Simplifying sustainable investing for everyone

“We wanted to build a platform where people can understand not only historical performance, but also the impact their money might have.” This is how co‑founder Ala Presenti describes Moniflo, the first consumer‑facing project of blockchain startup Investre. The Moniflo app is designed to reshape how people think about investments, enabling everyone from beginners to experts to align their investments with their values.

Embedding change into every choice

Sustainability has been part of Moniflo’s DNA from the start. The app offers sustainable investment funds and transparency so users can make informed choices. Ms Presenti illustrates: “If I tell you that one company exploits children and pollutes a river, while another plants trees and creates jobs, and both offer the same return on investment, nobody chooses the first.”

A strong believer in sustainability since her youth, Ms Presenti is convinced that businesses not sustainable by design cannot survive in the long term. She also stresses the power of small decisions, such as buying a coffee or bread, and the ripple effects these choices create: 

Every euro spent has an impact. When people know, they make different choices.” Ala Presenti

Diversity is equally central. Attracting women as team members and users of the app was a goal from the outset. “When we started, I was the only woman. Now we have more women than men in the team,” Ms Presenti says proudly. The app itself was designed to appeal equally to men and women, breaking away from the traditionally masculine design of many other financial tools.

Driving financial innovation in Luxembourg

Investre is unique in Luxembourg as the first Controlling Agent authorised by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) under Luxembourg’s Blockchain IV Law. This approval enables the company to operate the full investment lifecycle end-to-end on blockchain, increasing efficiency and transparency while significantly reducing the need for intermediaries.

“Being the first mover in a regulated innovation space is both a privilege and a risk,” says Ms Presenti, “You don’t know whether it’s a curse or a blessing until the market proves whether the innovation truly works, and whether the ecosystem is ready to adopt it.”

The choice of the Ethereum blockchain was a deliberate one. Its transition to proof-of-stake has dramatically reduced energy consumption, aligning technological innovation with sustainability considerations.

Ms Presenti also highlights the enabling role played by Luxembourg’s financial regulator and public authorities. Constructive collaboration with the CSSF, combined with the government’s swift adoption of the Blockchain IV Law, underlines Luxembourg’s commitment to digitalisation and responsible financial innovation.

“In finance, trust starts with regulation,” she adds. “Having a trusted regulator by your side is essential for credibility, but it also comes with a responsibility to contribute to the strength and reputation of the entire Luxembourg financial ecosystem.”

A moment of recognition and community

Winning the Women in Tech Europe Award was a key moment of recognition and an invaluable experience. “This was not about me; this was an award for the team,” Ms Presenti says.

The association’s powerful network of women working across all areas of tech – from researchers and policy makers to journalists and operations professionals – was eye‑opening for her: “I was absolutely impressed about the quality of the event and the women in that room.”

For Ms Presenti, progress in gender equality comes from continuous learning, small steps and boldness. Her advice to women in business and tech is straightforward: “In order to be great one day, you need to try to be a bit better every day and become a better version of yourself every day.”