StashAway

StashAway's journey began in 2016, born from a recognized need to simplify and democratize investment management in Asia. Co-founder Michele Ferrario, then CEO of ZALORA Group, found himself with accumulating cash but lacked the time and accessible options to manage it effectively. Traditional banking routes for ETF portfolio creation proved cumbersome. This personal pain point, coupled with the observation that a significant portion of Asian assets remained in cash compared to regions like the US, sparked the idea for a digital-first solution. The founders, Michele Ferrario, Nino Ulsamer, and Freddy Lim, brought together expertise from finance, technology, and e-commerce to build a platform that would make sophisticated investing accessible to everyone, not just high-net-worth individuals. Despite facing numerous rejections from early-stage investors, their belief in the mission to provide transparent, low-fee, and intelligent wealth management pushed them forward.

The company launched with a vision to empower individuals to build long-term wealth through personalized, data-driven investment strategies. StashAway's proprietary investment framework, Economic Regime-based Asset Allocation (ERAA®), was a cornerstone of their offering, designed to navigate macroeconomic shifts and manage risk effectively. Initially targeting well-paid professionals, the platform's low minimum balance and user-friendly digital interface quickly attracted a broader audience, including younger investors and a significant segment of high-net-worth individuals. This validated their approach of making institutional-grade investment strategies available at a fraction of traditional costs. Over the years, StashAway has expanded its services beyond Singapore to markets like Malaysia, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Hong Kong, and Thailand. They've consistently grown their assets under management, surpassing $1 billion USD by January 2021, and have garnered accolades such as being named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum. Their commitment to customer experience, coupled with continuous innovation in product offerings like StashAway Simple™ for cash management and StashAway Reserve for accredited investors, marks their ongoing evolution in the fintech landscape.