About TickIt Trading Systems LLC
TickIt Trading Systems was founded in 2009 to develop proprietary software that would fundamentally shift the paradigm of the futures marketplace by lowering the barriers for traders seeking high-end trade execution tools. TickIt software was developed in-house by traders who were frustrated with the complexities, limitations and costs of existing systems. In June 2010, TickIt was acquired by Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT). TickIt's software has been used, tested and refined over four years to meet or exceed the diverse needs of active professional traders. It will be integrated with TT's X_TRADER® platform and made available through TT's global distribution network in 2011 to benefit traders worldwide.
Media Contact:
Ray Carmichael
Vivid Ascent
ray@vividascent.com
312.346.2002
TickIt News
July 1, 2010
Trading Technologies Acquired TickIt Trading Systems
Chicago-based Trading Technologies has acquired TickIT Trading Systems to move into the low-latency algorithmic trading space for futures. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
June 9, 2010
Trading Technologies snaps up TickIt Trading
Big news in Chicago's high-tech trading scene: Trading Technologies International Inc. announced Wednesday that it's acquired TickIt Trading Systems LLC.
June 9, 2010
Trading Technologies Acquires TickIt Trading Systems
(CHICAGO, June 9, 2010) - Trading Technologies International, Inc. (TT), a leading provider of order-entry software and solutions for professional derivatives traders, announced today that it has acquired TickIt Trading Systems, LLC (TickIt). Terms of the deal are undisclosed.
TickIt‘s software provides traders of every level of expertise a comprehensive and unique combination of capabilities needed to move into advanced low-latency algorithmic and blackbox trading. The award-winning platform allows traders to create high-frequency strategies quickly and safely without having to write source code.
In a joint statement, Mike Unetich and Rick Lane, Co-Founders of TickIt Trading Systems, said, “We‘re excited about this transaction. The combined forces of the two companies will allow us to showcase our technology to the greatest number of traders and help usher in the next phase of algorithmic trading.”
Harris Brumfield, TT CEO, added, “We think TickIt’s software is innovative and complementary to TT’s software and solutions. Our end users should benefit greatly.”
The purchase of TickIt was completed on June 8, 2010.
May 30, 2010
Crain’s Features TickIt in Entrepreneurs in Action Video
“High-speed, high tech - Former floor trader Michael Unetich and his cousin, Rick Lane, launched TickIt Trading Systems to bring the power of algorithmic trading to Chicago's legions of local traders.”
Link to Entrepreneurs in Action Video on Crain’s
May 4th, 2010
CNBC Magazine: TickIt One of Eight Tech Advances You Have Not Heard About...Yet
TickIt was featured among other groundbreaking technologies in the May 2010 edition of CNBC Magazine. From the article - Enderle says TickIt, which started in 2009, could be a hit: “If widely deployed, it could actually change trading as we know it. It has a great deal of potential.”
April 29, 2010
TickIt Wins ITA CityLIGHTS Newcomer Award!
We‘re pleased to announce that on April 29th at the ITA CityLights Awards Gala, TickIt Trading Systems was selected as the winner of the Newcomer Award! The award is given to the company that "has the strongest potential to emerge from its start-up phase and distinguish itself in the technology marketplace."
Thank you for your continued support!
Link to the 2010 ITA Award Winners
April 27, 2010
Crain’s Chicago Business: Q&A: TickIt Aims to Democratize ‘High-Frequency’ Trading
TickIt co-founder Rick Lane is featured in the Enterprise City Blog discussing how TickIt’s software platform was created, the potential impact it has on the trading industry and the link between wargaming and trading, ‘We put you on same level as the firm with its own MIT programmers on staff.’
