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Back in the day, some the biggest pit traders were granted the designation of “Top Step” on their floor badges. This prestigious permission meant they were allowed to stand on the very top tier of the trading pit to get a full view of all the action, and better access to orders than those traders down in the belly of the pit.
Topstep’s founder, Michael Patak, started his trading career by falling flat on his face. He blew out three brokerage accounts before learning the keys to consistent performance. This inspired Michael to create a place where traders could develop their skills and trade live capital without putting their life savings on the line.
Born in 2012 as Patak Trading Partners, our mission was clear—provide a safe place for traders to professionalize their passion (still our mission today!) We evolved to become TopstepTrader and launched the Trading Combine®, the very first funding opportunity for retail traders. Now, as Topstep, we continue to help traders everywhere reframe their mindset and find consistent success without risking their own capital.
Topstep has funded thousands of traders across the globe, paying out millions in withdrawals. We’ve been on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies, selected as one of Crain’s 100 Best Places to Work in Chicago, and nationally recognized on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 list. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we’re always focused on what comes next.
We’re a diverse group of 60+, in a loft in downtown Chicago, innovating and having fun. We insist on good coffee. We’re Dolly Parton fans. We share a beer after work, because we actually like each other. And when we do, we debate: Is a hotdog a sandwich? But most importantly, we work with authenticity and honesty, and with traders at the center of everything we do. This is just the beginning, we’re not going anywhere.
