The 2025 Monaco International Investment Forum, an extended format of what has become a popular annual event held at the Yacht Club de Monaco, positioned the Principality as a central hub for innovation and start-up success in Europe and the wider world, bringing together pioneering entrepreneurs, investors and industry representatives from sectors ranging from sustainable mobility to skincare for a series of insightful talks and networking sessions over 13th and 14th March.
The first day of the event, attended by Monaco Life, focused on venture capital discussions, with an emphasis on start-ups, scale-ups and alternative investment opportunities. Much of the action was centred around the Yacht Club’s glamorous ballroom, which acted as the seat of engaging one-on-one meetings and business networking sessions, where investors, entrepreneurs and industry representatives discussed potential partnerships and investment prospects.
Building bridges
Monaco Life spoke with several participants during the first day of the Monaco International Investment Forum (MIIF), including Tanvir Shah, Managing Director of The Partnerships Advisory Strategy & Execution. Shah also serves on the Investment Committee of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF), an initiative of the UAE’s Ministry of Finance.
“Monaco is a centre for European innovation and start-ups, and we’re looking to invite them to the UAE and the Middle East,” said Shah, who was attending for the first time.
He added, “I’m very impressed. This is one of the most international audiences I’ve seen at an investment forum.”
Shah went on to outline his broader objectives for joining the event, explaining, “The end goal is to build bridges between the Middle East and Europe. Monaco and places like Dubai are similar in that they are forward-looking jurisdictions. There is great potential for collaboration between the two regions.”
Discussing trends in innovation and investment, Shah spotlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence.
“Right now, we are seeing an exponential use of AI for human good. At the Fund, we focus on challenges like water scarcity and ensuring the UAE’s self-sufficiency in water. We’ve seen optimistic progress in this area using AI,” he shared with Monaco Life.
Looking ahead, Shah spoke about the Fund’s future plans, noting, “We have €500 million and provide government venture debt to growth-stage start-ups through our accelerator programmes. We are now launching our 10th cohort, and to date, we’ve supported over 150 start-ups. We’re excited about the future of each one.”
Start-ups target growth at MIIF
Start-ups were a key focus at MIIF, with numerous entrepreneurs seeking investment and expansion opportunities in Europe.
Monaco Life spoke with Terbit Widjaja, the founder of MRI.id, an Indonesia-based company with a presence in South Korea that specialises in advanced skincare solutions and wellness technologies.
Widjaja said his main goal for attending the forum was to raise over $10 million and expand his company’s reach into European markets.
“I’m here for fundraising and to build connections with European investors,” he told Monaco Life. “What I like about this event is that it’s private and intimate, with a lot of high-quality people.”
He also spoke about the challenges facing the healthcare sector, particularly the rising costs.
“Healthcare is the only sector where, despite advancements in technology, prices never seem to drop. Hospitals will never offer a 90% or even a 50% discount. It’s the only industry where you have to pay whatever they ask,” he said. “We want to revolutionise this with our own technology, ecosystem, beauty clinics, healthcare services and even our own biotech.”
Widjaja added that securing investment would support the company’s expansion to Dubai and the UAE, with plans to introduce medical devices and biotech products to the European market, reflecting the crossover of interest shared by fellow participant Shah.
Monaco Life also spoke with Robert Dingemanse, the CEO and founder of PAL-V, a Netherlands-based company developing sustainable FlyDrive solutions. Dingemanse described how the company’s innovation could transform personal transportation.
“With our technology, operations like policing, firefighting, military, and public security can all be improved,” he said. “Individuals also want to travel faster from A to B, and that’s exactly what we offer.”
Dingemanse, who was also attending the MIIF for the first time, said the event offered an opportunity to meet potential investors and customers.
“We’ve met a lot of interesting people, but, as always, it comes down to what results will follow,” he said.
Speaking about future trends, Dingemanse identified low-altitude mobility as an emerging global industry.
“In 50 years, advanced mobility is projected to be a one to two trillion-dollar industry,” he said. “Like any new sector, it takes time for investors to recognise its potential. Now, they’re beginning to understand that FlyDrive is different from air taxis or other flying vehicles. With PAL-V, you can drive from Monaco, take off and fly over the Alps to Geneva, conduct your business, then fly to Munich and drive back home. It’s two to three times as fast as any other option.”
PAL-V vehicles are priced from €500,000, with deliveries set to begin in Europe.
See more: Interview: Robert Dingemanse on the PAL-V Liberty and the dawn of flight-drive technology
Other exhibitors at the forum included Sotheby’s Dubai, Ubiquity’s Max Copilot, Rennsport, Alkemia Capital, Gami Capital, Ear Focus Technology, SEG Kapital, Aurora Advisory, Bitcoin People, Skeal – Scale My Meal, La Joie Homebase™ and BRB Costruzioni Edili. Each presented their latest products and services, covering sectors such as real estate, artificial intelligence, sustainable mobility and fintech.
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All photos by Monaco Life
