Funder Trading – Firm Review
- Quick capital access for skilled traders
- Streamlined verification without excessive restrictions
- Flexible control over account settings
- Exceptional profit splits for performers
- Personalized assistance throughout your journey
Firm Overview
Funder Trading (fundertrading.com) is based in Chicago at 141 West Jackson Blvd — a genuine physical address in the financial district. Specializes in funding Stocks and Options traders, which is uncommon in the prop industry. Offers the True Edge Challenge evaluation. Provides professional prop trading software, live coaching, online education, advanced market data, and automated risk management as part of membership. All losses on funded accounts are covered by the firm.
Company Information
- Location: 141 West Jackson Blvd, Suite 3315, Chicago, IL 60604
- Speciality: Stocks and Options prop trading (rare)
- Max funding: $250,000 | All losses covered by firm
- Evaluation: True Edge Challenge with coaching and education included
- Trustpilot: 17 reviews — verify current status at fundertrading.com
Funder Trading Prop Trading Firm Overview
Funder Trading is a US-based proprietary trading firm headquartered at 141 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois — the heart of one of the world’s most established futures and trading districts. The firm was founded by Michael Patton, a professional proprietary trader and former Head of Day Trading at Prosper Trading Academy, with a specific focus on equities and options trading. Funder Trading occupies a genuinely distinctive position in the funded trading landscape: it is marketed as the only proprietary trading firm that offers options funding without requiring traders to hold any specific certification or provide upfront trading capital of their own.
The firm’s core philosophy is built around day trading discipline — specifically, helping traders develop the kind of repeatable, systematic approach that institutional prop desks demand. Unlike most prop firms that focus exclusively on forex or futures, Funder Trading targets the equities and options markets, giving funded traders access to large capital allocations starting at $100,000. The firm pairs its funding program with an unusually robust educational infrastructure: over 80 hours of video content from Michael Patton himself, plus a free daily live trading room (the Pre-Market Pulse, hosted 7:30-8:00 AM CST every trading day) where Patton shares his analysis, setups, and real-time commentary before the market opens.
With only 17 Trustpilot reviews at the time of this writing, Funder Trading is a smaller, more specialized operation than the large-scale futures prop firms with thousands of reviews. However, its combination of large capital allocations, options funding access, and professional-grade daily coaching makes it a compelling option for traders focused on equity markets who need both capital and continuous market education.
Key Features at a Glance
Challenge Fees
Funder Trading uses a two-phase evaluation program to qualify traders for funded accounts. Evaluation fees are structured based on account size and are paid upfront as a one-time cost per challenge attempt. The firm does not publish a fixed public fee schedule in all channels, so prospective traders should verify current pricing directly on fundertrading.com before signing up. The evaluation investment reflects the premium nature of the firm’s minimum capital allocation — funded accounts start at $100,000, significantly higher than the typical $25,000-$50,000 entry-level accounts at most competitors.
- Two-phase evaluation challenge required before funded account access
- Fee structure based on account size — check fundertrading.com for current pricing
- Minimum funded account size: $100,000 (above industry average entry point)
- Maximum funded capital: up to $250,000 available
- No upfront capital contribution required from trader — evaluation fee is the only cost
- Options funding available without requiring any trader certification
Account Types
Funder Trading focuses on a streamlined account structure centered around day trading equities and options. All accounts are simulated prop accounts that mirror real-market conditions for stocks and options. The two-phase evaluation pathway is the standard route to funding. Day traders who pass both phases gain access to funded capital starting at $100,000, with the opportunity to scale toward $250,000 for top performers. All accounts are subject to the firm’s day trading rules, including no overnight holds on positions.
- Phase 1 Evaluation Account: first challenge phase with profit target and risk limits
- Phase 2 Evaluation Account: second challenge phase demonstrating sustained consistency
- Funded Simulated Account: activated upon passing both phases, starting at $100,000
- Options trading permitted across all account types without requiring trader certification
- Day trading focus — no overnight position holding on stocks or options
- Scaling available from $100,000 up to $250,000 for consistent performers
Profit Split Options
Funder Trading offers an 80% profit split for all funded traders. This means funded traders keep 80 cents of every dollar of profit they generate on their Funder Trading account, with the firm retaining the remaining 20%. This split is in line with competitive industry standards and reflects the firm’s premium capital allocation (starting at $100,000), where 80% of profits on a larger account base can represent a meaningfully higher dollar return than a higher percentage on a smaller funded account at competing firms.
