University of Bristol graduate develops app to encourage sustainable investing

A University of Bristol graduate has created an app which allows tailored sustainable investing.

Daniel Gold, 39, set up Stratiphy after studying strategies used by high-net worth clients at investment banks and applying it to his own shares, and doubling his money over two years.

But the former risk analyst found there was a lack of online tools to help ordinary people build and monitor their own portfolios.

Daniel, who has worked in bond yield forecasting for a banking giant, set about designing a system to mimic the experts’ approach to growth.

He said: “It was a personal challenge to make investing more accessible, with the option to make more ethical choices. “I wanted to provide quality investments and advice, without drowning the user with unnecessary information. It reduces time, effort and risk involved in investing.”

Environmentally friendly choices

Daniel was in full-time employment when he started developing the idea and often worked into the early hours and at weekends.

Daniel, who has a degree in maths and PhD in algebraic geometry, said: “I wanted to combine my three passions - maths, finance and sustainability - into one vision.

“Sustainability is no longer an option - for the sake of our planet, survival and way of life.”

He then brought in a technology advisor, David Adler, and make his first hire, Nikki, who became a co-founder.

Crowdfunding challenge

Despite not meeting in person due to lockdown, they clicked over a shared mission to make investing accessible and sustainable.

They then raised more than £440,000 in crowdfunding from 700 investors in 53 countries.

Stratiphy introduces beginners to investing with an education in portfolio risk management. And it allows users to customise their preferences, so they can choose Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) options.

And the firm, with a team of industry leading advisors from banking and fintech backgrounds, has already won a contract with Sustainalytics, a global leader in ESG research and data.

Growth

Daniel also set up a business with his brother to help off-grid communities in the Middle East make use of solar energy.

Their firm has to date saved 150,000 tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide emissions, equal to planting over 3,705,000 trees or removing 28,100 cars from the road for an entire year. Daniel said: “It has shown me that the financial decisions we make can have a physical impact on the world - and we need more of this.” Stratiphy, which came through the South West’s SETsquared accelerator programme, is growing both its team and waiting list - as the app goes live in spring. Nikki, an economics graduate who has worked on campaigns to reduce carbon footprints both at home and abroad, said: “We can’t wait for the full version of the product to be live. Personalised, sustainable investing is the future and we are here to make it easier.”

Managing risk

Stratiphy is designed to help manage and monitor financial risk. Daniel, whose background is in modelling and risk, believes having concerns around investing is healthy.

He said: “If you’re nervous about investing, with or without Stratiphy, it shows you have a healthy risk-averse attitude to money and you are exactly who we built Stratiphy for.

“We take the emotion out of investing so you won't get caught up on the wrong side of the next investment craze.

“By following a rules-based approach you can do what the experts do to grow their wealth sustainably. My advice would be to start small, diversify and find what works best for you.”