Dave Cummings (entrepreneur)

Dave Cummings is an American entrepreneur best known for co-founding BATS Trading (Better Alternative Trading System), which later became BATS Global Markets. He is recognized for his role in revolutionizing the stock exchange industry through technology and innovation.

Cummings began his career in the financial technology sector. Prior to BATS, he held various positions at Tradebot Systems, a proprietary trading firm he founded. Tradebot focused on high-frequency trading and contributed to significant technological advancements in market access and execution.

In 2005, Cummings co-founded BATS Trading with Brian F. Nagle. BATS aimed to provide a faster and more cost-effective alternative to traditional stock exchanges. The company grew rapidly, eventually becoming one of the largest stock exchange operators globally.

BATS Global Markets went public in 2012. In 2017, it was acquired by CBOE Holdings (now Cboe Global Markets). Following the acquisition, Cummings stepped down from his role.

Cummings is also involved in venture capital and investment, often focusing on technology and financial services companies. He is regarded as a pioneer in electronic trading and market structure. His contributions have had a lasting impact on the way securities are traded.