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Gen Z investors are doing something interesting—they’re copying the trades of hedge fund managers and politicians using just their phones. The Dub App, a copy trading platform that already hit over 800,000 downloads in early 2025, is making this easy.
This blog shows how to build a similar app from the ground up. We’ll examine its key features, the likely tech stack behind it, and why it’s getting so much attention. If you're a developer, founder, or just someone into fintech, you'll pick up some useful ideas for creating a platform that lets users follow big financial names, track performance, and invest with just a few dollars.
Let’s explore how smart investing is going mobile and how to create a product that stands out.
At its heart, the Dub App is a social-driven copy trading platform built for the modern investor. It fuses real-time data, curated portfolios, and social features to allow users to copy trade politicians, hedge fund managers, and top traders. Below, we summarize the essential features you'd need to replicate to build a competitive platform.
The central feature is copy trading, where users replicate the stock portfolio of another user—be it a hedge fund, politician, or influential finance personality.
Main Functionalities:
• Sync user’s portfolio to mirror that of another.
• View track records and real-time performance of top investors.
• Support automatically trade feature to execute trades in sync with copied portfolios.
• Enable fractional investing technology to make trades more accessible.
To copy trade politicians or hedge fund managers, the Dub App relies on public disclosures:
| Source | What It Provides | Usage in App |
|---|---|---|
| STOCK Act | Politician trades (e.g., Nancy Pelosi) | To let users copy influential finance personalities and trade politicians |
| 13F Filings | Hedge fund quarterly disclosures | Used to recreate portfolios of hedge fund managers like Warren Buffett |
| Creator Portfolios | User-shared portfolios | Enables other dub users to copy and build their own portfolio |
This ensures transparency while helping users make informed decisions based on real investment behavior.
Users can create, manage, and share their stock portfolios with others, who can copy them.
Key features to build:
• Portfolio creation interface (stocks, weights, risk preferences).
• Showcase real-time performance and track records.
• Option to become a dub premium creator and monetize shared portfolios via paid platform subscription.
Dub's creator program allows other investors to earn royalties through a subscription model. Replicating this requires:
• Subscription plans with annual plan terms, including options for a week free trial.
• The revenue-sharing system between the platform and creator.
• UI for users to discover great investors and subscribe to their portfolios.
Dub's "TikTok meets Wall Street" vibe works because of its intuitive, social interface.
To replicate:
• Feed of popular portfolios and top traders
• Filtering by investing skills, trading styles, and historical performance
• Allow users to copy portfolios with one tap
• Follow other users, including friends and great investors
These features encourage interaction, keep users engaged, and help them build a better portfolio through discovery.
Since the Dub App is FINRA-regulated and SIPC-insured, any clone must adhere to U.S. financial laws.
Must-have compliance features:
• Secure account setup with KYC/AML processes
• Use of AES bank-grade encryption
• SEC/FINRA reporting tools
• Transparency in fees, subscription plans, and portfolio others copying
| Category | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Copy Trading | Copy portfolios, auto-sync trades, copy trading politicians and hedge funds |
| Discovery | Explore portfolios by top investors, track real time performance, follow users |
| Portfolio Tools | Create and share stock portfolio, earn with paid platform subscription |
| Compliance | FINRA/SEC compliance, account security, KYC |
| Monetization | Dub premium, royalty payouts, week free trials |
| Social Layer | Follow other dub users, like portfolios, comment and engage |
To replicate the Dub App, you must engineer a platform that supports secure trading, social features, real-time data sync, and regulatory compliance. While the exact tech stack of Dub isn’t public, here's a breakdown of what likely powers it—and how you can build something similar.
| Layer | Technology | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend | React, React Native | Build responsive web and mobile interfaces; supports real-time updates and social UX |
| Backend | Node.js or Python (Django/Flask) | Handles business logic, trades, account management, copy trading |
| Database | PostgreSQL, Redis | Structured data (users, portfolios, trades), caching for real time performance |
| Authentication | Firebase Auth / Auth0 | Secure login, multi-device sync, user account security |
| APIs & Data Feeds | Alpha Vantage, Polygon.io, SEC EDGAR | Pull stocks, public filings, 13F reports, and real time data |
| Cloud Infrastructure | AWS or GCP | Scalability, reliability, deployment pipelines |
| Payments | Stripe / RevenueCat | Process subscription plans, including annual plan terms and week free trials |
| Security | AES-256 encryption, OAuth 2.0 | Protect money, user data, and regulatory trust |
| Analytics | Mixpanel, Amplitude | Track user behavior, improve investing flows and UX |
To make this digestible, here’s a phased roadmap to replicate the Dub App:
• Build user account creation and authentication
• Allow users to create their own portfolio
• Implement basic copy trading from public filings
• Use static data for politician trades and hedge fund managers
• Enable manual portfolio updates
• Add auto-sync engine to trade automatically
• Launch user dashboard with real-time performance
• Let users copy portfolios of top traders
• Introduce monetization via dub premium and paid platform subscription
• Allow users to create portfolios and offer subscription plans
• Build discovery feed for influential finance personalities and other dub users
• Enable social features: follow, comment, compare portfolios
• Integrate fractional investing technology to make even single stock copying affordable
• Launch algorithmic matching of trading styles and investing skills
Start with SEC data: Use SEC EDGAR APIs to fetch public filings from hedge funds and politicians (13F, STOCK Act).
Batch process disclosures: Politician trades may have a 30–45 day lag—batch update copied portfolios with annotations.
Monetization-first thinking: Launch with simple subscription plans, then expand to include creator royalties.