- Standard profit split: 80% trader / 20% firm on all funded accounts
- Split applies to both stock and options profits generated on funded accounts
- All losses within risk parameters are covered by the firm — no personal liability for drawdowns
- Payout frequency and methods: contact fundertrading.com for current payout schedule details
Account Sizes
| Account Size | Type | Profit Split | Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | Standard Funded | 80% | Stocks & Options |
| $150,000 | Advanced Funded | 80% | Stocks & Options |
| $250,000 | Elite Funded (Scaled) | 80% | Stocks & Options |
Trading Platforms
Funder Trading supports professional trading platforms that are well-suited to equities and options day trading. The platform selection is designed to provide traders with the charting, order routing, and real-time data capabilities required for active, intraday stock and options trading. Traders should verify the current list of supported platforms directly with the firm, as platform availability may evolve.
- MetaTrader 5 (MT5) — industry-standard platform with advanced charting and order management
- NinjaTrader — versatile platform with strong charting and automation capabilities
- cTrader — modern platform with advanced order types and level 2 data support
- Additional platforms may be supported — check fundertrading.com for current availability
Financial Markets
Funder Trading focuses exclusively on US equities and options markets — a deliberate strategic choice that sets it apart from the vast majority of prop firms which focus on forex, futures, or crypto. By concentrating on stocks and options, the firm is able to provide a more specialized, depth-rich trading environment suited to equity-focused strategies including momentum trading, technical breakouts, and options spreads. All trading is day-trading only: positions must be opened and closed within the same trading session, and no overnight holds are permitted.
- US Equities (Stocks) — individual stock day trading across major US exchanges (NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX)
- Options — funded options trading without requiring any trader certification (unique in the prop firm space)
- Day trading only — all positions must be closed before market close; no overnight holds permitted
- No forex, futures, or cryptocurrency markets — equity and options specialist firm
Funder Trading Challenge Program
Funder Trading uses a two-phase evaluation program to identify and fund disciplined, consistently profitable day traders. Both phases test the trader’s ability to hit defined profit targets while staying within the firm’s risk parameters — daily loss limits and maximum drawdown rules. The challenge is structured as a sequential process: pass Phase 1, then trade Phase 2, and upon passing both phases receive funded capital starting at $100,000. The firm’s minimum trading day requirement of at least 3 trading days per phase ensures a meaningful evaluation period without being overly burdensome.
Two-Phase Evaluation Structure
| Parameter | Phase 1 | Phase 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Profit Target | ~10% of account | ~8% of account |
| Daily Loss Limit | ~5% of account | ~5% of account |
| Maximum Drawdown | ~8-10% | ~8-10% |
| Minimum Trading Days | 3 days | 3 days |
| Overnight Holds | Not permitted | Not permitted |
| Markets | Stocks & Options | Stocks & Options |
Funder Trading Trading Rules
Funder Trading’s trading rules reflect its day trading philosophy and the specific risk characteristics of equity and options markets. The core rules are a daily loss limit, a maximum drawdown limit, and a no-overnight-hold requirement. The day trading restriction is fundamental to the firm’s model: all positions in stocks and options must be closed before market close, and no positions may be carried overnight. This aligns the firm’s model with the intraday dynamics of equity markets and reduces the firm’s overnight gap risk exposure. Traders who prefer swing trading or position trading will find Funder Trading’s rules incompatible with those strategies.
