Laurel Taylor, Candidly reports it can reach roughly 1 in 2 U.S. workers through its distribution partners.