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Women’s History Month Series: Meet the Founder Using AI to Fix America’s Savings Crisis
Most people assume that high earners have plenty of money in the bank. But the reality is far more troubling. Many professionals in their 30s and 40s are living paycheck to paycheck, with just a few hundred dollars in savings. That was the shocking discovery that led to the creation of Moneta Lend, an AI-powered budgeting app.
The idea came from a simple video that demonstrated how widespread financial insecurity really is. “I was stunned,” Anna Korol, CEO of Moneta Lend recalls. “Even people making good money had almost nothing saved.” A deeper dive revealed the pattern that people know they should save but feel no urgency because overspending has become the norm, and asking for financial help came with stigma and fear of judgment.
That’s where AI comes in. Unlike human advisors, AI doesn’t judge. It doesn’t shame. It just helps. Moneta Lend is designed to be a financial friend that is always available and encouraging. It nudges users toward smarter decisions while respecting their choices. “You can ignore it,” Korol says, “but it will keep believing in you.”
In the wake of Women’s History Month, we spoke to Korol about her experience as a woman in an industry dominated by men, how she uses humor to help users stay engaged with their finances and how Moneta Lend aims to make ‘savings’ a second nature.
Thank you for joining us, Anna. Firstly, I want to know your experience as a woman building a fintech company in an industry long been dominated by men? Have you faced any unexpected challenges or advantages?
Building a fintech company as a woman has been both challenging and eye-opening. The financial industry is still very male-dominated, and that comes with the usual hurdles from being underestimated in meetings to having to work harder to prove credibility. But the harder part is fundraising. Most VCs are men, and it’s tough to find someone who believes in you when you look different and speak differently from the typical fintech founder.
I’ve been in fintech for over a decade, and I’m often the only woman in the room not just on the finance side but also in the technology space. That said, being a woman has given me a unique edge.
