NinjaTrader Launches NinjaTrader Innovation Lab To Power Dedicated Futures-Focused AI Tools For Retail Traders

The new suite includes debuting Nina, an AI trading companion, AI Strategy Builder, and MCP Connectivity, all designed to put traders in control

CHICAGO, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- NinjaTrader, a global leader in retail futures trading, today announced the launch of the NinjaTrader Innovation Lab, a dedicated team focused on trader innovation and building AI natively for the futures industry, and the introduction of its first three capabilities: Nina, AI Strategy Builder, and its Model Context Protocol (MCP) server.

Traders are more sophisticated, seeking out new ways to elevate their trading strategies and they are increasingly using AI to shape strategy, insights and skills around how they personally trade rather than accepting a packaged system. A recent NinjaTrader survey of 1,500 active traders found the majority want strategy development and skill building as the top two areas where AI can be most beneficial.

"The most important work in trading right now is where AI meets trading infrastructure. Nobody is doing that for futures traders." said Brian Weis, Chief Innovation & AI Officer of NinjaTrader Group. "NinjaTrader's Innovation Lab is the culmination of listening deeply to our community and translating what they told us into transformative technology that puts unprecedented intelligence and capabilities directly in their hands. We are committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible for our industry and our trader community."

The NinjaTrader Innovation Lab is designed to do the heavy innovation lifting while combining the expertise of operating inside a regulated, trader-controlled environment for futures focused traders.

Driving that mission forward, the Innovation Lab is introducing the first dedicated Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration built specifically for futures trading, connecting AI assistants such as Claude and ChatGPT directly to a trader's NinjaTrader account, a key industry differentiator. NinjaTrader's MCP gives AI access to real-time trading context like positions and account rules to breaking news, economic events, and market signals. NinjaTrader-authored futures trading skills then turn those insights into governed workflows, including pre-trade risk sizing, trade analysis, and post-trade debriefs. The result is a more connected way for users to put AI to work alongside their trading.

Nina is an AI trading companion built directly into the platform, giving traders clear, personalized feedback on what's happening in their accounts and helping them better understand their own trading behavior. Rather than simply analyzing market trends, Nina looks inward by identifying individual trading tendencies, patterns, and behaviors. The new tool highlights what's working, what's costing traders, and where discipline can improve and recommend risk settings. By turning account activity and trading behavior into actionable, easy-to-understand insights, Nina creates a continuous feedback loop that could help traders learn from their decisions, build greater self-awareness, and make more informed choices over time.

Lastly, for retail traders with strategy ideas but limited NinjaScript expertise, AI Strategy Builder brings conversational strategy development directly into NinjaTrader desktop. Traders can describe entry, exit, risk, and filtering rules in plain language, and the system translates those ideas into compiled, testable strategies without requiring them to write code. Traders can further refine their strategies through conversation and adjust conditions, risk parameters, and filters as they iterate, with the system regenerating and compiling the strategy for evaluation.

"Retail investors want technology that matches the intensity and seriousness they bring to trading," said Martin Franchi, CEO of NinjaTrader Group. "We created NinjaTrader's Innovation Lab to accelerate our big bets in trading innovation, including doubling down on areas where AI will give traders the edge to sharpen and scale their strategies. This continues NinjaTrader's work setting the standard in futures trading."

To learn more about NinjaTrader Innovation Lab, visit here.

About NinjaTrader Group
NinjaTrader Group is a global leader in retail futures and trading technology. Since 2003, NinjaTrader has been empowering a community of almost 3.9 million users with cutting-edge technology, ultra-low commissions and world-class support. Our modern, cloud-based platform, available on desktop, web and mobile, gives traders the freedom to seize market opportunities anytime, anywhere. NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC provides direct access to the futures markets, while NT Technologies delivers new tools, seamless NinjaTrader platform integration, and institutional-grade technology to support both individual prop traders and prop trading firms. For institutions, NinjaTrader Connect delivers a comprehensive suite of B2B solutions, providing advanced technology and financial infrastructure for technology providers. For more information, visit www.ninjatrader.com.

Disclaimer: Futures trading involves substantial risk and is not suitable for everyone. Losses may exceed the initial investment. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. View Risk Disclosure Statement.

NinjaTrader Clearing, LLC d/b/a NinjaTrader, Kraken Derivatives US, and Tradovate is a CFTC-registered futures commission merchant and an NFA Member (NFA ID: 0309379). View Disclosures.

SOURCE NinjaTrader