- Daily loss limit: approximately 5% of account balance — trading stops for the day upon breaching
- Maximum drawdown: approximately 8-10% — account closure upon breach
- No overnight holds — all stock and options positions must be closed before market close
- Minimum 3 trading days per evaluation phase before qualifying for pass
- Consistency rule applies — no single trading day can account for a disproportionate percentage of total profits
- Options trading permitted without any certification requirement — unique to Funder Trading
- Day trading focus only — no swing, position, or overnight trading strategies supported
- All losses within risk parameters covered by the firm — trader has no personal liability for in-limit drawdowns
Funder Trading Company Information
Funder Trading is headquartered at 141 West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago, Illinois — a building with deep roots in the US trading industry, located adjacent to the Chicago Board of Trade. The firm was founded by Michael Patton, a professional trader with extensive experience in both institutional prop trading and retail trader education. Patton’s background at Prosper Trading Academy — one of the most recognized US-based trading education organizations — informs the firm’s emphasis on education as a parallel pillar to its funding program. He brings direct experience trading with institutional capital, which gives his coaching content in the Pre-Market Pulse and the 80+ hour video library a practical credibility that many prop firms’ educational materials lack.
The firm’s Chicago location is not merely symbolic. Funder Trading operates in proximity to some of the deepest equity market liquidity centers in the world, and its founding team’s background reflects a genuinely professional trading environment. While Funder Trading is a smaller operation in terms of review volume compared to large-scale futures prop firms, its specialist focus on equities and options — the largest asset classes in the world by market capitalization — gives it a unique position that larger generalist prop firms cannot easily replicate.
- Headquarters: 141 West Jackson Blvd, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Founded by Michael Patton — professional prop trader and former Head of Day Trading at Prosper Trading Academy
- Specialization: US equities and options day trading — unique focus in the prop firm industry
- Funded capital range: $100,000 to $250,000
- 80% profit split on all funded accounts
- Daily live trading room (Pre-Market Pulse) hosted every trading day by Michael Patton
- 80+ hours of professional video trading education included with all programs
Payout Methods
Funder Trading processes payouts for funded traders through standard financial channels. The firm supports standard payment methods and processes payout requests according to a defined schedule. Traders should contact fundertrading.com or refer to the firm’s official FAQ for current payout method options, minimum withdrawal amounts, and processing timelines, as these details may be updated. Community feedback from funded traders highlights the firm’s customer service team — specifically staff members Michael Patton and Danny Greenberg — as responsive and accommodating in handling payout and account queries.
- Standard payout methods available — see fundertrading.com for current options (ACH, wire transfer, cryptocurrency)
- 80% profit split applied to all funded account profits before payout
- Firm losses covered: drawdowns within risk limits are absorbed by Funder Trading, not the trader
- Customer service team praised for responsiveness in payout processing (Trustpilot reviews)
- Contact support at fundertrading.com for specific payout schedule and minimum amounts
Unique Features of Funder Trading
Options Funding Without Certification
Funder Trading’s most unique differentiator is its willingness to fund options traders without requiring any specific certification, license, or prior proof of professional trading credentials. Options trading is a complex derivatives strategy that most prop firms either exclude entirely or require significant regulatory compliance before funding. Funder Trading bypasses this barrier, making funded options trading accessible to skilled self-taught traders who have developed robust options strategies but lack formal credentials. For options traders specifically, this is a remarkable opportunity — access to $100,000+ in funded capital without the regulatory gatekeeping that blocks entry in most other prop firm contexts.
Daily Live Trading Room (Pre-Market Pulse)
Every trading day, Funder Trading founder Michael Patton hosts a free live trading room called the Pre-Market Pulse from 7:30 to 8:00 AM CST — before the US equity markets open. In this daily session, Patton shares his pre-market analysis, identifies high-probability setups for the day, and provides real-time commentary on market conditions. This is a significant educational resource that goes far beyond what most prop firms offer. For funded traders who are actively improving their approach, daily access to a professional trader’s live analysis provides both tactical insight and the kind of ongoing mentorship that typically costs thousands of dollars separately.
80+ Hours of Professional Video Education
Funder Trading includes over 80 hours of professionally produced video trading education with all programs. This content was created by Michael Patton based on his years of institutional prop trading and trader coaching experience. The curriculum covers the technical and psychological foundations of disciplined day trading — from chart pattern recognition and entry/exit mechanics to risk management and trader psychology. For traders who are early in their development, this educational library represents a meaningful value-add beyond the funded capital itself. For experienced traders who already have a systematic approach, the library provides an opportunity to stress-test their existing methodology against a professional’s framework.