April 23, 2010
Securities Industry News Idea Exchange Blog: Fast Ball - Fertilize the Playing Field
Co-founders Mike Unetich and Rick Lane wrote a byline article about how the securities trading industry needs to not just create a better set of rules, but to create a stronger playing field for all who walk onto the playing field, from institutional to retail customer.
http://www.securitiesindustry.com/blogs/-25185-1.html
April 5, 2010
TickIt Trading Systems a Finalist for Illinois Technology Association’s 2010 Newcomer Award!
Exciting news! TickIt Trading Systems is a finalist for the Illinois Technology Association's 2010 Newcomer Award, an honor given to a local technology company that has the strongest potential to emerge from its start-up phase and distinguish itself in the technology marketplace.
Starting at NOON CST today, Monday, April 5th, you can vote for TickIt by visiting the ITA’s website: http://www.itacitylights.org/. You have to vote using a work email address (no Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, etc.). If you only have a non-work email address, please pass around to your colleagues/neighbors/friends, etc. and encourage them to vote for TickIt! Voting closes April 24th.
Here’s a press release announcing the finalists:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Illinois-Technology-Association-ITA-Announces-Finalists-11th-Annual-CityLIGHTS-Awards-1141925.htm
April 2, 2010
TickIt’s simulated trading environment is mentioned in the April edition of Futures Magazine:
http://www.futuresmag.com/Issues/2010/April-2010/Pages/New-for-Traders-Technology.aspx?k=tickit
March 31, 2010
TICKIT INTRODUCES ALGO DESIGN LAB TO LOCAL TRADING GROUPS AT CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE’S VISITOR’S CENTER
Chicago (March 31, 2010) – TickIt Trading Systems showcased their game-changing technology platform, Algo Design Lab, in front of approximately 40 local trading groups at the Chicago Board of Trade’s Visitor’s Center on March 31, 2010. The Algo Design Lab is a visually-rich platform that allows traders to revolutionize their trading approach by designing start-to-finish algorithmic trading programs and strategies without having to write a single line of code.
Director of Technology Rick Lane and TickIt colleague Nate Edwards demonstrated several sample algorithmic designs and answered questions for almost two hours.
“We’re seeing a lot more people move from our Simulated Market environment to the live market. This large group demonstration was in response to requests to learn more about the design opportunities and capabilities of TickIt’s Algo Design Lab,” said Lane.
An ironic connection, another local trading technology company launched one of their flagship applications that created a shift in the trading market eight years ago in the same CBOT Visitor’s Center.
“We think our Algo Design Lab will create the next shift in trading technology – building automated strategies without writing computer code is a really ground-breaking technology,” said co-founder Michael Unetich. “The CBOT event was another example of how our TickIt team wants to educate the trading community about new technology that can help their businesses remain competitive.”
Please contact our sales team if you are interested in seeing a demonstration of our software: sales@tickit.com.
March 19, 2010
TickIt Co-Founders Appear on CBS2’s Monsters & Money in the Morning
TickIt co-founders Mike Unetich & Rick Lane discussed the TickIt technology evolution and the thriving Chicago entrepreneurial community on CBS2’s Monsters & Money in the Morning show Friday, March 19th.
http://cbs2chicago.com/video/?id=69412@wbbm.dayport.com
March 2, 2010
TickIt’s Simulation Environment mentioned on BobsGuide.com
NEW SIMULATED MARKET ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS FUTURES TRADERS TO DESIGN AND TEST ALGORITHMS WITH LIVE MARKET DATATickIt Trading Systems minimizes risk of computer-driven programs
Link to BobsGuide.com
Febuary 9, 2010
NEW SIMULATED MARKET ENVIRONMENT ALLOWS FUTURES TRADERS TO DESIGN AND TEST ALGORITHMS WITH LIVE MARKET DATA
TickIt Trading Systems minimizes risk of computer-driven programs
CHICAGO – (February 9, 2010) – Many trading groups using new computer-driven platforms experience a steep – and potentially costly - learning curve when executing strategies in the fast-paced trading market. To help educate traders on how to properly and efficiently utilize computer-driven platforms, TickIt Trading Systems has developed a simulated market (SIM) in which traders can test their strategies with live market data.
