Promotional Creator Posts Trail Normal Posts in Engagement
Prop firms that pay trading creators for promotion should measure whether that spend earns engagement comparable to ordinary content.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Economic Indicators
Kudo, the prop trading firm formerly known as Kudotrade, has named Felice Digennaro head of prop, a role covering its funded-account business. Digennaro previously led affiliate management at FunderPro, a move that adds to a run of senior prop-firm appointments this year.
Why it matters
Proprietary trading firms that fund traders through challenge-based accounts are competing for talent and marketing reach, and the hire signals how the sector is building out its operating teams. Kudo said the appointment is part of plans to diversify as it expands its licensing footprint.
Kudo Funded, launched in September 2025, offers challenge-based accounts of up to $200,000 and reports more than 5,000 funded accounts and over $1.2 million paid to traders. In a sample of 85,387 creator posts, promotional content drew 0.58% engagement against 1.05% for normal posts.
The players
Kudo
A proprietary trading firm offering challenge-based funded accounts, formerly known as Kudotrade, that runs client trading through a Mauritius-licensed entity.
FunderPro
A prop trading firm whose affiliate management team Digennaro led before joining Kudo.
IC Markets
A retail forex and CFD broker that appointed Petros Kalaitzis to lead its prop division.
GOAT Funded Futures
A futures prop trading firm that named Andreas Pilavakis chief operating officer in March.
The details
Prop firms typically let traders trade firm capital after passing an evaluation, so the firm's marketing and affiliate channels drive recruitment. Digennaro has published LinkedIn data on how prop firms pay trading influencers and says he has tracked around 10,000 trading creators. The sample suggests that heavily promotional creator content may underperform ordinary posts with audiences.
Timeline
September 2025: Kudo Funded launched its challenge-based accounts.
January 2026: IC Markets named Petros Kalaitzis general manager of its prop division.
March 2026: Andreas Pilavakis became chief operating officer of GOAT Funded Futures.
June 2026: Kudotrade adopted the Kudo.com name and received a UAE Category 5 permit.
November 9, 2026: Kudo announced Digennaro's appointment as head of prop.
Market Landscape
Digennaro is the third person with FunderPro on their resume to take a senior job at another prop business this year, following IC Markets' January appointment of Petros Kalaitzis and GOAT Funded Futures' March hire of Andreas Pilavakis as chief operating officer. The moves show senior prop-firm talent circulating among a small set of competing firms.
Firms that run funded-trader programs should review how their creator and affiliate spend performs, since the sample showed promotional posts drawing about half the engagement of normal posts. Operators in the sector should also watch recruitment costs, as senior talent is moving between competing firms.
The takeaway
The engagement gap suggests that prop firms relying on promotional creator content may be overpaying for reach, so marketing teams should measure engagement per dollar spent. Track further UAE licensing from Kudo as the firm says more permits will follow its Category 5 approval.
Further reading
For broader context on the economic signals behind trading and financial-services hiring, see Economic Indicators.
