Happy September, and welcome back to Fintech & Friends!
I love it when the personal fintech products I use and love make it into the interviews here on the show, and I’m so excited to introduce everyone to today’s baller co-founders.
But first, a little teaser 😉
If you’ve ever thought investing was intimidating, boring, or reserved for men in pricey suits on Wall Street, you’re in good company.
Since basically the beginning of financial time, investing has been positioned as a “man’s game,” leaving women, immigrants, and first-time investors on the sidelines. The result? Too many people feel shut out of the wealth-building opportunities that should belong to everyone.
(I also just finished watching Dumb Money this past week—and man, do I have even more thoughts. But I digress…)
But what if investing were as simple, personal and fun as building a playlist?
That’s exactly what my guests, Eve Halimi and Anam Lakhani, set out to create with Alinea, the investing app designed for Gen Z, millennials, and beyond. Alinea combines education, community, and value-based investing in a way that feels less like a financial chore and more like a lifestyle. (Think TikTok meets Vanguard, but heavy on the side of cool.)
Eve and Anam’s story started in a Columbia University classroom, where they spotted the same pain point again and again: women and children of immigrants weren’t investing, even after studying economics or interning on Wall Street. That lightbulb moment became Alinea, and today they’re raising millions, empowering first-time investors, and showing the world that investing doesn’t have to be boring, scary, or gatekept.
In our conversation, we get into:
Why investing still feels intimidating for women in 2025—and how Alinea is breaking that cycle
The importance of just getting started—we highlight customer stories from women in their 20s, 50s, and beyond who found confidence through the app
How Eve and Anam use short-form, founder-led content to build community and turn investing education into something fun and viral
Behind the scenes of fundraising as female founders - and why their “tight 60-day process” is a game-changer. Founders, you’ll want to pay attention to this!
How Alinea is using AI to scale support, personalize insights, and make investing less scary
The rise of value-based investing playlists (from climate tech to women-owned businesses) and why investing in what you believe in is the ultimate confidence boost.
This episode is special because it captures everything I love about Fintech & Friends: bold female founders, breaking barriers in finance, and making something as serious as investing feel light, empowering, and human.
Give the episode a listen and let me know what you think! And if you’ve ever felt scared to invest - whether you’re 22 or 62—I’d love to hear if this conversation shifts your perspective.
Check out the links below to connect with Eve and Anam, download Alinea, and see why their community is rewriting the rules of investing.
And of course, if you’ve not yet subscribed to Fintech & Friends - you know what to do!
Until next time,
Jenny
Learn more about Alinea:
📱 Download Alinea on the App Store