Why Choose Funder Trading?
Funder Trading is built for a specific type of trader: the equity and options day trader who needs institutional capital, professional coaching, and access to the world’s largest markets without the futures or forex orientation of most prop firms. If you trade US stocks and options as your primary market, Funder Trading’s combination of large capital allocations (starting at $100,000), funded options access without certification, daily live coaching from a professional trader, and 80+ hours of educational content creates a package that no other prop firm currently matches. The firm’s Chicago headquarters and professional founding team provide credibility and depth that is rare among the newer generation of online prop firms.
The firm is best suited for experienced day traders who already have a disciplined intraday methodology — the no-overnight-hold rule and consistency requirements mean that swing traders or position traders will find the rules incompatible with their approach. But for active equity day traders and options traders specifically, Funder Trading represents one of the most compelling funded trading opportunities available in its asset class.
- Only prop firm offering funded options trading without certification requirements
- Large starting capital: $100,000 minimum — above industry average for entry-level funded accounts
- Daily live Pre-Market Pulse trading room hosted by founder Michael Patton every trading day
- 80+ hours of professional video trading education included with all programs
- 80% profit split — competitive with industry standards on significantly larger account sizes
- Chicago-based, professionally founded — not a generic offshore prop firm operation
- Scalable to $250,000 for consistent performers
- Firm absorbs all drawdown losses within risk limits — no personal capital at risk for traders
Funder Trading FAQ
Is Funder Trading legitimate?
Yes. Funder Trading is a legitimate proprietary trading firm headquartered at 141 West Jackson Blvd in Chicago, Illinois. The firm was founded by Michael Patton, a professional trader with experience at Prosper Trading Academy, and has funded traders who have received payouts as reported in Trustpilot reviews. Community feedback highlights the firm’s customer service team and payout reliability. As with any prop firm, traders should review the complete terms and conditions on fundertrading.com before signing up and verify current pricing and rules directly with the firm.
Can I trade options with Funder Trading?
Yes. Funder Trading is one of the only proprietary trading firms that allows funded options trading without requiring any trader certification or professional license. Funded accounts can trade both US stocks and options within the firm’s risk parameters. All options positions are subject to the same day trading rules as stock positions — meaning positions must be closed before market close and overnight holds are not permitted on any options contracts. For traders who have developed skilled options strategies without formal credentials, this is a significant opportunity.
What is the Pre-Market Pulse trading room?
The Pre-Market Pulse is a daily live trading room hosted by Funder Trading founder Michael Patton from 7:30 to 8:00 AM CST every US trading day. In this 30-minute session, Patton provides pre-market analysis, identifies potential setups for the session, and shares commentary on current market conditions. It is available free to all Funder Trading program participants. For funded traders who are actively refining their approach, the Pre-Market Pulse provides daily access to a professional trader’s live analysis — a resource that would typically cost hundreds of dollars per month in standalone coaching programs.
Can I hold positions overnight with Funder Trading?
No. Funder Trading enforces a strict no-overnight-hold rule for all funded accounts. All stock and options positions must be closed before the US equity market closes each trading day. No carry positions are permitted through market close. This reflects the firm’s day trading focus and its approach to managing overnight gap risk. Traders who rely on swing trading, overnight momentum plays, or any strategy that requires carrying positions through market close will find this rule incompatible with their approach. Funder Trading is exclusively designed for intraday traders.
How does Funder Trading’s scaling program work?
Funder Trading offers a scaling pathway from the standard $100,000 funded account up to $250,000 in total funded capital for consistently profitable traders. Scaling eligibility is based on demonstrated profitability and disciplined risk management over time. The specific performance thresholds required to qualify for account size increases should be verified directly with the firm on fundertrading.com, as the criteria may be updated. Throughout the scaling process, the 80% profit split and day trading rules remain consistent regardless of account size.
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