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Pierce Crosby has stepped down from his position as General Manager at TradingView, the financial charting and social networking platform, to focus on Merchant Seven (M7), a strategic advisory firm targeting early-stage companies.
During Crosby's nearly six-year tenure, TradingView underwent significant expansion, growing from 40 employees to more than 600 and building a user base that now exceeds 90 million across 180 countries. The platform's growth culminated in a USD $298 million funding round in 2021, valuing the company at USD $ 3 billion.
Merchant Seven, which Crosby originally established in 2018 as an interim venture between roles, aims to address a critical gap in the market where early-stage companies struggle to access cost-efficient operational expertise. The firm plans to combine investment capital with hands-on operational support, enabling startups to leverage external resources for key growth functions.
Pierce Crosby, Managing Partner of Merchant Seven, said: "The startup ecosystem is more fragmented than ever, and founders today need experienced operators who can bring structure, clarity, and acceleration to their businesses. With M7, we are creating an agile consulting framework that helps companies break through scaling challenges while maintaining cost flexibility." On his personal blog post on his own site he further commented, "The rocket ship is now automated. The brand has attained gravity, self-sustaining in its momentum. It is no coincidence that we embrace the imagery of black holes in our marketing; TradingView has become an entity with its own gravitational pull."
On a recent LinkedIn post announcing his move, Crosby stated that, "TradingView is in good hands, and the early stage ecosystem is evolving rapidly."
The launch of Merchant Seven comes as many companies continue to rely on traditional strategy consulting firms, which often lack specialised expertise in scaling technology businesses. The firm's name reflects Crosby's family heritage as the seventh generation of American merchants, dating back to Michael Gratz in late 1700s Philadelphia.
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Stefan Cheplick, Partner, Merchant Seven | Milana Ruchkina, Chief of Staff, Merchant Seven |
Crosby will be joined by ex-TradingView colleagues Stefan Cheplick and Milana Ruchkina, who join Merchant Seven as partners in the new venture. At TradingView, Cheplick was Head of Global Community helping the business grow from a valuation of $300 million to $3 billion over his 4 years in the role. Ruchkina was at TradingView for almost 6 years, leving the firm in June 2024 as US Growth Director. Prior to TradingView, Cheplick was Director of Digital Marketing at Stocktwits, the socialnetwork forretail investors, assisting in that firm's growth from a nearly $10 million valuation to a $200 million valuation, and from 7 employees to nearly 40 employees
On a Linkedn post (from November) announcing her move to Merchant Seven, Ruchkina said:
"If we think of life as a journey where our most cherished dreams are realised as we go, I see my career following a steady path.
No material wealth motivates me to rise each day; rather, it's the opportunity to create something meaningful, make an impact, and contribute to positive change in the world that drives me.
Today I'm excited to share that I've joined the Merchant Seven team to continue pursuing that vision and passion. My focus will be working with early stage companies to help their dreams come true too!
It is a big step for me joining an early stage venture, but I am confident in my skillset and goals to take this project to the next level. ⏫ ☄️
Crosby explained that the advisory firm enters the market as early-stage companies face mounting pressure to achieve rapid growth amid challenging market conditions. Traditional consulting models have struggled to adapt to the specific needs of technology startups, creating an opportunity for more specialised advisory services.
During Crosby's leadership at TradingView, the platform expanded its partnerships with major brokers and exchanges, strengthening its position in the financial technology sector. His experience in scaling technology companies adds credibility to Merchant Seven's mission to guide early-stage businesses through critical growth phases.
In a personal blog post on his own website, Crosby explains that the name "Merchant Seven" pays homage to his heritage as the seventh generation of merchants in America, tracing back to Michael Gratz in late 1700s Philadelphia, with this connection underscoring the firm's commitment to the spirit of American enterprise and resilience in the face of uncertainty.
Crosby likens the challenges of early-stage technology companies to navigating a dark room, where the goal is to find the key (success) without triggering landmines (pitfalls). He positions M7's role as providing a "flashlight" to help founders navigate this challenging environment.
Merchant Seven aims to help companies grow their voice, brand, and revenue while avoiding common pitfalls. As for the future of Merchant Seven, Crosby keeps the possibilities open, stating, "There are no bad ideas—only opportunities yet to be explored."
The firm, which already has secured initial clients, plans to expand its team in spring 2025 to meet increasing demand.