Modular microservices: Keep services like trade execution, notifications, and performance analytics separate for scale.
Security = Trust: Users are trusting you with their money. Invest heavily in secure data handling, encryption, and audits.
Appeal to Gen Z UX: Think TikTok-style UX with easy swipes, taps, and animations. This is what makes Dub stand out.
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Real-time sync of trades | Use websocket or pub/sub architecture with Redis and PostgreSQL |
| Delays in politician trade disclosures | Add delay disclaimers and allow users to simulate results |
| Managing creator royalties | Track copy portfolios and revenue splits via smart contracts or backend logic |
| Compliance with FINRA & SEC | Consult legal early, partner with a registered broker-dealer if needed |
To build a competitive alternative to the Dub App, it’s not enough to offer copy trading. You need to keep users engaged, excited, and motivated to share. Dub’s success lies in combining smart investing, influencer culture, and social virality. Here’s how it works—and how to do it better.
Dub treats investing like social media—snackable content, engaging UX, and community interaction.
Key Engagement Tactics:
• Leaderboard of Top Traders: Users can follow top investors by their track records and real time performance.
• Swipe to Discover: Like TikTok’s feed, users swipe to discover new investment strategies, great investors, and portfolios.
• Social Proof: “Copied by 14,000+ users” badges trigger trust and FOMO.
Tip: Use engagement loops like achievements (e.g., “Your portfolio outperformed Warren Buffett this week”) to motivate regular use.
Dub’s creator program, launched in 2025, is key to attracting influencers who can promote the platform organically.
Monetization Structure:
• Creators build investment strategies and share with other dub users
• Subscriptions can be free or paid through dub premium
• Creators earn royalties from each paid platform subscription
| Model | How It Works | Revenue Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Free Portfolio | No subscription needed | Drives engagement |
| Paid Portfolio | Via subscription plans | Split between platform & creator |
| Annual Plan Terms | Includes discounts, week free trial | Encourages longer retention |
Rather than charging per trade, Dub focuses on recurring revenue through premium features:
• Access to exclusive top traders
• Priority in discovering copy portfolios
• Ability to start copying more than 3 users
• Advanced analytics on portfolio others
This model allows the platform to grow sustainably while keeping user costs predictable and transparent.
Note: Many other investors are attracted by transparent fees, especially younger users wary of hidden costs.
Dub leverages its Gen Z base to grow virally:
• Referral Bonuses: Free month of dub premium or unlock a top investor when a friend joins.
• User-Generated Content: Screenshots of performance shared on social media.
• Creator Leaderboards: More exposure = more subscriptions = more money for creators.
Strategy: Reward users not just for inviting others, but for being copied. It turns every user into a potential ambassador.
Trust and support are critical in financial platforms. Dub provides:
• Fast customer support for account issues
• In-app tips for personal money management
• Learning modules for beginner investors
Consider adding a live Discord or community forum where other users can share strategies and results.
Dub’s model ties investing skills to social value and financial rewards. Users don’t just pick stocks—they pick people and get to copy influential finance personalities, trade politicians, and join a modern financial community.
The result? A feedback loop where:
• New users discover influential finance personalities
• They create and share portfolios
• Others start copying
• Everyone learns, earns, and grows together
When building an app that lets users copy trade politicians, hedge fund managers, and other investors, regulatory compliance isn’t optional—it’s the foundation. The Dub App sets a high standard by being a registered Broker-Dealer, complying with FINRA and SEC rules, and offering SIPC insurance. Here’s how to build that foundation.
| Requirement | Details | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Broker-Dealer Registration | Register with FINRA and the SEC | Enables legal trade execution on behalf of users |
| SIPC Membership | Required for insured trading accounts | Protects users’ money up to $500,000 |
| Data Source Legitimacy | Use official sources like SEC EDGAR and STOCK Act data | Ensures your public filings are credible |
| AML/KYC Systems | Identity verification and risk screening | Critical for onboarding users securely |
| Disclosure Transparency | Display risks, fees, and performance history | Builds trust with new members and other users |
| Tax Reporting Tools | 1099 generation and gains/loss tracking | Helps users manage obligations easily |
Tip: Partnering with a compliance firm early can save months of headaches later, especially around copy trading and custodial account management.
Scraping data from government sites is legal only if properly attributed. For large-scale operations, use licensed APIs for public filings and stock data.
Clearly state that past performance does not guarantee future results. This is especially important when showcasing real-time performance or comparing portfolios with others.
Ensure it's clear that users own their portfolio, even when copying. This affects tax liability and risk exposure.
The rise of the Dub App proves one thing: the future of investing is social, transparent, and user-driven. With over 800,000 downloads and a booming Gen Z user base, Dub has cracked the code on how to:
• Let retail investors copy trade from top traders and influential finance personalities
• Empower users to build and monetize their portfolio
• Leverage fractional investing technology for broader access
• Turn public filings into actionable investment strategies
• Foster a generation of smarter, bolder investors
If you want to create your version of Dub, remember: it’s not just about copying portfolios—it’s about creating a space where other users can discover great investors, share ideas, and grow their financial future.
With the right tech, team, and compliance roadmap, you're not just building a trading app. You're building a financial platform for the next generation.
Next Steps for Developers & Founders:
• Validate your concept with an MVP focused on copy trading
• Integrate subscription plans and creator tools early on
• Prepare your compliance documentation from day one
• Focus on UX that makes investing as fun and easy as social media
Ready to replicate Dub? Start coding, build your beta, and let users start copying their way to financial freedom.