“With 15 years of experience in the futures trading industry, I know how valuable it is for traders to be able to test their strategies before deploying them in a live market,” said TickIt co-founder Michael Unetich. “In TickIt’s SIM market, traders without any programming experience can design and run algorithmic strategies without fearing pitfalls typically present in running automated programs that have not been rigorously tested in a live market.”
Approximately 60 trading firms are currently using TickIt’s SIM market and Unetich expects to see an increase in requests over the next few months as more traders become aware of TickIt’s unique Algo Design Lab, a platform that is unlike any other system in the industry.
“TickIt’s user-friendly Algo Design Lab introduces traders to a more interactive way of creating algorithms. They can literally drag and drop icons to construct algorithmic circuit-like designs on their screen, which when deployed to the TickIt server, are compiled and run as if they were traditional computer programs.” said TickIt co-founder and Director of Technology Rick Lane. “Once traders feel confident with their algorithm building skills in the SIM market, they can use TickIt to implement their own automated blackbox high frequency trading strategies in a live market.”
“To minimize risks inherent with running automated programs, TickIt created intuitive design “feedback” signals, installed safety measures to prevent improper logic within the Algo Design Lab, and thoroughly tested the software throughout the lifecycle,” said Lane. “When the platform is used in tandem with TickIt SIM, traditional pitfalls found in most software design, such as infinite loops or memory leaks, should become a thing of the past.”
“Not only do we provide the tools to trade with minimized risks, we provide an educational experience,” said Unetich. “This is one more example of how TickIt is creating a more empowering experience for users of our trading platform.”
About TickIt Trading Systems
Chicago-based TickIt Trading Systems (www.tickit.com), is a company co-founded in 2009 by Michael Unetich, a futures trader with more than 15 years of experience, and Rick Lane, a computer programmer who began his professional career designing computer-based war games and tools for modeling terrorist networks for the Department of Defense. TickIt has created a disruptive technological platform which will empower any trader to design, create and deploy their own automated blackbox high frequency trading strategies without having to write a single line of source code.
TickIt is offering TickIt SIM to trial subscribers and to all subscribers of the TickIt Plus license, which includes the Algo Design Lab platform. To learn more about TickIt Trading software and the Algo Design Lab, and to view a system video demo, visit www.tickit.com.
October 20, 2009
TickIt Trading Systems to unveil new front-end futures trading system at FIA Expo.
CHICAGO — TickIt Trading Systems LLC will debut its new front-end futures trading system at the 25th annual FIA Futures and Options Expo, October 20-22, at Hilton Chicago.
This new software offers futures traders a complete suite of tools, strategies and execution capabilities, including true server-side execution and the capability to create custom algorithms with drag-and-drop ease. “This is the next-generation futures trading system traders have been waiting for,” says Michael Unetich, President and Co-Founder of the new company. “It’s a system that provides any trader with access to the same capabilities of the big prop firms.”
With TickIt, traders’ strategies and orders reside on a server with a direct connection to the exchange’s matching engine. “That means our program reacts to market updates and executes orders before that information even reaches traditional front-end systems,” says Unetich.
Drag-and-drop algo creation is an exclusive TickIt feature that lets traders construct virtually any algorithmic trading strategy in minutes. The system also includes the capability to build and save custom spread automated leggers.
Among the other unique features offered by TickIt are: “with a tick” order capability; a suite of dynamic market making tools; and the new TickIt Smart Ticker, a tool that organizes and displays critical information in a format that’s intuitive, accessible and very useful to traders.
To make it easy for traders to learn the power of TickIt, Unetich says the company is offering a 30-Day FREE Trial. Traders can find out more by stopping by the TickIt exhibit (Booth 1613) at the FIA Expo, visiting www.tickit.com or calling the company at 312.341.7453.